Weekend Wheel & Hand-Building Workshop
(Optional Friday, July 18th)
Saturday, July 19th  – Sunday, July 20th, 2025

Lift Off: Composite Ceramic Sculpture


Image: Matthew Gordon

Sculpture Space NYC
47-21 35th St, Long Island City NY 11101

About the Workshop

The aim of this workshop is to learn about composite construction techniques. Building sculpture in parts, we will be focusing on creating works with a ~complex relationship to the ground~ AKA things without flat bottoms! Using temporary supports that may or may not accompany the work through the firing process, we will work through producing objects that defy gravity!  You will be given instruction on wheel-throwing and hand-building techniques, with the option to use whichever you choose in your project. Some components might be connected before the firing process while others might be built with the intention of later stacking or epoxying them together after firing (we don’t judge epoxy, we love it!). Your project can take on any form or function you a desire: a small table, a teapot on stilts, a creature standing on long limbs - I’ll help you move in any direction that you are keen on! I am so excited to be offering this workshop and I hope that you’ll join me!

Schedule

Monday, July 14th
Video introduction sent to participants outlining workshop expectations. Please watch prior to workshop to start considering project ideas.


Optional: Friday, July 18th: 5:30-8PM
Learn more about Joël’s work as he, along with the two other artist residents, gives a public lecture at the Museum of Arts and Design as the culminating event of his Fellowship at the museum. Lectures followed by open studio time!

Saturday, July 19th: 10AM-5PM
Demos and work day

Sunday, July 20th: 10AM-4PM
Demos and work day

FAQs

I’m a beginner, can I take this workshop?

This is an intermediate-advanced workshop. You should have previous experience in ceramics  as we will not be covering the basics. 

Can I fire the piece that I make in this workshop?

The ultimate goal of this workshop is skill-building, not to leave with a finished piece. This is particularly important to consider given the condensed time frame of the workshop. I encourage you to come to the workshop with this mentality. By the end of the weekend, we will likely have pieces that are ready to dry out for an optional bisque firing. Should you want to see your work through to the end of the process, you can elect to fire the work and schedule extra time at SSNYC to glaze it (additional fees apply - see "Pricing" section below). If you have a studio in NYC, you are also welcome to take your greenware back to your studio with you!

What else is provided?

Clay and basic studio materials will be provided. Please come with the tools you use regularly in your own work, and we will also have some communal tools to share!

Registration

Email me, using the button below, to reserve your spot in the workshop. Once I have responded to your email confirming your spot you will have 48 hours to pay your workshop fee in full to secure it. If you need to withdraw from the workshop, you must do so before Friday, July 11th at 4pm EST to receive a full refund! Cancellations after this time will receive a refund minus a $75 late withdrawal fee. Registration will be limited to 10 participants, the workshop will not run with fewer than six participants.

Pricing

In an effort to make this workshop more accessible to people with a range of budgets, the fee is a sliding scale from $350-$550 USD with no questions asked. If you have the funds, please consider paying towards the higher end of this range. Details outlining how to submit your payment will be provided in my email.

Optional SSNYC Firing and Access Fees:

  • Drying Time 4 weeks / Storage fee for Greenware pieces $60 (4 weeks) 

  • Additionally SSNYC requires a refundable security deposit of $55. The deposit will be refunded upon the pick up of the piece. Work will be discarded 1 week after the pick up date appointment.

  • Firing Fees:

    • 0.06 cents per cubic inch cone 06

    • 0.06 cents per cubic inch cone 6

    • 0.12 cents per cubic inch cone 10

  • Studio access Fee for glaze application: $130