We are super excited to host our Open House on January, Saturday the 10th. We will have live demos by both of our AMAZING Studio DIrectors, Phoebe Deutsch (ceramic) and Russ Spitkovsky (etching). They will run individual, hour-long demos in their respective mediums, teaching all of you how to work in printmaking and ceramics. We hope to see you all there!
3PM: PHOEBE DEUTSCH
Ceramics Studio Director Phoebe Deutsch will be demonstrating techniques such as wedging clay to prepare for throwing, centering the clay on the wheel, proper stabilizing techniques, building up tall walls, using and describing what tool are best for different types of mark making.
The wheel was invented in ancient Mesopotamia around 3,000 B.C. These first turntables were slow, but they were a vast improvement over the previous methods of shaping pots. In the 19th century the concept of throwing pottery as we know it today flourished due to potter's wheels that could achieve higher spinning speeds. Ceramic artists today utilize the wheel for both functional and sculptural prepuces.
4:30PM: RUSS SPITKOVSKY
Studio director Russ Spitkovsky, will give a demonstration of the etching process at 4:30 pm. Using actual plate examples to explain the different steps and states of a hard ground and aquatint etching on a zinc plate Russ will also print several completed etchings, and introduce the audience to the etching press and intaglio culture.
Etching is traditionally the process of using strong acid or mordant to cut into the unprotected parts of a metal surface to create a design in intaglio(relief) in the metal. In modern manufacturing, other chemicals may be used on other types of material. As a method of printmaking, it is, along with engraving, the most important technique for old master prints, and remains in wide use today.