Micaceous Clay Pottery
created and hosted by Sohpie Rog & Ida Rotto through Red Oak Outdoor School

For Adults and Teens 16+
With Sophie Rog

Two weekends in November:
November 2nd from 10 - 5
November 3rd from 10 - afternoon*
November 9th from 10 - 5
November 10th from 10 - 1

Come explore the ancient art of handbuilding pottery, engage with the earth and yourself in a new way, and make your own clay pot that can be used for cooking on your stovetop or in your oven. This is a special opportunity to connect with the body of the earth through your own hands and heart.

In this class we will learn the traditional coil and scrape method of hand building pots. We will use micaceous clay from New Mexico and build in the Jicarilla Apache style, in the lineage of master potter Felipe Ortega. The techniques we will use are transferable to other clay bodies, and we may get to play with some regional clays as well! We will also learn about making blessings for the clay and our hands before we begin, about the Jicarilla Apache and Pueblo people who traditionally make these pots, and about techniques and recipes for cooking in clay. 

People have been making clay vessels for thousands of years, and before metal pots became widely available, people the world over cooked in clay pots. However, cooking in clay is easy and in some places people still do it every day. Food cooked in clay is special and delicious–the clay helps maintain moisture, helps it cook evenly, and imparts an indescribable unctuousness! Clay pots are especially good for slow cooked dishes, stews, beans and grains. It is said that beans and coffee cooked in clay are less acidic due to the alkalizing properties of the minerals in the clay. 

Students can expect to go home with one medium sized serving bowl and one small to medium cooking pot. There may be the chance to make more items for a small additional materials fee.

*our end times each day will depend on how far along our projects are. On the 3rd and the 9th, it is possible some students may finish earlier or later.

Register Here!

Tuition Guide: Because we want to make sure that everybody who wants to can join, we are using a 3-tiered payment system. For each program there are a certain number of spaces in each tier (see registration forms.): (1)  Supporting Community: This tier is for those who might have the resources to stretch a little farther in order to support others who would not otherwise be able to join. (2) Covering Costs: this tier is the basic cost of running the program. (3) Supported by Community: This tier is intended to allow participants to join who would not otherwise be able to.