This week at AVITA, everyone was excited and very eager to get their hands dirty with clay. First, our Workshop Preparations Manager, Sarah, got together all of the clay that we would be using, and rolled them into balls so that we would have them ready for the workshop. Preparing materials ahead of time allows for more instructional time for the teacher, and more activity time for the participants/students.
We started our clay pinch pots that will be used for the flower wall we are building. Ashleigh, our lead instructor began the day with a talk about flowers. She asked everyone to close their eyes and to envision their favorite flowers. She asked them what they were thinking of, and we mostly got replies like "roses," "red," "pink," "daisies," and other flowers. She then led a demonstration of how to make a pinch pot, emphasizing the right thickness of the walls of the pots in comparison to the thickness of one's ear lobes. Then, she taught everyone how to use their "pinchers," or thumb, forefinger, and middle finger to pinch the sides of the pots. After reaching the desired size of the pinch pot, she gave an example of how to make the pot look like a flower.
Everyone really seemed focused and engaged in the project this week. Some got a little creative with their pots, and made them a lot more elaborate than others. There were a few who had trouble with getting their hands dirty and working with clay. Everyone who finished early was encouraged to make as many pinch pots as they could. Some of the participants wanted to paint them and take them home that same day, but we had to explain to them what we had to do to the clay first. We punched a hole in the bottom of the pots to make room for the screws that will hold them onto the wall. The pots should be fired within the next few days and ready for Thursday, when we will hopefully be painting the pinch pots.
We are all super excited to be working with AVITA with a curriculum unit that we've put together. Stay tuned for more updates from ArtStream every week!!
We started our clay pinch pots that will be used for the flower wall we are building. Ashleigh, our lead instructor began the day with a talk about flowers. She asked everyone to close their eyes and to envision their favorite flowers. She asked them what they were thinking of, and we mostly got replies like "roses," "red," "pink," "daisies," and other flowers. She then led a demonstration of how to make a pinch pot, emphasizing the right thickness of the walls of the pots in comparison to the thickness of one's ear lobes. Then, she taught everyone how to use their "pinchers," or thumb, forefinger, and middle finger to pinch the sides of the pots. After reaching the desired size of the pinch pot, she gave an example of how to make the pot look like a flower.
Everyone really seemed focused and engaged in the project this week. Some got a little creative with their pots, and made them a lot more elaborate than others. There were a few who had trouble with getting their hands dirty and working with clay. Everyone who finished early was encouraged to make as many pinch pots as they could. Some of the participants wanted to paint them and take them home that same day, but we had to explain to them what we had to do to the clay first. We punched a hole in the bottom of the pots to make room for the screws that will hold them onto the wall. The pots should be fired within the next few days and ready for Thursday, when we will hopefully be painting the pinch pots.
We are all super excited to be working with AVITA with a curriculum unit that we've put together. Stay tuned for more updates from ArtStream every week!!