THE SECRETS OF TERRACOTTA

Marco, kiln

To anyone who is passionate about pottery or just curious, we offer a guided tour inside and outside our furnace, that will last about 30-40 minutes. During the visit, we will explain and show, whenever possible, all stages of production of a handmade pottery. The visit will begin on the outside, we will show you how and where the soil is taken to be processed and how it is cooked before being sold. We will unveil the secrets of an ancient art, the working techniques, from the most common to the most ancient and challenging. After this visit, the firm belief that "some water, some soil, and that's it" will disappear forever, and you will understand that in a single terracotta artifact there is the story of a man.

IMPRUNETA, Fi

MAKE YOUR CERAMIC MUG

Luca, ceramist

During this hands-on workshop you will create a pair of tea mug or a pair of coffe cups. I will tell you about my experience with pottery and I will show you the different materials we can work with. We will choose together the most suitable technique, then we will design the mug and shape your creation, following your ideas. When it will come the time, we will have a break for a good tea and I will make you a special sweet gift to taste! Once our molding phase is done, you will choose the colors for your object and I will then cook it, glaze it and finally send it to you. If you are in Italy the shipping costs are included, while if you come from abroad we will find a way for the shipping.

BERGAMO, Bg

REPRODUCTION OF A FRESCO

Linda, majolica decorator

What I want to offer is not just a decorative experience, but also a historical and cultural one. With the help and the experience of my friend Agata, you will visit two important historic churches in Cagli. Thanks to her knowledge you will see some medieval fresco. St. Joseph Church with the XIV century fresco representing the “Madonna del Latte”. St. Francis with the fresco of Mello from Gubbio. After a brief but intense visit to the churches, we will reproduce, on a majolica refractory tile, a detail of the fresco saw previously. We will analyze the detail to be drawn through the pouncing technique. We will use the “half dye” for the shades of the ruddiness. You will get to know the main characteristic of the brushes and of the majolica's colors. Until the cooking of the object. The workshop is thought for all those people interested in knowing and experiencing the majolica's art through the culture of the artworks that characterize my precious territory.

CAGLI, Pu

THE PALIO - GAME OF THE GOOSE IN CAGLI

Linda, majolica decorator

Retracing the “54 Caselle” (boxes) that make up the Game of the Goose in Cagli (2nd Sunday of August) is possible to learn the decorative art of majolica by immersing yourself in a Renaissance atmosphere. Through this workshop you will have the opportunity to decorate a majolica tile, representing (at your choice) any of the 54 boxes depicting arts and crafts of the town that make up the Game of the Goose. The experience begins from the aid of my friend Agata which will introduce you to the history of the game, but especially of some of the 54 boxes that are part of the game itself. With my help we'll then analyze and develop, with a design on paper, one of the boxes that was for you the most representative. Later we'll reproduce the work on a majolica tile. You will get to know this amazing technique, the peculiarity and the characteristics of the colors, and the charm to decorate with special brushes. The lunch break is included in the price and is expected at a typical restaurant of the area. After the experience in the atelier, if you want, I can advise you to dine in one of the taverns of the four historic districts of the city and sample the delights of the traditional cuisine of Cagli. Through this experience you will have the chance not only to learn about the art of majolica, but also to see how the town of Cagli will be present in the process of the game which will take place the next day. For those of you willing to stay the next day to see the parade and the Palio, here's some information: Old Goose Game www.giochistoricidicagli.it Accommodation for the night: To prevent the use of means of transport I recommend structures within the city center. I recommend you to choose it according to your needs via www.comune.cagli.ps.it

CAGLI, Pu

COURT LIFE, DUKES OF URBINO

Linda, majolica decorator

Urbino, thanks to the findings during the excavations in the vaults of the throne's hall at the Doge's Palace, have come to life amazing material testimonies of the food habits and life at the Court of Urbino. Specifically, they are objects of the modest and domestic everyday life of the servitude. You can find dishes, artworks (decorated majolica, etc) and historical documents. We'll analyze photos and documents of these pottery evidences representing the life occurring at the Court of Federico from Montefeltro. We'll reproduce them on a plate with a decorative drawing with geometrical motives. Starting from a central round depicting animals (bird, snail, deer, lynx) or symbols (closed volume, pierced heart, title block). You'll get to know the techniques to decorate majolica and the particularity of the “geometric” technique. Finally your artwork will be fired, and I will send it to you directly home. Once the experience is over, I strongly suggest you to visit the wonderful Urbino, that is 20 minutes drive from my town.

CAGLI, Pu

CLAY AND TRADITION

Daniele, ceramist

During the workshop I'll introduce you to working and cooking techniques of clay. We'll use the lathe to create typical pieces of the place, by using traditional methods. With my help you can create an object with your hands. Later it will be left to rest to dry out and after that it will be cooked in the furnace. In this way the visitor has the opportunity to bring home his own creation. Moreover he will have assisted and participated to all the necessary stages needed for the creation.

FRATTE ROSA, Pu

THE SECRET COLORS OF LANDS

Elisabetta, sculptress

With this experience I'm offering an evocative journey through the ages. I'll show you the manufacturing of soils and of their colors. I'll tell you and I'll let you try, manually, the fascinating working technique used by the potters of the Roman times. They were considered as great artists, so much that their artworks were valued as gold! I'll guide you through the handmade creation of small jewels and other objects of your choice. You can bring them with you, or better, I'll send them to you once they are fired. Through this workshop you'll find out the connections of our territory with the ancient past. This is in fact characterized by the population of “Stabiae” (the current Castellammare di Stabia), which was the favorite “holiday destination” of patricians. If weather permits, we'll work open air with a panoramic view on the Naples Gulf, with the majestic Vesuvio in front of us.

