REGISTRATION OPENS:
JANUARY 9 AT NOON
One of seven courses available for the May 8 – 11, 2025
MCA Weekend Workshop @ Haystack
Salt Fire & Sgraffito
Instructor: Tim Christensen
Haystack Studio: Ceramics
Enrollment Limit: 14
Materials Fees: $50, See Materials List Below
Level: Intermediate
Class Description:
In this fast-paced workshop, participants will bring their own bisque work and raw wear, or have availability of those things provided by the instructor. Participants will arrive on Thursday, glaze, wad, prepare their work for firing, load the kiln, and brick it up. Kiln candling with start at 4 AM on Friday and fire until about midnight on Friday night.
During the firing, and cooling Saturday, participants will work on purchased or self-created forms using the ancient technique of Sgraffito. Sunday morning we will unload the kiln, clean the studio, and have our work ready to show for the studio walkthrough at 11 AM.
Materials List + Fees: $50
The $50 materials fee will cover the basic materials for the workshop and will be added to your invoice at the time of registration. Additionally, participants will need to bring the items on the student-supplied materials list.
Student Supplied Materials List
- Bisque fired, cone 10 pieces. We’ll put in as many as we can.
- Dry greenware for sgraffito. Students will need to source their own means of firing these after the workshop.
- Sgraffito and clay tools.
- Clothing appropriate for a high-temperature gas firing (ex: Cotton, wool, or other natural fibers. No synthetics!).
- Gloves, leather boots, and safety glasses.
Instructor Supplied Materials:
- The instructor will have both bisque-fired and greenware pieces for purchase for students to use for glazing and sgraffito during the weekend. If purchasing from the instructor, please plan on paying them directly.
- Additional clay can be purchased from the instructor during the weekend.
About the Instructor-
Tim Christensen is a ceramicist, author, and educator, living in Downeast Maine. He shows his work all over the world, and is a 2023 Maine Craft Artist Award recipient.
He is well known for his use of sgraffito on porcelain creating both functional pottery and decorative sculptures. His work is informed by his natural surroundings at his off-the-grid home studio and his extensive travels.
