2026 WINTER VISITING ARTIST WORKSHOP / Using History as Inspiration With Margaret Bohls
Margaret Bohls / Studios 3, 5, 7 Fri & Sat 1/30-1/31 9am-5pm / 2-day $240 / Members: $220
Margaret will present her methodology for creating vessel forms inspired and informed by historical ceramics and other decorative arts. Using the “coil and pinch” method of building and using drawing as a tool for both form and surface, Margaret will create a series of vessels based on ancient ceramics from the Italian peninsula, especially those made by the Etruscans. She will also share forms inspired by her study of Modernist era decorative arts, such as Art Nouveau and Art Deco. Demonstrations will include the creation of inventive lids, handles, spouts and other attachments.
Dive deep into the mystery of the kiln room! Learn how clay combined with heat becomes a permanent ceramic object. Gain a technical understanding of the various firing ranges available in clay and its aesthetic characteristics. You’ll explore a variety of kiln firings and atmospheres, making work for all the kilns the KIA has to offer.
Chad Bagge / Studio 5 Thu 1/8-3/26 6:30-9pm / 12 weeks Prerequisite: Beginning Ceramics $415 / Members: $395
Enrich the surface of your vessels by adding texture, dimension, and color to wheel thrown or hand built forms. Faceting, stamping, layering slips, sgraffito, applying stains, and glazing are demonstrated techniques to explore. Unleash your imagination and see how new ideas of an enhanced surface will bring new life to your work.
Susan McHenry / Studio 7 Mon 1/5-3/23 6:30-9pm / 12 weeks $415 / Members: $395
Explore the exciting range of colors that can be achieved by working with the studio’s rich, low-fire red earthenware clay. Demonstrations will focus on various surface treatments that can be applied to hand built or wheel thrown forms. Students will learn how to mix custom colors for slip and terra sigillata, which the class will maintain throughout the semester. All low-fire work will be food safe.
Wyatt Lane / Studio 5 Tue 1/6-3/24 9:30am-12pm / 12 weeks Prerequisite: Beginning Potter’s Wheel $415 / Members: $395
You have the basics of centering and forming, now learn to focus on the details and craftsmanship to improve your fundamental throwing skills. This class is a step up from beginning level and will get you on the path to being an intermediate level potter.
Anna Ill / Studio 7 Wed 1/7-3/25 6:30-9pm / 12 weeks Prerequisite: Beginning Ceramics $415 / Members: $395
Masks hold a depth of information and interpretation for both maker and viewer. In this course, uncover the history and traditions behind mask-making. We will create ceramic masks, then complete them with traditional high and low fire glazes, cold finish surface treatment, and mixed media materials.
Maria Scott / Studio 7 Tue 1/6-3/24 1-3:30pm / 12 weeks $405 / Members: $385
Return to how the earliest pots were formed by hand. Find relaxation in the shaping of clay, connecting with the material, and bringing volume and surface design to simple vessels. Finishing techniques will include burnishing, pit firing, and high firing. Your hands are your tools and previous experience is not required.
Sue MacQuarrie / Studio 7 Thu 1/8-3/26 1-3:30pm / 12 weeks $405 / Members: $385
Get ready to use your imagination as you hand-build animals and fantasy creatures. With inspiration from animation and illustration, each week students will explore various creatures incorporated into functional pottery and as stand-alone sculptures. You’ll learn to use a variety of high fire, low fire, and raku glazes to finish your pieces.
Wyatt Lane / Studio 5 Wed 1/7-3/25 1-3:30pm / 12 weeks Prerequisite: Beginning Ceramics $415 / Members: $395
Pulling hot pots from the kiln and seeing results within minutes describes the excitement of raku firing. Learn the various techniques and reduction variables that produce unique and beautiful results. With an instructional emphasis on firing and experimentation, you'll have the flexibility of hand building or wheel-throwing. Horsehair, naked raku, splash obvara, and sagger firings are offered in this popular class.
(B) Tom Richards / Studio 5 Thu 1/8-3/26 1-3:30pm / 12 weeks Prerequisite: Beginning Ceramics $415 / Members: $395
This is the ideal class for students who are interested in the potter’s wheel. Learn to center and transform a ball of clay into a finished pot. Weekly demonstrations introduce basic forms such as cylinders, cups, bowls, and plates. Studio slips and glazes will be discussed for completing your pottery. Students are responsible for their own pottery tools.
This is the ideal class for students who are interested in the potter’s wheel. Learn to center and transform a ball of clay into a finished pot. Weekly demonstrations introduce basic forms such as cylinders, cups, bowls, and plates. Studio slips and glazes will be discussed for completing your pottery. Students are responsible for their own pottery tools.
