Join Gerald Arrington, the 2016 Sun Valley Center Arts and Crafts Festival Best of Ceramics Winner this summer. Break free from the symmetry of wheel thrown forms and experience the thrown form as a starting place for endless possibilities for function and sculpture. Must have some experience on a potters wheel.

Day One: Learn to throw closed forms on the wheel, and decorate with colored slips and oxides.

Day Two: Learn to transform the closed forms with a variety of altering techniques.

Gerald Arrington Stoneware Ceramics is based in northern California’s beautiful Sonoma County. Gerald spent more than 25 years in Idaho. While there, he attended Idaho State University as a Fine Arts major and earned his B.A. While at ISU, he continued his study of geology. His love of clay and his fascination with rocks eventually merged into one passion, leading him to develop his unique art forms. Gerald employs the variety of techniques he has developed over nearly 16 years to create his truly one-of-a-kind stoneware ceramics. It’s a process that begins by throwing a closed form on the wheel. While the piece is still on the wheel, colored slips are added to create the stratification. After a period of drying, he begins the altering process by paddling the form until it takes on the shape and characteristics of a river stone. The resulting pieces are reminiscent of stratified sedimentary stones worn and smoothed by water. After creating several stones in a variety of shapes and sizes, he further refines his art into sculpture for the table, home, and garden.

Cancellation reimbursement deadline: Thurs, Jul 20