UPCOMING EVENTS
Deborah Masuako Zoom Workshop
Deborah Masuoka is best known for her large-scale animal head sculptures, particularly her iconic rabbit head series. Drawing inspiration from both wild and domesticated animals and their natural social structures, her work is celebrated for its dynamic energy, conceptual depth, and striking visual impact.
Davis Jazz Beat Festival
Featuring free live music, poetry reading, and dance and painting performances.
Crista Ann Ames Zoom Workshop
Explore the eloquent silence and gestured meaning of the human hand in this hands-on clay workshop. Hands have been an object of fascination since the dawn of human consciousness; used to convey emotion, symbolism, and language. In this course, participants will learn coil and solid hand-building techniques to create interpretive representations of the human hand. We will also play with gesture and surface embellishment to develop the unique character and narrative of the work.
Throughout the workshop, you will gain practical experience in attachments methods, proportion, and surface design. Crista will provide insights on composition, as well as glazing techniques, and provide examples of historical and contemporary refrences.
The course is open to all levels of makers looking to investigate and expand their creative voice! If you would like to work alongside Christa, please have a bag of groggy stoneware on hand!
Joe Mariscal In Person Workshop
Utilising the basic hand building techniques of pinch, coil and slab. This workshop will focus on the creation of animal forms that both hang on the wall and are freestanding. As an inspiration, participants are encouraged to work from printed images of their pets or their favorite animals gathered from the net or personal photo libraries. If you choose to do a pet, close up photos of the face, head on and in profile as well as any specific body language will help capture its personality and character. Demonstrations will include forming slabs without a rolling pin or slab roller and creating volume by utilising newspaper forms. Prior experience working with clay is helpful but not necessary.
Tiffany Schmierer In Person Workshop
The Clay Canvas: Exploring Surface Techniques
This workshop will cover various surface techniques you can layer onto your ceramic pieces to create detailed surface designs. We will explore stamps, press molds, stencils, resist materials, and different underglaze applications. Participants will work on tiles at different stages, from wet to bisque.
The surface skills learned during the workshop can be applied in your studio on sculpture or pottery, for a range of temperatures. Bring your basic clay tools and brushes. Come ready to play and explore.
Laguna Clay Glazes Workshop
In this workshop, participants will get to explore different glaze layering methods using Laguna Clay products from the Moroccan Matte, Moroccan Fusion, and the Designer Effects glaze lines. They will also be introduced to slip-trailing glaze techniques using colorful Versa 5 Glazes combined with Silky Underglazes!
For the workshop, students will be required to bring in 1-2 bisque fired pieces in any cone 5/6 clay of your choice to practice with.
Provided Items: glazes, brushes, sample fired glazed test tiles and vessels, color charts, and extra tiles.
Opening Reception - Jeff Myers: Convergence & Fernando Valdez: Sign, Signifier, Second Chances
Join us at the John Natsoulas Gallery for our opening reception as we celebrate our two current exhibitions:
Jeff Myers - Convergence and Fernando Valdez - Sign, Signifier, Second Chances!
Featuring free refreshments and live jazz by Maximum Ernst!
Mark Bulwinkle Zoom Workshop
Join us for a rare and exciting opportunity to step inside the studio of legendary artist Mark Bulwinkle during this live virtual lecture and walkthrough! A pioneer of the Funk Art movement and a master of large-format torch-cut sculpture, Bulwinkle will take us on a visual journey through over 50 years of his work—from early prints of the 1960s–70s to ceramics and his iconic torch-cut metal sculptures that have helped shape the aesthetic of large-scale art events like Burning Man.
This intimate Zoom event includes a guided studio tour, insights into Bulwinkle’s creative process, and a live Q&A session, where attendees can ask questions directly.
Poetry Night
Featuring Poets Rhony Bhopla and Mariam Ahmed from 7-8PM
Open Mic from 8-9PM
Janis Mars Wunderlich Zoom Workshop
Join us for a hands-on pottery workshop where you'll learn how to capture your beloved pets or fantastical creatures in this workshop for all skill levels. Janis will demonstrate how to sculpt and apply details to create both naturalistic and imaginative small-scale creatures using clay. We will also apply underglaze and learn about glazes.
Gallery Reception
2nd Friday Art About featuring John Natsoulas Press: A Visual History & Stewards of Expression
Kensuke Yamada In Person Workshop
Discover the face jug's rich history and expressive potential in this hands-on ceramic workshop. Rooted in Southern folk traditions and African American history, face jugs offer a unique way to explore character, emotion, and storytelling through clay. In this course, students will learn basic hand-building techniques, such as coil, to create functional or sculptural face jugs.
We will cover surface design, facial expression, and proportion, while also looking at historical and contemporary examples for inspiration. No previous clay experience is necessary—just a willingness to experiment and have fun! All levels are welcome.