Adult potters of varying skills furthered their abilities on the weekend during a professional development clay workshop at the Estevan Arts Council’s craft room.
It was an opportunity for the potters to discuss their techniques and make something new to take home.
Jay Kimball of Silt Studio in Regina was the instructor, and he opened the weekend Friday with an artist talk in which he discussed some of the work he has created over the past 20 years.
The artists spent Saturday morning discussing something they have made and something that inspired them.
“We just talked about it, so we can learn more about ceramics,” said Kimball.
It’s believed to be the first time the Estevan Arts Council has held a workshop like this, and the first time Kimball has led a class in Estevan.
“I’ll be demonstrating some of my favourite … pottery wheel-throwing and hand-building techniques in clay,” said Kimball. “I’ll be working one-on-one with the community and helping them grow as artists.”
The artists then spent 12 hours on Saturday afternoon and on Sunday working on something they could take home. Just as important, they gained experience and knowledge from the workshop.
Kimball noted that three of the participants in the workshop had never worked with clay before, while others were at a very advanced level. The remaining participants fell somewhere in between.
“It makes for a really exciting group, and it’s a good opportunity for them to learn, and the common ground is the passion of making things,” he said.
Kimball said he became involved with pottery after he had some positive childhood experiences with making things. He grew up on a farm, and made things all the time. But it wasn’t until he was in his 20s that he realized he might have a career making and teaching, which allows him to do what he loves.
