F.A. Davidson '14 Ceramics Studio

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.

The Davidson Ceramics Studio opens for Spring Term on Monday March 25th, 2013

SPRING 2013 HOURS:

Monday through Saturday
1pm -5pm except until 7pm on Thursdays

OPEN TO DARTMOUTH STUDENTS AND FACULTY WITH VALID DARTMOUTH COLLEGE ID IDENTIFYING THEM AS SUCH

User Fees:

Students: $12 per term; Faculty: $75 per term
Material fees: $5 for 5 pounds of clay, includes glaze and firing.

HAND BUILDING AND POTTER'S WHEEL INSTRUCTION
Available anytime during our open hours through May 15th. After that date trimming and glazing only. We recommend coming in and starting at the beginning of the term. Ceramics projects typically require at least three weeks to complete so please plan in advance!

We also advise arriving at the studio before 4 pm (before 6 pm on Thursdays) as work in clay takes time. Wheel work requires multiple visits (at least 3) to the studio.

For more information blitz Jenny Swanson or call the Davidson Ceramics Studio — 802-649-2447—during studio hours.

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.

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.

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 the Davidson 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: jennifer.s.swanson@dartmouth.edu

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)

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