Tom Bartel

Assembling The Figure

October 27 - November 1, 2024

Intermediate

Clay, Sculpture

Overview

This ceramics course will focus on building small-scale human figures using hollow, hand-formed construction methods, plaster molds, as well as coil and slab techniques. Demos will include head sculpting (eyes, nose, lips, teeth, and ears), and how to successfully attach separate clay components. Students will experiment on small tiles of clay to test surface and color treatments using vitreous slip and underglazes. Finished work can be bisque fired for safe transport. Open to all skill levels, however, some clay experience will be helpful.

Course Fee : $760.00

Techniques

Press-molding techniques
Coil and slab-building techniques
Low-fire surface techniques
Modular clay construction
Propane torch on clay to speed up the building process

Materials

Class Materials List
Please note any materials you are expected to purchase prior to arrival
Estimated fees vary based on class size and materials used

Outcomes

Traditional and innovative clay construction
Information/handouts from source image presentations
Discussions, and technical demonstrations
Test tiles for surface development
Low-Fire surface testing via slip application techniques
Multi-firing surface treatments

Scholarships & Material Fees

Need help covering workshop costs? Arrowmont offers financial aid opportunities to broaden access to our arts and craft programs. We believe a diverse community enriches the learning experience for all.

Material fees are not included in our national workshop costs, but are included with the cost of our winter short workshops. A material list with estimated costs will be emailed about 30 days before the national workshop begins.

TUITION & FEES

SCHOLARSHIPS

Cost Breakdown

One Week Workshop Tuition

$760.00

Registration Fee

$50.00

Estimated Cost*
*Fees exclude housing and meal plans

$810.00

VIEW HOUSING & MEAL PLAN COSTS

Artist Bio

Tom Bartel

Tom Bartel is a ceramic sculptor who maintains a studio in Athens, Ohio where he serves as Professor and Ceramics Chairperson at Ohio University. His works are constructed to refer to both the body and charged, stylized, surrogates for the body such as dolls, toys, and figurines. The human condition is used as a seed to investigate the concepts of disguise, identity, fertility, and mortality. Press and publications for his work include De Klein K, Netherlands, Ceramics Monthly, The Nashville Scene, The Columbus Dispatch, Neue Keramik, The Cleveland Free Times, The Oregonian, American Craft Magazine, The NCECA Journal, Ceramics Art and Perception, Confrontational Ceramics, A&C Black, London, Graphic Clay: Ceramic Surfaces and Image Transfer Techniques, Clay, Ceramics and the Human Figure, A&C Black, London, among others. He is the recipient of residencies at The Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts, Watershed Center for Ceramic Arts, McKnight Artist Residency, The Northern Clay Center, Belger Crane Yard Studios, Red Lodge Clay Center, The 21st International Symposium of Ceramics, Bechyne, Czech Republic, Japan, Korea, America: Contemporary Art Ceramics, Seoul Korea and Tokyo Japan. Bartel has exhibited extensively, select exhibits include the ASU Art Museum Ceramics Research Center, South Bend Museum of Art, Canton Museum of Art, Northern Clay Center, Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts, Santa Fe Clay, Seattle Design Center, Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton, MA, the Buddy Holly Museum, Grand Rapids Art Museum, Albany Institute of History & Art, NY, Clay Art Center, Port Chester, NY, AMOCA (American Museum of Ceramic Art), The Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts, Jingdezhen International Contemporary Ceramic Exhibition, China Ceramic Museum, Jingdezhen, Taipei County YingKo Ceramics Museum, Taiwan, FuLe International Ceramic Art Museums, China and Keramikmuseum Westerwald, Germany.

Artist Website