(C) Mitzi Davis / Studio 7 Thu 1/8-3/26 6:30-9pm / 12 weeks $405 / Members: $385
Welcome to the world of clay. Beginning students are introduced to a variety of clay-forming techniques to complete several unique projects. Pinching, coiling, and slab-building will be demonstrated, just add your own creative touch. Finish your pieces with glazes for high and low temperature firings.
(B) Tom Richards / Studio 7 Wed 1/7-3/25 1-3:30pm / 12 weeks $405 / Members: $385
Welcome to the world of clay. Beginning students are introduced to a variety of clay-forming techniques to complete several unique projects. Pinching, coiling, and slab-building will be demonstrated, just add your own creative touch. Finish your pieces with glazes for high and low temperature firings.
(A) Susan McHenry / Studio 7 Tue 1/6-3/24 6:30 - 9 pm / 12 weeks $405 / Members: $385
Welcome to the world of clay. Beginning students are introduced to a variety of clay-forming techniques to complete several unique projects. Pinching, coiling, and slab-building will be demonstrated, just add your own creative touch. Finish your pieces with glazes for high and low temperature firings.
Achieve ceramic surfaces only possible in the KIA wood kiln. Experience having your pieces glazed with wood ash and kissed by the flame while firing with a community of passionate stokers. The studio portion of this class discusses the loading, firing, history, and anticipated results as you produce pots and sculptures specific to our anagama kiln. At the kiln site, students will prep cord wood to fuel the kiln and work shifts, keeping the firing burning for four days. Unloading day reveals pots that will be as unique as the wood fire process. This class requires physical work, stamina, full participation, cooperation, and availability in early May for the loading and firing.
Mitzi Davis / Studio 5 Wed 1/7-3/25 9:30am-12pm / 12 weeks Prerequisite: Beginning Potter's Wheel $415 / Members: $395
Follow your functional heart by creating unified place settings for the everyday table. Demonstrations of plates, bowls, and drinking vessels will allow you to explore the creative possibilities of clay and improve your throwing skills. Combine your forms with surface design and glaze to create cohesive or quirky table settings. Advanced students will be guided on stacking, making multiples, and large throwing methods to complement your table settings with serving bowls, centerpieces, and platters.
Chad Bagge / Studio 5 Thu 4/9-5/21 6:30-9pm / 7 weeks Prerequisite: Beginning Potter’s Wheel $255 / Members: $245
Do you struggle to put a good handle on a well-made cup? With demonstration, analysis, and practice, you’ll find yourself delighted with your improved handles. Explore pitchers, bowls, and serving dishes that can have expressive and functional handles. Decorative and alternative notions of a handle will personalize your vessels.
Susan McHenry / Studio 5 Tue 4/7-5/19 1-3:30pm / 7 weeks Prerequisite: Beginning Ceramics $265 / Members: $245
Create dynamic forms from cylinders by exploring various approaches to darting—an altering technique that involves removing sections of clay to change the shape of a vessel. Students will learn how to create single and double pointed darts, “T” and “I” shaped darts, techniques that will bring personality and a playful approach to hand built forms. Earthenware and stoneware clays will be available.
This class will bring together process, surface techniques, and sculptural elements to create an assortment of wall hanging pieces. Drawing inspiration from a variety of sources, discover the material possibilities of clay and a new vertical view of your work. Utilizing manipulation, repetition, and exploratory forms, we will keep things fresh, meaningful, and exciting!
2026 SPRING VISITING ARTIST DEMONSTRATIONS & ARTSTREAM NOMADIC GALLERY
Justin D'Onofrio, Lorna Meaden and Lisa Orr / Auditorium Thurs & Fri 4/2-4/3 9am-4pm / 2-day $95 / Members: $75
Since 2001, the Artstream Nomadic Gallery has brought the best of contemporary studio pottery to communities across the country, showcasing a broad range of objects, styles, practices, and makers. Housed in a restored 1967 Airstream, this unique travelling gallery will make a stop at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts for a two-day presentation following a visit to the annual National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) conference in Detroit. While at the KIA on April 2-3, the KNAS Ceramics Department is pleased to feature ceramic demonstrations by renowned ceramic artists traveling with the Artstream Nomadic Gallery. Engaging demonstrations by Justin D’Onofrio, Lorna Meaden, and Lisa Orr aim to highlight the technical and aesthetic diversity of the ceramics field. In addition to these presentations, the Artstream Nomadic Gallery will be open for viewing in the Lovell Street parking lot at the KIA. Those interested in attending the ceramic presentations must register by April 1.
Visiting Artist demonstrations are generously supported by the Briarwood Farm Foundation.
