Gina Freuen ceramics workshop at WVC, Nov. 6-7, 2009

Professional artist Gina Freuen of Spokane will give a workshop on working with clay at Wenatchee Valley College on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 6 and 7, at Wenatchee Valley College. Both students and community members are invited to register for the workshop.

Freuen has worked in clay and multimedia for more than 30 years. Her clay work includes whimsical and classical, one-of-a-kind porcelain vessels constructed of rolled and wheel-thrown pieces with richly patterned fabrics and found objects pressed into them to form oddly shaped components form a collage. While her forms appear utilitarian, their shapes have been stretched and twisted by fantasy.

The Friday workshop will be held from 1 to 3 or 4 p.m., with a gather and visit time set from 12:30 to 1 p.m. The workshop will begin with a simple wheel-throwing demo, throwing bottomless forms for future manipulation, and the rolling out of simple slabs for future incorporation. The construction of a small slab teapot will be included, as well as a presentation featuring firing processes and a retrospective of forms and inspirational images.

On Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the day will begin with hand-building off the wheel-thrown forms created the previous day, altering and completing them with the addition of manipulated slabs. Tricks of the trade, solutions and considerations, and simple everyday tools versus expensive clay-industry tools will be discussed.

Cost for the workshop is $50 for students and $100 for community members. Contact Ruth E. Allan at 509.662.6991 or reallan@nwi.net for registration information.

The college ceramics department is located in Wells Hall Room 1072 next to the campus theater.