Summer Teen Program
It's a two week long all-you-can-pot buffet
This will be the third year of the summer teen program. We see a ton of potential in it and are committed to it's ongoing success.
We've made some changes to the program this year. Teens will now enroll for two week periods compared to three weeks. We know that summers are challenging to plan and three weeks is a large commitment. We're extending programming till 3pm and will continue to offer two hours of practice time at the end of the day. And lastly, they'll adventure into Boston for a field trip every other week, instead of once a week.
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The goal of this program is provide young teens with an immersive clay experience. Summers offer kids a unique of window of time to experiment and push their interests. Pretty soon they get hit with college and a bunch of life responsibilities. Yuck.
They'll have access to all of the quality clays, glazes, tools and decorating materials that are available here. You can find more info on these in our Student Resource Page and glaze page.
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The teachers are fantastic, the projects are engaging, and the kids come away from the program with a collection of beautiful pottery for friends and family to enjoy. Maybe they'll include it in a future resume!
Program Details
This program runs in our Watertown studio. Classes will have up to 11 teens, accompanied by two instructors.​ The program will run from 9am-3pm, Monday-Friday for two weeks. Participants may stay from 3-5pm to practice on their own.
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Each day is a combination of demonstration and free time for the teens to explore ceramics. They'll be introduced to a large collection of clay bodies and decorating materials like slips, underglazes, waxes, oxide washes and bucket glazes.
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Lessons will include foundational techniques on the wheel. After learning the basic hand positions and how to center, they'll be taught how to approach different forms like bowls, cups, jars, teapots, pitchers and more.
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At the hand building table, they'll learn about the properties of clay and how we use them to our advantage in constructing shapes.
Schedule
First Week
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​​Mon-Wed, Heavy focus on instruction, wheel fundamentals, and slab construction.
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​Thurs-Fri, Production days. Tall form demonstrations, altering and multi-part hand building projects. Introduction to slips.
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​Sat-Sun, IF staff hustles to get pots fired :)
Second Week​
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​​Monday, Leather hard day. Teens complete any in-progress projects so that they can be bisque fired for Friday.
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​Tuesday, Field Trip. The teens are taken on an adventure into Boston to visit local artists and studios.
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​Wed-Fri, Decoration and glazing. Most of their pots will have come out of the bisque kiln and are ready for glazing.
Field Trip
There are a ton of awesome ceramics destinations in Boston. In past years we've visited individual studio artists like Julie Peck, as well as Andem Art Studios, Harvard Ceramics, the Pucker Gallery, and The Harvard Museum of Art. There are friends of the studio all over town!
Important info before registering
Two week registration fee: $1,050
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​​Participants in this program will be provided a set of pottery tools that they can take home at at the end. Finished pottery will be fired after the class ends and picked up later. These glazed pots will be microwave and dishwasher safe! Nice.
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Like our summer kids program, this class is designed for teenagers that have a demonstrated interest in ceramics. Please make sure you and your teen know that you're signing up for two weeks of pottery action!
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