College credit for this program is pending. Please call our office for further information. Paul introduces the clays used in pottery of the Mesa Verde region and teaches you how to roll coils and join them to shape the vessel. You apply slip and then polish your vessel in preparation for painting. Alumni work with Jody to build their vessels from Santa Clara clay.
Work continues into the evening.
You create a piece with one of these clays, learning the techniques of smoothing and refining your vessel. You learn to make and use yucca brushes to paint your vessel with vegetal paint made from boiled beeweed plants. You may choose to take a break by walking along the nature trail on our lovely campus. Following a picnic lunch overlooking a beautiful canyon, we examine pottery from the museum s collection and visit Spruce Tree House, Cliff Palace, or Balcony House spectacular cliff dwellings where the pottery was constructed and used. Alumni remain on campus in the morning to fire their pots in preparation for carving and enjoy a special field trip in the afternoon.