Soil Collection & Pinch Pot Workshop with Artist-in-Residence Chloe Bischoff
April 12 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Overview
Join Artist-in-residence Chloe Bischoff for a Ceramic workshop at the Diftless Fiber Arts Collective.
Contribute soil from a meaningful place to their residency project, and learn fundamentals of ceramic hand building by creating pinch pots to hold them!
In this workshop, participants are invited to bring a small soil sample from a place in or around Lanesboro that holds personal meaning—your backyard, a favorite walking path, a family farm, the riverbank. Together, we will begin the process of transforming this earth into a ceramic material. Participants will hand build small pinch pots that will be used to fire and stabilize their soil samples, beginning the transformation into grog, a traditional ceramic additive made from fired earth.
No prior clay experience is necessary, just curiosity and a willingness to engage with place in a new way!
SOIL SAMPLE:
Please bring a small soil sample (about 1 cup) from a meaningful location in or around Lanesboro. Transport your soil in a sealed container such as a Tupperware, glass jar, or zip-top bag. For best results, collect soil from a few inches below the surface rather than just the top layer. Surface soil often contains leaves, decomposing debris, and other organic matter. While small amounts are completely fine, soil with less organic material will process more smoothly, because any organic matter will burn away in the kiln, leaving behind only the mineral components of soil that give it its unique color and character.
A small hand shovel, garden trowel, or even a sturdy spoon works well for digging. If your location has visible clay deposits, those make especially strong samples—but all soils are welcome. Keep an eye out for distinctive colors such as red, yellow, gray, or deep brown, as these mineral variations can subtly influence the texture and tone of your finished piece. If you’re unsure whether your soil will work, bring it anyway: we will explore its qualities together!
This workshop will be offered twice, once at the St. Mane Theatre Studio on Friday, April 10th from 6:00 – 7:00 pm and once again at the Driftless Fiber Arts Collective on April 12 from 2:00 – 3:00 pm. The content of the workshop will be the same each time.