Ceramics
Code: C1215-25
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Open to All
Students of any skill and knowledge level.
Patterns of Kinship: Connecting to Ancestry Through Surface Design in Clay
Aug 18 - 22, 2025
9AM-5PM
Concept
This immersive surface pattern workshop explores the deep connections between heritage, identity, and design. Inspired by Barnett’s book, Crafted Kinship, this class guides students through creating meaningful patterns rooted in their ancestry and cultural history. Through hands-on work in clay, students uncover symbols, stories, and motifs passed down through generations, transforming them into a personal visual language. Together, students draw inspiration from personal experiences and subjects of interest, using surface design to honor and celebrate our collective creative heritage. Perfect for makers seeking to infuse their work with cultural significance.
Media & Techniques
Clay, slips, underglaze, pottery tools, designing, hand-building, slip transfer, carving, discussion, low-fire
“At AMACO Brent we believe that creativity should be nurtured and accessible to everyone. That’s why we’re proud to donate materials to support the incredible workshops at Anderson Ranch Arts Center.
Anderson Ranch offers workshops for artists of all ages a chance to explore, experiment, and express themselves through hands-on learning with clay. We’re honored to help provide the tools that make those experiences possible—and excited to see what the participants create!
Here’s to workshops full of inspiration, imagination, and art.”
Faculty
Malene Barnett
Malene Djenaba Barnett is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist, textile surface designer, and author of Crafted Kinship. Her work reflects her African Caribbean heritage, blending ceramics, textiles, and mark-making to explore ancestral legacy, identity, and diasporic traditions. Through exhibitions and residencies, Barnett’s art challenges conventional narratives, celebrating Black creativity and cultural resilience.
Malene Barnett, Memories of Home
Join Waitlist for Patterns of Kinship: Connecting to Ancestry Through Surface Design in Clay
Thank you for your interest in the waitlist. When space in a workshop or program becomes available, registration will open on the website. Everyone on the waitlist will be emailed to alert them of the opening. This ensures that everyone has an equal opportunity to register for the workshop or program.
Ceramics
In 1966, American ceramicist Paul Soldner selected the site for what is now Anderson Ranch Arts Center, forming the foundation for a thriving ceramics program. Then and now, Anderson Ranch is a place where students exchange ideas and examine ceramic art and pottery techniques. It has always been a place where seminal moments of growth happen in an artist’s creative and critical thinking. Here, both beginning and emerging artists gain strong fundamental support, while established artists achieve new perspectives and advance their techniques.
The Ranch Ceramics team provides support, feedback and technical problem-solving, giving each artist the freedom to experiment and grow. Our primary focus is on personal advancement through a process of creative discovery.
The Soldner Ceramics Center makes up more than 10,000 square feet in three buildings with 3 studio spaces and 1 kiln yard; Soldner Studio, Long Studio, Sorenson Studio and Lyeth/Lyon Kiln Building. Soldner and Long studios are used for wheel-throwing, hand-building, or general ceramics creativity. Sorenson studio is equipped with five PotterBot 3d clay printers. The Lyeth/Lyon kiln building is equipped with gas, electric, soda and wood kilns for both oxidation and reduction firing at all temperature ranges. The Ranch offers three wood kilns including a gas/wood hybrid kiln, three gas reduction kilns, one soda kiln and eleven high-temperature electric kilns.
Anderson Ranch is happy to extend a tuition discount* in summer one- or two-week adult ceramics workshops** for NCECA members at the student membership level or above. Please email reg@
Workshop Details
Workshop Supplies
For general information about studio access, shipping, and more, please visit our info page.
If you have any questions regarding your supplies for your workshop, please contact Joanne Seongweon Lee, [email protected].
Provided by Anderson Ranch
Equipment
- Banding Wheel
- Boards
- Containers
- Lightbox
- Scissors
- Shared Tables
- Sponge**
- Spray Bottle**
- Squeeze Bottle
- Water Buckets
Supplies
- Black Sharpie**
- Cone 6 Shop Glazes
- Mason Stains
- Mod Podge Resist
- Newsprint
- Plastic for Covering Works
- The clay allowance is 50 pounds for this one-week workshop. Only the clays and glazes chosen for the workshop will be available for use, which are predetermined by the instructor. Please do not bring additional clay from your studio.
- Underglazes
- Washes
- Wax Resist
- White Slip
What you need to bring
Required Tools and Supplies
- Apron and/or Towel**
- Basic Pottery Tools**
- Carving Tools/Loop Tools**
- Favorite Pottery Tools From Your Home Studio
- Images of Inspiration
- Pencil**
- Ruler**
- Serrate Ribs**
- Sketchbook/Notebook**
- Sponge**
- Variety of Brushes**
- Various Ribs**
- X-Acto Knife**
Optional Tools and Supplies
- Cone 6 Commercial Glazes. Students are welcome to bring their own.
- Mason Stains. Anderson Ranch will provide a limited amount of Mason Stains. Students are welcome to bring their own.
- Packing Materials**
- Scissors**
- Underglazes. Anderson Ranch will provide a limited amount of underglazes. Students are welcome to bring their own.
* Available for purchase in the studio.
** Available to purchase at the Anderson Ranch ArtWorks Store for 10% off. The store aims to stock comparable items, though specific products from the supply list may vary based on inventory.
Learn more about shipping supplies and artwork to and from the Ranch in the Student Handbook.
Lodging & Meals
Housing is limited and includes shared and private lodging options. Reservations will be managed on a first-come, first-served basis. The earlier you reserve housing, the better your chance of receiving your preferred option. Please note: Workshop costs do not include accommodations.
NEW: Tuition includes a welcome dinner and lunches. In our effort to foster a stronger sense of community and accessibility at Anderson Ranch, we include the welcome dinner and all lunches as part of the tuition for summer workshop students. Our hope is that this adjustment will encourage all students to come together to share meals and engage in meaningful conversations. The Ranch Café Meal Plan, which is included with Room and Board fees, strives to provide healthy, creative meals that will nourish your artistic creativity. Learn more.
We have established a Business Safety Plan with added layers of precaution that prioritize the health and safety of our staff, students, faculty and guests while continuing to provide you with the Anderson Ranch experience that you know and enjoy.
Scholarships, College Credit & Discounts
Making Art Accessible
Applications for scholarship support are encouraged. Specific scholarships are funded by Ranch supporters, either through endowed funds or special gifts.
Many colleges and universities offer college credit for workshops taken at Anderson Ranch. Discounts are available for students and teachers.
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