Early Bird
Slow Clay Centre: UNCONVENTIONAL CLAY
Description
Unconventional Wheel Throwing, Unconventional Clay and Moulds, Unconventional Photography! 3 x sessions, 3 x guest artists!
Join Aaron Scythe (Day 1), Paul Leathers (Day 2) and Trudy Golley (Day 3) as they lead you each day.
Our annual Studio Practice Program (SPP) SPRING SCHOOL is titled Unconventional Clay, and will run over three days from 18-20 September 2025(note session times differ daily) With three different teachers and subjects, the SPP is targeted to serious students of ceramics who are looking to fill some gaps in their learning. This year we have Aaron Scythe (NZ/Japan), Paul Leathers (Canada) and Trudy Golley (Canada). The three artists will guide you with their demonstrations, presentations and discussions. Join them as they share their journey with clay and teach you some of their unconventional approaches! (Note: all workshops are demonstration only, not hands-on)
Day 1 Session: Thursday 18 September, 6-8pm. Aaron Scythe (NZ/Japan) Unconventional Wheel Throwing. Aaron is a powerhouse maker who calls upon his rigorous Japanese training, incorporating a fresh physicality and connection with the clay whilst creating his unique "free" style! Fresh from workshops in Canberra and NZ, where he has wowed audiences, this session kicks off our Spring School with a bold challenge to connect deeply with clay, with muscle memory and with the freedom that comes from the repetition process.
Day 2 Session 1: Friday 19 September, 2-5pm. Paul Leathers (Canada). Unconventional Photography. Photo-documentation is the last step in finishing an artwork; a necessary one that, in our increasingly busy schedules, is all too often neglected. By focusing on the basic principles and methods, Paul will demonstrate the ability to see beyond the artwork and into the image to produce high quality images for publication. This is also an invaluable session for ceramic artists wishing to document their work for awards/exhibitions/websites/social media. He will demonstrate setting up the photoshoot for use with a smartphone or digital point-and-shoot camera and discuss various accessories and software that can be used to improve image quality. The point is to keep the process simple and inexpensive…so that it gets done. Being a committed educator, he'll also throw in a surprise bonus demo about 3D printing ceramic tools!
Day 2 Session 2: Friday 19 September, 5.30-8pm. Soup & Social: Stay around after Paul's session for a bowl of yummy soup, chat with your new friends in the cohort and hear from the three guest artists as they present their stories and their work to us on the big screen! An evening of conviviality and friendship.
Day 3 Session: Saturday 20 September, 9.30-4.30. Trudy Golley (Canada) Unconventional Clay/Unconventional Mould making. Join experienced university educator/artist Trudy Golley as she opens the door to making paperclay and paper plaster moulds. Participants will be exposed to the working properties and advantages of paperclay in hand-building and press moulding. They will also understand how to create and use silhouette templates for personalised form development and gain strategies for integrating texture with form using unconventional approaches. You'll learn how to make and use lightweight PaperPlaster moulds for efficient studio practice and leave with new ideas, techniques, and inspiration for expanding your ceramic practice.
Early Bird price: $325 ($50 discount! Cut off: 1 August)
Slow Clay Students/Concession: $355
Normal Price: $375
Slow Clay Centre
13 Keele St, Collingwood, Victoria
Tel: 03 99437844
Email: info@slowclay.com
Web: www.slowclay.com
The Spring School will be held in person at Slow Clay Centre - for the best and most meaningful and fun learning!
Teacher/Artist Bios:
Aaron Scythe is a New Zealand ceramic artist who spent over 16 years in Japan. He originally trained at Sturt Pottery, Mittagong, NSW, and then with Ryoji Koie in Japan. He returned to New Zealand with his family after the Fukushima earthquake. Japanese traditions such as Mingei and Chadōgu (tea ceremony wares) greatly influence the philosophical approach and techniques which can be seen in his work today. Aaron’s current work reflects both his New Zealand and Māori heritage. Scythe is heavily inspired by Māori Prophets & Japanese Comics - this influence has evolved the outcome of Aaron’s creative expression & is the stimulant for this synthesized cultural blend. He has had over 60 solo exhibitions in Japan, and his work has also been widely shown in both New Zealand and Australia and is held in private collections around the world.
Trudy Golley is a Canadian ceramic artist and educator who received undergraduate training at the Alberta College of Art and the University of Calgary (BFA 1988), and earned a Master of Fine Arts degree at the University of Tasmania in Hobart, (MFA 1991). She has been invited to participate in artist residencies, exhibit, lecture, and give workshops in Canada, Australia, China, Denmark, the USA, Hong Kong, and Malta. Trudy has been an instructor at the Alberta College of Art and Design, the University of Calgary, University of Tasmania, University of Manitoba, the Kootenay School of the Arts, and most recently, Red Deer Polytechnic. Her work is represented in numerous international public and private collections she was inducted into the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (RCA) in 2002, and the International Academy of Ceramics (IAC) in 2019. She is currently focusing on her full-time studio practice.
Paul Leathers is a Canadian metalsmith, photographer and educator who received his undergraduate training at Sheridan College’s School of Crafts and Design and the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (BFA 1984), and earned his Master of Fine Arts degree at the University of Calgary (MFA 2003). He has been invited to participate in artist residencies, exhibit, lecture and give workshops internationally. Paul has been an instructor at the Kootenay School of the Arts, the Alberta College of Art and Design, and the University of Calgary. Paul is currently a full-time studio artist. His work is represented in numerous public and private collections in Canada, Europe, Asia, and Australia. He is the recipient of numerous grants, awards and honours, and was inducted into the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (RCA) in 2006.
