BMCA Clay Studio to Offer Extruder Workshop with Holly de Saillan

The Black Mountain Center for the Arts Clay Studio will offer a 2-day workshop on consecutive Saturdays, March 20 and 27 from 2-5 pm in using an Extruder, along with die-making techniques.  The Clay Studio is located in the renovated old City Garage adjacent to the Center at 225 W. State Street.  A working knowledge of clay is helpful.  The class is limited to six students, so early registration is recommended.  Cost is $45 for the 6-hour workshop.  No Open Studio time is included in the fee.  For more information or to register, call 828/669-0930.

Alice Lane writes, “Hand extruders are an indispensable adjunct to clay pottery art. Extruders can be used to form the main piece itself, or to add elements to wheel-thrown vessels. Even pulled handles can start out as extrusions. Although it may appear at first that using extruders to produce work enables the artisan to make scores of identical items quickly, in fact just the opposite is true. Extruded pottery requires measuring, cutting, smoothing, and joining, and therefore can require more time than a similar pot which is thrown. For some types of forms, extruding is the best way to go. Although manufacturers offer many different die configurations, serious extruder enthusiasts make their own dies. Designing and making dies is an integral part of the creative process; it requires thinking in a different perspective, because it is the negative die space which produces the form.” (ezinearticles.com)

de Saillan is an experienced potter and teacher who lives in the Asheville area, and also teaches ceramics and mosaics at Odyssey Center for the Ceramic Arts and around western NC.  Before graduating from the University of Northern Colorado with her degree in Visual Arts, she discovered her affinity for clay in her high school years. She has travelled and studied in Italy, Spain and France.