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  • James Watkins Workshop 2023

James Watkins Workshop - 2023

Workshop Details:

When: Friday through Sunday, August 18 - 20, 2023

Location: Ghost Ranch Retreat Center, Abiquiu, New Mexico

Registration opens February 18th - To Register for this workshop, click here.

To apply for a student scholarship, click here.

We gather together in August, 2023 to renew our community in clay, learn together and celebrate creativity over 3 days in the beauty of Ghost Ranch.

This year's NMPCA workshop at Ghost Ranch brings renowned ceramic artist James Watkins to share his techniques, knowledge, and inspiration with us.

Presenter: James Watkins

Ghost Ranch Pinon Pottery Workshop

Ghost Ranch's Pinon Pottery Studio

Workshop Description:

I would like to give a PowerPoint presentation on Friday afternoon, first thing. Then do a series throwing demonstrations throughout the three days. I would like the workshop participants to working alongside me. I would like to challenge them to practice the techniques that I show them. The workshop participants would bring 5 to 10 bisque pieces (no larger than 10” X 10”) to participate in metal can saggar firings, aluminum foil saggar firings, pit firings and raku firings, which would be done each day of the workshop.  In my throwing techniques I will address large-scale throwing and show the participants how to throw large platters, large vessels, and double-walled forms. At the end of the workshop, I will offer critiques of the work produced in the workshop.

   James Watkins              Photo Credit: Bonni Oakes

Photo Credit: James Watkins



Photo Credit: James Watkins


  James Watkins Biography

James C. Watkins is a ceramic artist who has worked with clay for over 40 years. His work is held in 23 permanent collections, including the White House Collection of American Crafts at the Clinton Library in Little Rock, Arkansas, the Shigaraki Institute of Ceramic Studies in Shigaraki, Japan, the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC, the Everson Museum in Syracuse, New York, the Tweed Museum in Duluth, Minnesota, the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis, Indiana and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston in Houston, Texas. Watkins’ work has been widely exhibited in 43 solo exhibitions and 166 group exhibitions. 

Watkins is a Texas Tech University, Horn Distinguished Professor Emeritus. The Horn Professorship is the highest honor Texas Tech University may bestow on members of its faculty. Horn Professorships are granted to professors in recognition of national and international distinction for outstanding research or other creative scholarly achievements. 

His awards include the Texas Tech University President’s Excellence in Teaching Award and the third recipient of the Art on the Llano Estacada Legacy Award, presented by Texas Tech University Museum Association. He was a 2005 Senior Fulbright Scholar, teaching in Vietnam at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Architecture. Watkins is the 2019 recipient of the HCCC Texas Master Award present by the Houston Center of Contemporary Crafts in Houston, Texas. 

Watkins is the author of the self-published book, “Reflections Made of Memories.”He is also the co-author of three books, “Alternative Kilns & Firing Techniques”published by Sterling Publishing, “Niedrigbrand”published by Hanusch/Verlag Publications—the German translation of “Alternative Kilns & Firing Techniques,” both books co-authored with Paul Andrew Wandless, and “Architectural Delineation: Presentation Techniques and Projects” published by Kendall Hunt Publishing, co-authored with James T. Davis. His work is the subject of a book entitled“A Meditation of Fire: The Art of James C. Watkins”by Kippra D. Hopper published by Texas Tech University Press. He received his BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute and MFA from Indiana University.

www.jcwclayworks.com

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