This course is a two weeks immersion into wheel throwing for tableware design. During which you will have a chance to immerse yourself in the practice of ceramics and make a complete tableware set, while also enjoying the tranquil pleasures of Sicilian life.
In this course you will have a chance to perfect your throwing skills: you will practise throwing bowls, plates and cups, as well as tea pots and ceramic boxes. You will be guided to throw thinner and more even walls, as well as throwing shapes that are new and challenging. You will have a unique chance to fully immerse yourself in the practice of wheel throwing, making progress that would be hard to achieve within the noise of everyday life.
Each student will also have a chance to design their own tableware set, then make it. On week two, students will also be taught a few glaze recipes, and will have a chance to mix their own glazes and pick a colour for their set.
By the end of the retreat you will have the opportunity to choose which pieces you would like fired, glazed and shipped to you. As pieces need approximately a week to dry out, this will be done for you once the retreat has concluded. The costs of shipping are not included in the course price.
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The course is focussed on learning foundational skills for tableware design, but you will also be able to make and keep a full tableware set
This course is right for you if:
Leonardo Rousseau is a ceramicist working in Brussels and raised in Paris. He is the founder of Atelier Espiney in Brussels and he specialises in tableware and decorative items, using different types of stoneware. All his pieces are thrown on the wheel and each of them is unique due to this process. All his glazes result from his personal research, and add his pieces a refined and subtle finish.
For the past four years, Leonardo worked as a teacher in several studios in Brussels. During this time, he mentored hundreds of students always with the same dedication to guide the students to the next steps.
He was one of our first teachers at Salemi Ceramics in July 2024, teaching several courses including a first version of this 2 weeks tableware course.
IG @atelier_epiney
The Salemi School of Ceramics is a social enterprise that has been opened to create a learning centre for contemporary ceramics, the first of its kind in Sicily.
The School has been created in partnership with the local town of Salemi, which has provided the gorgeous space - the Sant'Agostino Monastery - that will be used for the school.
Salemi has a gorgeous historical centre and because it is quiet and peaceful, it is the perfect place for a mindful ceramics retreat.
During these two weeks, you won’t just get a ceramics course. We’ve also organised a program of activity so that you can connect with Sicilian culture, get to know beautiful Salemi and its rich history and territory.
You will:
Classes will be held from Monday through to Friday. Classes will be 4h each morning
(9am-1pm) and 2/3h on Monday and Friday afternoon (2-4/5pm). On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, you will have free studio time (2/3h) and/or an organised trip to one of the local cultural landmarks.
A typical day will look like this:
Exact hours may vary depending on ad-hoc adjustments, but you will have a minimum of 6h a day in the studio, for a total of 26h of teaching and 9h of supervised free studio time every week.
During the weekends, the studio will be closed. You will be free to organise your own weekend plans or participate in one of our optional weekend activities.
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The Salemi Project wants to make Salemi a recognised centre for contemporary ceramic art. Come and be part of it!
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