Clay to soothe the mind and soul… The ties between craft and therapy have long been in conversation, but how does craft actually contribute to your wellbeing? According to recent research, the rhythm and repetition of movement act not only as a distraction from daily life, but have been clinically proven to raise serotonin levels, inducing relaxation and mindfulness with great meditative healing qualities on both the body and mind.
Registration for classes starting in January and February of 2025 is now open.
There are currently very few places left, for classes starting January 2025. You are welcome to call Kim on WhatsApp to talk to her about availability. There are always one or two spots available. Things are ever so slightly fluid.
We run 6 regular ceramic classes a week. Depending on the class, they cater for beginners and advanced students.
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 am – 1 pm
Wednesdays from 4 pm – 7 pm
Tuesday from 5.30 pm – 8.30 pm
Saturday mornings from 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Saturday afternoons from 2 pm – 5 pm
We also have a casual class on the last Friday of each month. This is a gentle clay experience. We need to have an adequate amount of bookings to make the class viable. You are welcome to book a spot. This class costs R900 for 3 hours and does not include the firing of the pieces you make. That cost would be extra.
Most classes are ongoing, but for those who do not want to commit for longer, we offer an 8-week course on Saturdays. If after completing the 8-week course you decide you want to take your clay journey further you are welcome to join an ongoing series of classes.
The 8-week course, which is suitable for absolute beginners, will take you through the first steps of working with clay. If done consciously and beautifully, the course could offer you an outlet to explore your creativity for quite a time to come.
The course is comprised of 8, 3-hour classes on Saturday mornings from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm or on Saturday afternoons from 2 pm to 5 pm.
You will learn how to hand-construct, decorate, glaze, and make several finished products.
The next two 8-week courses we are offering will start in mid-January 2025. You need to come for a total of 6 consecutive classes to make this a worthwhile experience.
Limited spaces are available. Contact Kim on WhatsApp at +27 833777499 for more information.
We will be offering once-off Saturday sessions for people who want a clay experience. This is an introduction to clay. It will not be orientated to necessarily making something specific, as opposed to “getting one’s hands and spirit into the feel of clay and emersion into one’s creative inner space.“
This experience is aimed at giving one a sense of what clay’s possibilities are.
There are limited spaces in all these classes generally.
WhatsApp Kim for more information at +27 83 377 7499.
We will be hosting regular workshops covering a wide range of topics. If you would like to be added to our workshop WhatsApp group to receive notifications about upcoming workshops please send Kim a WhatsApp message to +27 83 377 7499.
House and Leisure did a wonderful article on my spaces in Johannesburg at the end of 2018, which was titled ‘Celebrating the City of Gold’. I loved the notion of celebrating the good in Jozi. A city that I have lived in for most of my life. I like this little clip… very relaxed, showing the studio/workshop and how it lives on a day-to-day basis. The joy that people get from being there and exploring working with clay in its different ways.
Having worked with clay for more than 40 years, I feel very strongly that there are many components that contribute to a highly personal, and passionate, working relationship with clay. It is obviously learning the “Craft of Clay” – the techniques which enable us to reach our goals in terms of what we want to create.
There is also another part of the creative process – the deeply creative and personal aspect of being able to tap into what we have in our “unconscious creative selves” that I deem to be very significant. To be able to tap into those innate gifts of creativity that we each have, to find a positive, and satisfying path with clay in this sense has huge and equal importance for me.
I hold part-time classes, in the mornings, and occasionally I also run weekend workshops and special “Clay-Journeys”. I teach adults and children. I also cater for people with disabilities.
If you are not permanently based in Johannesburg or even if you live out of the country and are interested in a short, intense block of tuition, please contact me. I have no limits to what is potentially possible, with regard to working with clay.
Throwing, Handwork, and Sculpture. The Craft of learning to decorate clay is very exciting and has many aspects that we explore. Glazes, Slips, the notion of “Naked-Clay” and many more areas are worked with.
There is a comprehensive library of Ceramic Literature. A fantastic museum collection of African Ceramics, which is housed at the School.
Most of the regular classes are taught by Kim, but it is not uncommon to have “guest” teachers – who are specialists in their specific areas – who come and run workshops and classes in areas where their experience is valued and respected.
We have electric and raku kilns. We also explore surface treatments such as sawdust firing etc.
