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RCSJ's Clay College Snowman Workshop Warms Holiday Spirits
A "cool" project helped to warm hearts this holiday season during Rowan College of South Jersey's annual holiday pottery workshop.
A “cool” project helped to warm hearts this holiday season when Rowan College of South Jersey’s (RCSJ) Clay College held its annual holiday workshop, creating pottery snowmen under the guidance of studio technician and instructor Lisa Weatherill.
Twenty-nine staff and local community members collected their snowman kits at the Arts & Innovation Center in Millville before attending the Nov. 6 two-hour, online workshop. Snowman forms, previously thrown on a pottery wheel, were covered in plastic to keep the clay soft and pliable until the day of the workshop. Extra clay and underglaze paints were also provided in the kit to add a personal touch to the decorations. Following the workshop, participants called to schedule a drop off time to have the snowmen fired and glazed in the College’s kiln.
“This workshop was a lesson on ‘score and slip,’ the process of joining two pieces of clay together,” said Weatherill. “Participants score (roughen the surface), slip (paint on liquid clay that acts like glue) and blend the pieces together so they don’t pop off.”
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"Although we are a bit out of our comfort zone teaching art online, I have been pleased to see the success of the online live workshops,” stated RCSJ Fine Art Director Jackie Sandro-Greenwell. “It's a great activity for friends and families to enjoy together in the safety of their homes. We are planning to continue the online live option even after the pandemic."
RCSJ’s Arts and Innovation Center is home to the Creative Arts department and Clay College. The studio and gallery include a state-of-the-art ceramic studio complete with 15 pottery wheels, a glaze room, 4 kilns and two 3-D ceramic printers. It is the only ceramic studio within a 50-mile radius.
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In January, Clay College will host two online pottery workshops:
Friday, Jan. 15 — Chip and Dip, 6 – 8 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 22 — Heart Tray, 6 – 8 p.m.
For more information or to register, email Randy Wilfong at rwilfon1@rcsj.edu or visit https://bit.ly/ClayCollegeRCSJ. Private group classes are also available.
Rowan College of South Jersey’s Arts & Innovation Center is located at 321 High Street in Millville.