At the Davidson Ceramics Studio we encourage all skill levels to work in clay, a timeless and enjoyable medium. Hand building, "throwing" on the potters' wheel, glazing and firing are all done on site. We use high temperature reduction fired glazes that are beautiful and safe for tableware or sculpture. Come down to the wonderful off-campus site, see what you can make, and learn more! The Studio is located across the Ledyard Bridge on the Norwich side of the river.

No advance sign up is required, you may sign up on your first visit.

Fall 09 Hours:

• TUESDAY through SATURDAY 1 - 5 pm except until 7 pm on THURSDAYS
  
  
• BEGINNING POTTERS WHEEL INSTRUCTION (small group instruction sessions) available at 2 pm , Tuesday through Saturday from September 23 through November 12 (after that date we will concentrate on trimming and glazing only).
  
  Wheel instruction sessions are recommended for beginners but not required. They are available on a drop-in basis, once or multiple times. The small group sessions are designed to help learn basic wheel throwing techniques. However, if you cannot make the sessions, you can still learn wheel throwing and receive individual instruction. Just come in whenever you have time.
  
  
• HAND BUILDING INSTRUCTION and INDIVIDUAL POTTER'S WHEEL INSTRUCTION is available anytime during our open hours through mid November. We advise arriving at the studio before 4 pm (before 6 pm on Thursdays) as work in clay takes time. Wheel work requires multiple visits to the studio.
• FIRING SCHEDULE:
  - Last trimming before first glaze firing: Thursday, October 15th.
  - Glaze: by Thursday, October 22nd.
  - First large kiln glaze firing: Saturday, October 24th.
  - Last trimming for 2nd glaze firing: Friday Nov. 13th.
  - Last glazing: Friday November 20th.
  - Last large kiln glaze firing: Monday, November 23rd.
  

Cost:

• User fees are $10 per term for currently enrolled students or $40 per term for faculty.
• Material fees include glaze and firing: $1 per pound for stoneware clays (porcelain is available at a higher cost).

How much skill is required?

Throwing on the potters wheel looks pretty easy but actually seems difficult at first. It is one of those endeavors that takes practice. The more you do it, the easier it becomes. We love to help beginners get started, so no previous experience is required.

Hand building is for everyone! All levels can enjoy manipulating this malleable material. We have press molds to help you make a "slab built" soup bowl or coffee mug on your very first visit.

Timing:

Clay work takes time!! Please plan to arrive at least one hour before closing!

On average it takes 3 visits to the studio to produce a piece.
First is the fabrication stage. One works with the soft material either on the wheel or builds it "by hand" off of the wheel. Next is the "trimming" stage where the clay is worked at the "leather hard" stage to finish and refine the piece. Then each piece takes at least a few days to completely dry.

After the drying stage the studio assistants take over and put your pot into a "bisque" kiln for the initial first firing. The bisque firing takes place in one of our electric kilns. When it comes out (a few days later) it will be a light pink color and it will be ready for glazing.

Last stage: dipping your piece into a vat of homemade glaze. Then your pot will be stored on the shelves, awaiting the final firing in our large gas fired "reduction" kiln. The final glaze firing takes an average of 4 days from start to finish and the pots are fired to a high temperature of 2,350 degrees F.

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The F. A. Davidson '14 Ceramics Studio is located on the Norwich side of the Connecticut River, a short walk from the Green. The studio is equipped with potter's wheels, slab roller, extruder, glazes and electric and gas kilns. All types of work in ceramics are encouraged, and instruction is provided for all levels of students.
Contact: Jenny Swanson: 1-802-649-2447 (local call)

Directions from the Green: walk down Wheelock Street towards the Connecticut River. Cross the Ledyard Bridge, turn right at the end of the bridge (there's a stoplight there). Take an immediate left into the large parking lot. The Ceramics Studio is the brick and white cape style farmhouse facing the parking lot.

Click on an image for enlargement. Click right or left side of enlargement to navigate through the series.

Click on an image for enlargement. Click right or left side of enlargement to navigate through the series.

The background music on this video is by Zebra Junction.

Jenny Swanson has been has been teaching ceramics since the 1980's and has been Director of the Hopkins Center Student Workshop Ceramics Program since 2004. She studied Drawing and Ceramics at Bennington College and received an MFA in Ceramics from Cranbrook Academy of Art. She has exhibited ceramics throughout the US, and has travelled in North, Central and South America as well as in Europe and India. photo: Jenny Swanson in Cornish Flat studio.

National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts
http://nceca.net/

Studio Potter Magazine
http://www.studiopotter.org/

Ceramics Monthly Magazine and Pottery Making Illustrated Magazine
http://www.ceramicartsdaily.org/

International Society for Ceramics Arts Education and Exchange
http://www.iscaee.org/

Jenny Swanson:

Davidson Ceramic Studio phone: 802-649-2447

mailing address:
Davidson Ceramic Studio
HB 6186
Hopkins Center
Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH 03755

physical address of the studio:
1 Ledyard Lane
Norwich, VT 05055
(directly across the Ledyard Bridge from Hanover)

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Woodworking questions: Greg Elder, 603-646-2347
Jewelry questions: Jeff Georgantes, 603-646-3226