SOU’WESTER EVENTS!

Traditional (ceramic) Syrian Water Vessels Workshop w/Leila Piazza. 3-6p. $110.

Learn to hand-build and decorate an “ibreeq,” a traditional Syrian water vessel with handle and spout. We will use coiling and joining techniques to create our vessels, then return on day two to carve out decorations. This is an all-levels class that will cover several pottery techniques as well as some background about Syrian pottery design and decoration. Bring any hand tools you like (especially for carving), but there will also be a selection of tools provided.

Bio – Leila Piazza is a Syrian American writer, potter, and chef. She is dedicated to preserving Syrian culture and history through writing, pottery, cooking, and music. Her pottery work encompasses a wide variety of techniques, including throwing, slab building, and coiling. She focuses on functional pottery, with an emphasis on forms, styles, and decorations unique to her culture, from ancient and modern times, including Islamic calligraphy and traditional sgraffito (carving) decoration and glaze work. When she’s not making pottery, Leila is writing about Syrian American experiences, working on a play, improving her guitar playing, cooking for friends and family, and gathering old stories from her parents’ youth.

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The Magic of Color Woodcut Prints 3-day workshop w/Charles Spitzack. 3-6p. $130.

Learn how to make colorful multilayered woodblock prints! Using safer oil based water soluble inks (cranfield inks), this process will focus on a simple hand printing technique using multiple plates to create layered colorful prints.

Bio – 

Charles Spitzack (b 1987) is a visual artist, educator, and carpenter living and working in the Pacific Northwest USA. Committed to communal aspirations, equality, labor rights, environmentalism, and leveling the playing field – Spitzack has found woodblock printmaking to be an excellent way to express his thoughts and feelings. www.charlesspitzack.com / @spitzattack on ig

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Kinsey Lee Presented by Sou’wester Arts!

Kinsey Lee is a member of the American indie folk band, The Wild Reeds. The Wild Reeds are known for their beautiful harmonies, poignant lyrics, and captivating performances. Kinsey Lee’s vocals are a central part of The Wild Reeds’ sound. She contributes her distinct voice and songwriting abilities to the band’s repertoire. With 10 years of writing, touring, and performing on her resume she has begun to find her voice as a solo artist. Kinsey recently debuted her first solo track “Lover’s song” recorded by Duff Thompson and Steph Green of Mashed Potato Records. She is currently working on a record as a follow up. Kinsey hopes to be like Bonnie Raitt, Carole King, Brandi Carlile,  and Lucinda Williams when she grows up. Musicians with strong lyrics, true grit, and a heartfelt story to tell. 

Surface Decoration Intensive (Mixed Level) 2-day workshop w/visiting artist, Courtney Murphy.

August 13, 3-6p & August 14, 3-6p. $115

In this class we will explore different surface decorations on greenware working with underglazes. Techniques covered will include sgraffito, carving, paper resist, and image transfers. We will use tiles to try out different techniques, before using these new techniques to create a finished piece.

Bio – 

Courtney Murphy is a studio potter living and working in Missoula, Montana. She studied Ceramics at Oregon College of Art & Craft, graduating in 2004. In 2009 she came to Montana where she completed a two year artist-in-residence at the Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts in Helena. She fell in love with Montana, and after a short term residency at Red Lodge Clay Center, and a long term residency at the Clay Studio of Missoula, she decided to settle in Missoula where she recently finished building a home studio.

Her work has been shown nationally and internationally, and has been featured in books and magazines including American Craft, Pottery Making Illustrated, and Ceramics Monthly. In 2011 she was honored to be chosen as an emerging artist by Ceramics Monthly.

Her designs are influenced by folk art, mid-century modern forms and shapes, as well as patterns, textiles and historical pots. www.courtneymurphy.net / @courtneymurphyceramics on ig

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Sculptural Coiled Pots Workshop with Taylor Stefanski. August 20th & 21st, 3-6p. $110.

Learn the basics of hand building through various coil and paddling techniques.

The first day students will learn coil building techniques to build their own pots. The second day folks will learn how to refine the forms, add adornments and some detail color.

Bio – 

Her work is deeply inspired by the sea. Explores ideas of imperfection and honors the nature of the tides through meditative repetition. Expressed in the chosen hand building process – each of their pieces are created primarily using a coil building technique. Where she rolls each coil by hand to create each unique, one of a kind forms.

Graduated from Cornish College of the Arts with a focus on printmaking and sculpture. Their ceramic work is carried in a variety of stores in Seattle, Portland and LA. She currently works and teaches in her studio in Capitol Hill.

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