CASTELLAMMARE DI STABIA, Na

RAKU POTTERY, FROM CREATION TO FIRING

Andrea, ceramist

The workshop is divided in two stages. The first envisages the creation of two objects (a dish and a vase) by using manual techniques and various molds. This experience will take place in the atelier of Verona, located within the shop. (it will last about 4 hours). The second stage instead, will be at the atelier of the Raku's furnace. It is in an open space close to Verona. It envisages the coloring and the firing of the objects. (it will last about 4 hours). Total hours expected for the workshop are 8. For the biscuit to be available, you have to wait at least two days. That is why we'll agree upon a the date of the second stage of the experience.

VERONA, Vr

CLAY AND NATURE IN POSITANO

Elisabetta, sculptress

Immersed in the luxuriant and wild nature that this territory still offers in abundance. Along the hills cordillera of the Peninsula, going down towards the breath-taking coasts. There where at sunrise and sunset you can spot dolphins jumping through the waves. Among so much beauty, we'll find the inspiration, in its harmonious geometries and in the perfume of its colors. We'll create objects by using clay gathered exactly in these places. We'll immerse ourselves in moments where the nature will create with us, filling ourselves with its most luxuriant expression. We'll shape our precious artworks in an upland in front of a 360° view. We'll decorate by observing the geometry of a leaf or using the streaked surface of a shell found on the cliffs. Listening the symphony of the breeze among the branches in a little clearing. In the evening we'll fire our objects relaxing ourselves around the fire. This creative path will occur at the “Rifugio La Selva” in Positano. It's an evocative place with the slopes of Montepertuso behind his back. The perfect location for this workshop that will accompany us for a full day.

POSITANO, Sa

LOVE POTTERY

Linda, majolica decorator

I would like to propose a specific course on "love pottery" to those who decide to spend a lovely day together, or would like to do an original gift to the beloved person, to a couple who is getting married or for a wedding anniversary. This art was born in my territory towards the end of the 15th century when, also thanks to the influence of the Renaissance love poems, the lovers and the betrothed used to give their loved ones their portrait drawn on a majolica platter. This is where my workshop starts from. First you will draw the profile of the person you love on a sheet of paper, then you will reproduce it on a ceramic platter, using the ancient technique of dusting. You can customize your artifact adding the features of the person that you are painting, and then a love sentence, a name or a dedication. I will tell you the secrets of this wonderful technique and we will study together all the details of the beautiful colors of majolica. After the cooking, your artifact will be sent home (free of charge for residents in Italy).

CAGLI, Pu

RAKU FOR EVERYONE!

Cinzia, ceramist

An appreciation day for Raku pottery and nude Raku. The participants will be asked to decorate and glaze three artifacts made and prepared just for them. The objects will then be baked in a special gas fueled oven and completed within the end of the day with the Raku and nude Raku techniques. This is an old Japanese process that creates stunning objects: covered in marked cracks or strong iridescent metallic colors that aren't reproducible. An important part of the course will be a careful analysis of the coats you can use, as to allow every student to learn how to decorate in full autonomy. During the course of the day there will also be the opportunity to observe the workshop, see the process that goes in to making pottery and lastly to see the various finished products. The seminary starts at 10:00 and finishes at 18:00 and breaks briefly for lunch (which is included). The pieces will be left to the students at the end of the day.

SENIGALLIA, An

CREATE YOUR RAKU JEWELRY

Cinzia, ceramist

The participants will learn to create in full autonomy small shapes of clay or gres, that after the drying time will be baked and sent by post (free in Italy). We will also have some pearls in various shapes for you to decorate that will be put in the oven right away and processed with the Raku pottery procedure, these you will be allowed to take home at the end of the day and will be ready to be made in to necklaces, earrings, broaches or anything you want. The Raku technique origins in Japan and it allows the glaze to dry in a shorter amount of time, creating a very particular pattern and iridescent colors. The pieces you create will be of great impact and most of all.....completely unique! The seminary starts at 10:00 and finishes at 18:00 and breaks briefly for lunch (which is included).

SENIGALLIA, An

CROCKERY SOAP HOLDER

Agnes, ceramist

As we are on the Como lake you will give your soap holder the shape of a stylized fish. To decorate, you will use stones, fabrics, seashells and other objects to imprint on your still fresh piece. At the end of this project your works will dry for a few days in the workshop, then after the first baking session I will fill in the print that you have made with a white polish and then bake the pieces for a second time at 1020 degrees centigrade. The finished soap holder will then be sent to your address - if you live in Italy the sending price is included in the course.

COMO, Co

PRINTING AND ENGRAVING

Agnes, ceramist

I also love engravings along with printing techniques on nylon slabs, in my workshop I have a press roller that will allow us to print manually. All you have to bring with you - apart from comfortable clothes and a apron - is a nice photo or a drawing (if you do not have one we will provide one for you). In the first part of this workshop you will engrave what you wish on the nylon sheet with a cold engraving needle. Then we will have a brief rest in the atelier, have a chat and a small vegetarian lunch (glass of wine included). We will then start again and prepare the stencil to be printed: colored or not they will be put to soak. When the paper and your stencils are ready we will print a first copy to check the quality of the engravings: if you are not satisfied with some of the details you will have the opportunity to correct them. After that we will do the final print! You will be able to take home the various copies in a folder along with your stencil. If the copies are still too wet to bring home I will send them to you during the next few days (the sending price to Italy is included in the price of the workshop).

COMO, Co