Wood Fired Terracotta
Dates:
June 23-July 7, 2009
Price:
$2400 student, $2700 non-student participant
Program Coordinators:
Don R Davis
Address:
1117 Cedar Place, Johnson City, TN, USA 37604
Telephone:
423 439 7864 or 423 207 1228
E-mail:
davisdr@etsu.edu
Preferred method of contact:
email
More information:
Flyer (PDF / 164k)
Description:
The clay work in the studio at Spannocchia will serve as a vehicle to study and experience the rich cultural history of the region. Through field trips to nearby Florence, Siena, Colle di Val D’Elsa, San Galgano and Chiusdino we will explore this incredible wealth of art, history, & architecture. Conversely, the surrounding landscape, art, and culture will serve as inspiration for the clay work in the studio. We will use local terracotta clay for forming and some materials found on the estate for surface treatments. The emphasis will be on experimentation, creativity and enjoying the process of working with clay using rapid hand building techniques. No prerequisites or previous experience with clay work is required. Open to all levels from beginner to professional. The session will culminate with finishing our work in the wood fired kiln.
The program price covers all expenses of the two-week course at Spannocchia. This includes lodging, all meals, course excursions, instruction, studio, materials, kiln firing, Italian lessons, evening refreshments on the terrace, use of the pool, the estate grounds & hiking trails.
Airfare, transport to & from Spannocchia, university tuition, & Spannocchia membership are not included in the program price.
Assistance is available with individual flight arrangements, car rental, and travel planning before or after the course.
Coordinator Biography(ies):
Don R Davis is Associate Professor, Dept of Art & Design, at East Tennessee State University and a practicing studio artist. Until 2001 he was a full time studio potter teaching occasional workshops both in the US and in Europe. His work has been exhibited and is in collections in the US and Japan. As a boy he spent two years in Italy, which is as much time as he lived anywhere else until he set up his studio in Asheville, N.C. in 1977. He has returned to Italy numerous times in the last 10 years and was awarded an invitational artist residency at Studio Art Centers International, Florence in 2005. 2009 will be the third year for the course at Spannochia.
He received his MFA from Rhode Island School of Design and his BFA from University of Florida. He is the author of Wheel Thrown Ceramics, published in 1998 and his work appears in numerous other publications including Contemporary Ceramics, Working with Clay, and Handbuilt Ceramics.
“… magical, wonderful place and the Spannocchia mission of preservation and sustainability is inspiring.”
“The students were thrilled with their work progress, which was so dependent not only on the beauty, but the peacefulness of Spannocchia.”