Weekend Workshop -- Cast That Handle

Today, a few other students and I spent a good part of an afternoon in a workshop with Joe Kraft about casting handles in plaster.  These handles can be used for mugs or any other vessels that has a handle.  If you have a handle shape that you really like and would like to make it repeatedly and easily, this is the workshop for you.

Joe spent the first half an hour explaining handle making and what types of handle forms are suitable for casting and then the participants spent about 30 minutes making the handles they want cast into a mold.  

Joe then explained the process of mixing plaster for the casting as he mix the plaster for the handle molds.  It was a very informative workshop and the time flew by.  The video below is of Joe and his able assistants separating each individual mold from the giant block.

Meet the New AIR (Artist in Residence)

The two new Artist-In-Residence are Sean Clute and Joe Kraft.  The new AIR will join us in early September.  Joe and Sean have a depth of experience in teaching, firing and general studio maintenance.  They are looking forward to being a part of the Lillstreet community.

Sean's work is conceptual and he has an interest in developing his characters.  Sean graduated from the University of Montana, had a residency at the Clay Studio of Missoula, and is currently at St. Petersburg Clay Company.  This Fall, he will be teaching sculpture and handbuilding classes starting with a new class: Handbuilding New Forms on Thursday evenings and Advance Handbuilding on Wednesday mornings.

While Joe's personal work has evolved to handbuilding, his previous experience as a wheel thrower is sometimes evident in his forms. In the Fall, he will be teaching Saturday Intermediate Wheel and First Time Handbuilding.  He attended Waubonsee Community College and graduated from Alfred. 

Sign up for these classes on the web using the links or stop at the front desk at Lillstreet.