Thursday Morning Clay, Wheel Throwing for All Levels
Instructor: Ryder Gordon
October 3 - November 7
9am - 12pm
6 sessions
Includes Thursday Open Studio, 12pm - 4pm

Ryder welcomes all levels of throwers to his Thursday morning class. He has experience instructing beginners to advanced students in all aspects of the ceramic process. In this class, students will learn how to throw on the potter’s wheel, can learn new techniques, or hone specific skills. Ryder will help students increase the amount of clay they can handle successfully, throw thinner and taller, and throw new shapes. We will practice attachments, such as handles, as well as pulling handles directly from the side of the cup. The class will focus on tableware – mugs, cups, bowls, plates, etc, but all ideas and forms of expression through clay are encouraged!

Ryder grew up in the Boston area, where he was introduced to the potter’s wheel at a young age. He graduated with a degree in art education and ceramics from UMass Dartmouth. He has studied wood, gas, and soda firing with Chris Gustin and Chris Smith, as well as raku with Stephen Branfman (to name only a few!). Ryder has instructed and assisted at The Potter’s Shop and School in Needham, Peter’s Valley School of Craft, and Castle Hill Center for the Arts. Ryder’s work is defined by pushing the limits of what can be accomplished both on and off the potter’s wheel. He creates functional pottery with shapes that bulge, grow, and swirl as well as more decorative coil-built vessels. Ryder uses glaze and atmospheric firing to highlight his complex forms, creating dynamic surfaces.

Note to students:

• *(NEW) A 25lb bag of stoneware or B-Mix clay is now included in the cost of the class.
  Clay is now only purchased online. Please pay for your clay prior to requesting clay from your instructor. Please show an emailed receipt or screenshot of payment.

• Clay for these classes must be purchased from Castle Hill for technical considerations. We are a cone 10 studio offering a tan stoneware clay, a white porcelaineous clay (b-mix), and porcelain.

• If you would like a towel or apron please bring your own. Castle Hill provides all of the basic tools but feel free to bring your favorite tools and or any specialty tools. Bagged clay can stay in the classroom till the last day of class. Please bring it home even if you are in the following session so staff can give the studio a deep clean.

• Open Studio time is available for current students for $25 on both Monday and Tuesday in the Throwing room from 9am - noon and from 1pm - 4pm. Please do not enter the studio early and be cleaned up and ready to leave at the end of your session’s time.

• Open Studio Glaze time is available for current students for $25 on Monday from 9am - noon and from 1pm - 4pm. There will only be two students per glaze session. Please do not enter the studio early and be cleaned up and ready to leave at the end of your session’s time.

• If you have any questions please email the Ceramic’s Director Chris at: christophersmith@castlehill.org