4-H Group

STARworks Ceramics welcomed a kids group from Stanly county in the end of June. They made lots of nice face jugs by using STARworks local clay. They are 4-H group and making pots by local clay must be good experience for their hands-on project. Pots are bisqued, glazed and fired by STARworks Ceramics and it looks pretty good.

Thank you for coming to STARworks and hope come back making pots again!

New addition

I am sorry I didn't update this blog for long time. I have got a new baby in the middle of May. He is now 3 months old and really healthy. He will be around STARworks Ceramics soon and you will see.

Star Elementary 5th graders

The teacher, Ms. Linda Thompson brought her 5th grade students of Star Elementary School this morning, and they made "Clay house" in our clay studio. This clay house project was related to their year long research about their family roots and culture, and STARworks Ceramics prepared lots of clay slabs for this project.

Firstly, Santiago took them to STARworks clay factory and told where materials of our local clay mix come from, and also how we process clay. Then students watched demonstration how to make clay house by Okeeweemee clay and started building their house on a banding wheel. It was only one hour class but they did great job.

Those houses will be dried, bisqued and glaze fired in three weeks and return to them. Thank you for coming to clay studio and hope students had great time.

Thanks to:
Star Elementary School
Santiago Ramirez
Anne Partna

Coiled Large Jar Workshop 3/1

We had a Coiled Large Jar workshop today and it was really successful class. Everyone did great job and made a large jar. Thank you for your participation.
And special thanks for your support to:
Wayne Shiver
Santiago Ramirez
Evan Morgan

Large Platter Workshop 2/26

There was a large platter workshop in our clay studio today and it was very successful. Thank you for take part in this class!

Materials arrived 2/25

We waited for the truck coming for long long time, and at last lots of materials arrived with full truck load this afternoon! We are sorry for making you wait, and now we have a lot. Please give us a call/email and come to pick up what you need.

Supply Shop:
phone: 910-428-9007
Email: info@starworksnc.org

Spring Workshop Information

STARworks Ceramics clay studio will have several exciting workshops this spring.

1: Large Platter Workshop
Friday February 26th 10am-12pm, $35/person Max 4 participants,
Instructor: Hitomi Shibata --- Full on 2/19
Participants will learn throwing technique and make a minimum 16 inch platter. After the class, you can take your platter home with you. We will provide our original local NC clay and you can choose either cone10 or cone 6. Firing is not included. This workshop is geared to anyone wanting instruction in Japanese large platter throwing technique. There are basic tools in our studio, but you might need to bring your own pottery tools. Intermediate to Advanced.

2: Coiled Large Jar Workshop
March 1, 2010, $35/person Max 10 participants,
Instructor: Hitomi Shibata
Participants will learn coil building techniques and make a minimum 12 inch tall jar on a banding wheel. Instruction will include information about Japanese traditional jars and how to make one. After the class, you can take your jar home with you. We will provide our original local NC clay and you can choose either cone10 or cone 6. Firing is not included. This workshop is geared to anyone wanting instruction in Japanese coil building techniques. There are basic tools in our studio, but you might need to bring your own pottery tools. Beginner to Advanced.

3: Clay Box Workshop
Saturday March 13, 2010 10am- 11:30am, $30/person Max 10 participants,
Instructor: Hitomi Shibata
Participants will make a container clay containeres by molds. Decorating techniques will be taught including inlay, clay slip applied using a brush( Hakeme) and drawing. After the class, you can take your clay box home with you. We will provide our original local NC clay for your work and you can choose either cone10 or cone 6. Firing is not included. This workshop is geared to anyone interested in learning new forming and decoration techniques. There are basic tools in our studio, but you might need to bring your own pottery tools. Beginner to Intermediate.

4: Introduction of Clay Research
Saturday April 24, 2010 10am-12pm, $35/person Max 20 participants,
Instructor: Takuro Shibata
Participants will learn how to test clays and techniques developed by Takuro Shibata who does the STARworks Ceramics clay research. He will give a lecture and demonstration emphasizing use of local clays, and then participants will process local clays to prepare for testing. This workshop is geared to anyone interested in making and testing their own clay formulas using local materials. All levels.

Please sign up soon because space is limited. In case of a bad weather or without meeting minimum number of participants, classes might be canceled with full refund. Give us a call or email, if you are interested.
Email: hitomi@starworksnc.org

Kids Class in the office

STARworks Ceramics had kids from Biscoe, NC and they made mugs and face jugs. Unfortunately our clay studio was too cold to work, so we set up table and bench in our office area. They saw the article of news paper and very interested in making pots. Pots will be ready for pick up in a month and hope they will like it.

Montgomery Herald Article

Ms. Linda Beaulieu from Montgomery Herald (Troy, NC) came to STARworks and interviewed us and kids last summer, and she made a nice article about STARworks Ceramics on January 13 issue. Thanks Linda for supporting our educational program!

We would like to continue these kind of program for local kids. Your any support, donation, helpful information and suggestion are needed.

Visiting Artist

We have a visiting artist in our clay studio. Asheboro resident, Wayne Shiver has been helping STARworks Ceramics as a volunteer, and now he is making Bonsai pots for his own project. He is also a very serious Japanese arts and crafts collector, certified master gardener, and certified chef.

In addition, he and a potter in Asheboro, Mike Durham will give a Bonsai workshop which will be organized by Randolph Arts Guild in March. Please click here, for more information about that class.