University of Wisconsin Platteville Office of Continuing Education
Course Syllabus
TITLE: Wood Firing and Functional Wheel Thrown Pottery
Number:
Semester: Summer 2015
Credits/Contact Hours: 1-2 (Undergraduate) credits (15-30 hours)
Days and dates: June 6-12, 2015
Times: 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Location: Bethel Horizons Art Ventures, Dodgeville, Wisconsin
Instructor: Guillermo Cuellar and Ric Cox
Office Address: 18855 263rd St
City/State/Zip: Shafer, MN 55074
Office Phone: 651-213-1073
E-mail Address: guillermo@guillermopottery.com
Office Hours: 9:00AM-5:00PM
Course description:
This pottery workshop will have a two fold thrust beginning with a firing of the Adamah
wood kiln, covering all aspects of stacking and firing a wood kiln, with bisque pieces
brought by the participants. While the kiln is cooling, there will be daily demos of a
variety of utilitarian forms and discussion of craft, aesthetics and function. Students will
make and resolve a number of forms of their choice. Instructors will present slides and
students will be encouraged to bring images of their own work for discussion.
Course objectives:
Upon completion of this workshop students will have experienced a wood firing and had
a discussion of the results and effects of this process on their work. They will have
finished a number of utilitarian forms selected from the demos and discussion and will
have formed a basis to continue the development of their own studio work.
Source of Expertise:
Guillermo Cuellar is a Minnesota-based potter, who was born and lived in Venezuela until
2006. He has been potting full time since 1981 and makes a range of functional, glazed pieces
on a treadle wheel and fires in a reduction gas-fired stoneware kiln and a salt/soda-fired kiln.
Since 2010 his studio has been a host on the St. Croix Valley Pottery Tour
www.minnesotapotters.com . Cuellar’s work has been exhibited across the United States and
abroad. He was featured on the Minnesota PBS (TPT) series, Minnesota Original,
http://www.mnoriginal.org/artist/cuellar-guillermo , and participated in the documentary
“Minnesota Potters, Sharing the Fire” that explores mentorship in Minnesota. He is represented
in galleries across the United States, including Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton, MA; Northern
Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN; Red Lodge Clay Center, Red Lodge, MT; and Schaller Gallery,
Benton Harbor, MI.
Ric Cox has been a potter for 40 years. He brings a different perspective from Guillermo to clay.
Recently, after retiring from the business world, he has been able to concentrate his time and life
passion with clay again and has become active promoting artistic work through his non-profit
gallery in St. Paul, MN, Gallery 1639 https://www.facebook.com/Gallery1639 . He fires his
wood-fire kiln in NW Wisconsin with an emphasis on soda firing a black stoneware clay body
and porcelain. His work is primarily thrown on an electric wheel, and his goal is to make work
that people use and enjoy every day. He says, “Each firing experience provides a way to learn
and evolve in your work.”
Course requirements
Assignments Personalized daily assignments will be tailored for each individual
student.
Exams None
Attendance and class participation Students will be required to attend class
and participate in discussion and assignments. The instructor expects each student will
be responsible for his or her own learning and will gain useful information from this
class.
Grading criteria
The instructor expects each student will be responsible for his or her own learning and
will gain useful information from this class.
A = excellent participation in the class
B = average participation in the class
C = barely adequate participation in the class
D = disconnected but participation the class
F = no participation in the class
Schedule
Day 1: Sunday, June 7
9:00 AM: Arrival, check in
Intro talk, scheduling for the week
Scheduling of kiln firing shifts
Lunch: 12-1
PM: Glazing, kiln packing
Dinner: 5-6
Evening: Begin firing
Day 2: Monday, June 8
Breakfast: 8-8:30
AM: Kiln firing with assigned shifts
Demos and studio time, one-on-one discussion with Guillermo
Lunch: 12-1
PM: Kiln firing with assigned shifts
Demos and studio time, one-on-one discussion with Guillermo
Dinner: 5-6
Evening: Firing ends
Day 3: Tuesday, June 9
Breakfast: 8-8:30
AM: Demos and studio time, one-on-one discussion with Guillermo
and Ric
Lunch: 12-1
PM: Demos and studio time, one-on-one discussion with Guillermo
and Ric
Dinner: 5-6
Evening: Look at students’ work images
Day 4: Wednesday, June
10
Breakfast: 8-8:30
AM: Demos and studio time, one-on-one discussion with Guillermo
and Ric
Lunch: 12-1
PM: Demos and studio time, one-on-one discussion with Guillermo
and Ric
Dinner: 5-6
Evening: Guillermo talk
Day 5: Thursday, June 11
Breakfast: 8-8:30
AM: Demos and studio time, one-on-one discussion with Guillermo
and Ric
Lunch: 12-1
PM: Demos and studio time, one-on-one discussion with Guillermo
and Ric
Dinner: 5-6
Evening: Ric talk
Day 6: Friday, June 12
Breakfast: 8-8:30
AM: Unpack the kiln
Discussion of results, clean up
Lunch: 12-1
PM: Clean up, pack
2:00 Departure
NOTE: Students with impaired sensory, manual, or speaking skills are encouraged and have the responsibility to
contact the Office of Continuing Education toll free 888-281-9472 regarding reasonable accommodation needs.
Students requiring reasonable accommodation needs must be registered as a student with a disability. Please
contact Amy Pennekamp at the Continuing Education Office.