What you will learn
- many different approaches to unlocking creative thinking
- engage with three renowned ceramic artists about their own journey to unlock their ideas
- experience some tried and tested exercises to find your unique pathway with clay
What you will get
- New knowledge and access to some amazing teachers
What to bring
- Notebook/pen
What to wear
Sensible shoes: Leave the stilettos at home!
Appropriate for
Serious students of ceramics who are keen to find their own pathway forward
Escape to Slow Clay Centre and learn the art, craft and design of expression in clay.
Slow Clay Centre is one of the most highly regarded specialist ceramics/pottery schools in Australia. We aim to give you THE BEST experience learning our ancient craft and our longevity stands for this with thousands of students who have learnt from us!
We welcome all levels from kids and beginners adults taster classes to advanced professional development and mentoring.
Our weekly students receive priority to re-enrol each term and take advantage of our generous loyalty program providing free studio access in between classes (conditions apply). In this way we can help you to develop your skills to a high level like no other school.
Our unique "Slow Clay" (TM) method for teaching the pottery wheel, established by Slow Clay Centre director and ceramic artist Jane Sawyer, has been taught for more than thirty years. Based on the Japanese techniques Jane studied training as a production thrower in Japan in combination with western techniques, the "Slow Clay" method offers a synthesis of East and West. It provides ergonomic best-practice and a solid foundation for personal expression and confidence with clay.
All our courses offer a foundation of skill-based learning within a rich framework of contemporary art and design enquiry so you can follow your interests. Our ultimate aim is to help you achieve whatever your personal goals are with clay!
Based in a beautiful inner-city studio in Collingwood, Melbourne, Australia, the Slow Clay team consists of leading professional ceramic artists and experienced teachers who offer high-level teaching in a broad variety of topics - see our web site for teacher profiles. Together with guest professional artists who host workshops and forums, we are a vibrant community and wish to share our passion for clay with everyone who is keen, no matter what level.
Cancellations & Refunds
If the organiser cancels the class:
You are entitled to a full refund.
If you can't attend the class:
You’re welcome to send someone in your place.
OR
- A transfer can be requested 14 days before the class starts. An admin fee of AU$25.00 applies.
No changes will be allowed after these times.
We recommend the refund upgrade option upon checkout in case you’re not able to attend the class. Learn more about refund upgrade option.
Terms & Conditions
Welcome to Slow Clay Centre!
We aim to give you the best experience learning ceramics! Each course may have slightly different terms but these are our generic ones: please read carefully:
General:
These apply to all Slow Clay Centre courses, workshops and events:
- Deposit or full payment (depending on the course/workshop/event) must be made at the time of booking
- Please choose carefully. Due to our limited class sizes once you've booked and paid either the deposit or the full fee we will only refund what you have paid if the class is cancelled by us. If you are unable to attend you may transfer your booking to a friend for no charge or, provided we can fill your place, we can sometimes transfer you to another class or hold your payment in credit for up to 24 months for a future course
- There is a $25 fee for transfer or credit note and you must pay any fee difference if the new course price is higher
- Please note: All students will receive a reminder between three weeks and/or one week (depending on the course) before the start date with a link to pay any remaining balance with your credit card. Students who paid the deposit online will have the balance automatically deducted. Others will need to click on the link provided or ring our office on 99437844.
- Due to our limited class sizes, if your balance is not received three weeks before the start date and you have not made arrangements with us, we reserve the right to find a replacement student and your deposit will be forfeited
Weekly classes: These additional conditions apply to all Slow Clay Centre weekly classes.
- Please note that making ceramics, particularly on the pottery wheel, can be a physically demanding activity. If you have any pre-existing illnesses and/or chronic injuries to your back, shoulders, hips, neck, wrists or elbows we strongly advise you to seek a medical opinion before enrolling as some activities might exacerbate past injuries and we take no responsibility if this occurs.
- We ask that you fully disclose any prior and/or ongoing illnesses or injuries that could affect you before you enrol AND inform your teacher in person during the first class.
- Your enrolment is conditional on your acceptance that Slow Clay Centre and/or the company's employees, whether casual, contract, or permanently employed, are indemnified against any exacerbation of any past or any new injuries that may arise as a result of your activites.
- All work made during classes is to be used for personal, non-commercial purposes. This is individually negotiable for advanced students or for studio exhibitions but we ask students to accept that the emphasis of our classes is strictly on education not studio production. If you sell your work made using our materials you must acknowledge Slow Clay Centre and also ensure you have your own product liability insurance
- Teaching fees are fully inclusive of materials but students will incur a single firing fee based on the current cost (advised in your class)
- Please note: we encourage judicious selection of your work to fire. Firing is always optional and all clay is recycled until the first firing. After that you must pay the firing fee for everything that gets fired. If it cracks, glaze drips, or you just don't like it, you are still required to pay the firing fee unless the fault is caused by us.
- Collection of fired pieces: Please understand that our storage capacity is extremely limited. Students will be notified via email when work is ready to be collected. Work will only be retained for two weeks following notification.
Regarding Kids Clay Club:
- It is your responsibility to clearly report in writing on the enrolment form, any illness, allergies or disability that may affect your child's involvement in the Clay Club activities.
- Please sign-in and sign-out your children
- Please respect our teachers and be prompt to arrive and to collect your children (within 5 minutes of class time)
- Children are expected to be mature enough to follow instructions, to work in a group together, to respect everyone's needs and differences and to be polite to everyone.
Thanks Helen, so pleased you got so much from it!
So pleased you got so much from the course Anne and thanks for the lovely words!