Details of workshops and demonstrations run during the Upwey Potters Annual Exhibition.
The exhibition runs from 25th May to 9th June 2024 at the Upwey Old School Village Hall.
More information about the show at this link.
During the show, when not doing anything else, the potters demonstrate their various skills and methods of making their work. They are happy to talk to visitors and explain the processes and motivations.
Painting with Clay Sessions
Maggie Cooke and Pat March will run sessions to show people how to decorate using clay clips, oxides and stains, applying them to card. Suitable for folk of all ages. More details to follow.
Throwing Masterclass with Laurence Eastwood
We are still working on details of demonstrations of throwing by Laurence. These may be live streamed as well as with an audience of fans in the room. The pots made during these will be sold - maybe to the highest bidder - after firing in the wood fuelled kiln in July, together with other pots made during the whole event.
Soda Kiln Firings
Fil Cooke and Laurence Eastwood will be firing the gas kiln in the playground during the event, this has a solution of bicarbonate of soda sprayed into the white hot kiln to create the signature surface textures and colours. Details of this technique can be seen at this link.
Wood Fuelled Kiln Firing
Bill and Laurence built a wood fuelled kiln at a secret location nearby, details can be seen at this link. It is not normally accessible to the public, but folk who ask really nicely during the show may be invited to attend the next firing on 6th July, especially if they have negotiated to buy a pot they have watched being thrown.
Raku Firing Workshops.
Full details will be published here in due course, but the basic ideas are set out here.
Mail Chimp bulk emails will be sent out to our mailing list, giving details when they have been finalised, so if you do not already receive them, sign up using the link on the event page at this link.
Bill Crumbleholme and Laurence Eastwood run the Raku Pottery Firing Workshops.
Participants are guided as they apply the special glazes to a pot they select from our stock of pots, the pots are then loaded in a small gas fired kiln, which takes about an hour to reach 1000C. While still red hot the pots are extracted from the kiln and cooled in metal boxes filled with sawdust in which burns and removes some of the oxygen from the glazes, turning them into amazing lustrous surfaces.
Each booking is for One Pot, so a person can have more than one pot ( paying a discounted price for extra ones!) or several people could have one each - Maximum 8 pots per session. Potters who wish to bring their own pots to raku fire are invited to ask permission to do that, using our glazes.
Group bookings preferred for each session - so encourage friends to come and do it together.
3 hour sessions, mornings 10.30am to 1.30pm or afternoons 2pm to 5pm.
Special group evening bookings may be possible, for groups having 8 pots fired in a firing, with a possible second firing if going on into the night! On dates shown below and Thursdays. Free use of kitchen facilities, to make it party time (the tutors will expect to be fed as well!). Bring your own pots to fire, if you have them.
Bookings can be made by sending an email to all@upweypotters.com (we have stopped using Eventbrite) or in person at the Village Hall during the exhibition. Payment by internet transfer, PayPal transfer, card or cash, details will be sent in confirmation email, a booking has to be confirmed by us. Cancellations and refunds possible with a good enough excuse!
These are the dates currently available for raku workshops :-
Mon 27 May (Bank Holiday) am & pm
Fri 31 May am & pm
Sat 1 Jun am & pm
Sun 2 Jun am & pm
Mon 3 Jun am & pm
Fri 7 Jun am & pm
Sat 8 Jun am & pm
These dates may get sold out, so book now to avoid disappointment!
Participants need to be there for the whole 3 hour session, but during the kiln firing they can look at the display of pots for sale, talk to the potters and even pop next door to The Famous Upwey Wishing Well Cafe to sample their refreshments and make a wish! www.upweywishingwell.co.uk
Cost is £40 for the first place and one pot, each extra pot is £30 each (either for the same person or another member of the same group booking), all fired in same session, booked in advance or added on the day (if there is space in the kiln). This includes the pots (which are taken home at the end of the session), glaze, firing, tuition and a chance to talk to the potters about the process and their work in general, which is on display and for sale. Tea and biscuits might be available!
Wear old clothes and sensible footwear.
Bring a camera.
There is a page on this website that explains a bit more about the process of raku firing.
This is a batch of bowls made by Bill Crumbleholme, thrown and turned, drying out ready to be biscuit fired. These will be available for people doing the Raku firing workshop sessions.