Explore a classic approach to firing your work in a high temperature soda/salt kiln. This is a studio-style course with an emphasis on forming, decorating, and glazing pots for high temperature atmospheric firing. Students will actively participate in all aspects of the process, not only loading and maintaining the kiln, but in selecting and mixing the slips and glazes for class use.
Susan McHenry / Studio 7 Wed 4/8-5/20 6:30-9pm / 7 weeks Prerequisite: Full Spectrum Color $265 / Members: $245
For students who have previously worked in red earthenware, this studio class is self-directed and independent. Come to the first class with clear objectives for projects and goals to improve your current work. The instructor will be available to advise and offer feedback to help move your work forward. Students in this class are required to maintain the low-fire colored slips and terra sigillata.
Wyatt Lane / Studio 5 Tue 4/7-5/19 9:30am-12pm / 7 weeks Prerequisite: Beginning Potter’s Wheel $265 / Members: $245
The potter’s wheel offers many versatile approaches, and with sectional vessels the possibilities are endless. Combine individually thrown parts to gain height, alter a symmetrical form, or play with proportion. Stay functional or go sculptural in this new class offering.
Maria Scott / Studio 7 Tue 4/7-5/19 1-3:30pm / 7 weeks $255 / Members: $235
Return to how the earliest pots were formed by hand. Find relaxation in the shaping of clay, connecting with the material, and bringing volume and surface design to simple vessels. Finishing techniques will include burnishing, pit firing, and high firing. Your hands are your tools and previous experience is not required.
Learn to confidently produce the pots of your imagination while refining (or refreshing) your craftsmanship. Techniques of forming spouts, lids, handles, and altered forms will be demonstrated. This class is a progressive step in mastering the potter's wheel. Surface decoration and high fire glazing will be demystified as you finish the pots that will become part of your home.
Wyatt Lane / Studio 5 Wed 4/8-5/20 1-3:30pm / 7 weeks Prerequisite: Beginning Ceramics $265 / Members: $245
Pulling hot pots from the kiln and seeing results within minutes describes the excitement of raku firing. Learn the various techniques and reduction variables that produce unique and beautiful results. With an instructional emphasis on firing and experimentation, you'll have the flexibility of hand building or wheel-throwing. Horsehair, naked raku, splash obvara, and sagger firings are offered in this popular class.
This is the ideal class for students who are interested in the potter’s wheel. Learn to center and transform a ball of clay into a finished pot. Weekly demonstrations introduce basic forms such as cylinders, cups, bowls, and plates. Studio slips and glazes will be discussed for completing your pottery. Students are responsible for their own pottery tools.
(B) Tom Richards / Studio 5 Thu 4/9-5/21 1-3:30pm / 7 weeks Prerequisite: Beginning Ceramics $265 / Members: $245
This is the ideal class for students who are interested in the potter’s wheel. Learn to center and transform a ball of clay into a finished pot. Weekly demonstrations introduce basic forms such as cylinders, cups, bowls, and plates. Studio slips and glazes will be discussed for completing your pottery. Students are responsible for their own pottery tools.
(A) Mitzi Davis / Studio 7 Mon 4/6-5/18 6:30-9pm / 7 weeks $255 / Members: $235
Welcome to the world of clay. Beginning students are introduced to a variety of clay-forming techniques to complete several unique projects. Pinching, coiling, and slab-building will be demonstrated, just add your own creative touch. Finish your pieces with glazes for high and low temperature firings.
Welcome to the world of clay. Beginning students are introduced to a variety of clay-forming techniques to complete several unique projects. Pinching, coiling, and slab-building will be demonstrated, just add your own creative touch. Finish your pieces with glazes for high and low temperature firings.
Tom Richards / Studio 7 Wed 4/8-5/20 1-3:30pm / 7 weeks Prerequisite: Beginning Ceramics $255 / Members: $235
Create personalized hand-built forms by utilizing your own custom bisque molds. Design the shape and size, incorporate texture, and make it your own. Working with stoneware clay and basic slab and drape techniques, put your custom molds into use throughout the session and beyond. Bisque fired stamps and handle-making tools will also be introduced. Previous experience is not required.
Julie Devers / Studio 3 Wed 4/8-5/20 9-11:30am / 7 weeks Prerequisite: nagama and instructor approval $280 / Members: $260
This independent studio course will give the advanced anagama student a head start on producing pots for the fall firing. Self-direction and an independent interest in throwing or hand building is necessary. Wood firing involves physical work, stamina, full participation in loading and wood prep, and four shifts of firing the kiln. Enrollment is
limited and registration for the summer section of Anagama is required.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.
