Madoda Fani and Andile Dyalvane’s twenty year old friendship is a testament to brotherhood and one that celebrates a passion for clay. Fani focuses on various coiling techniques and finishes he incorporates in his practice while Dyalvane supports with enquiry in this workshop.
Born in 1975, Madoda Fani grew up in Gugulethu township in Cape Town and discovered his love of clay as a fine art student at Sivuyile College. He worked as a ceramic painter in various pottery studios, gradually developing his own pieces and style. In 2000, his work was selected for the Salon Internationale de l’Artisanat de Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso. There he met the ceramicist Simon Masilo, who introduced him to smoke-firing. In 2009, he moved to Johannesburg and began to deepen his craft at the Kim Sacks School of Ceramics. He learned how to burnish clay with a stone from Jabu Nala, the daughter of legendary Zulu beer–pot maker Nesta Nala, and mastered smoke-firing techniques under the guidance of Nic Sithole.
Who is it for
For anyone interested in working with clay, curious about the creative processes and willing to learn. Artists, designers and creative communities who want to expand their knowledge of ceramics and those who want to experience clay meditations.
What you need
You need not have any previous knowledge albeit jargon familiarity may come in handy when questions are asks by the audience. An eagerness to discover the creative process of ceramics is essential.
Materials Needed: Attention and your hands, a notebook or sketchbook, pencil, clay, air dry clay or play dough, a round wooden board (bread board size will do) or round bat.
Feeling isolation frustration? Stir up your creativity and Clay-Along with NCC through classes and kits designed to fulfill your clay longings at a social distance. This reimagined approach to ceramic education will pioneer a couple of different avenues: 5-week virtual classes, and self-guided clay kits. Virtual classes will meet once a week via Google Meet and Google Classroom with an NCC Teaching Artist who is eager to guide you through quality at-home digital learning; and clay kits that feature instruction for a self-guided clay experience. Both offerings have the option to include low-fire clay and a set of engobes (colored slips), firings at NCC, and a guide to setting up a space for clay in your home.
No clay-specific tools? No problem! All classes and lessons can be accomplished with everyday utensils and objects. To learn more about Clay-Along options, click HERE.
Clay-Along Classes
Beginning the week of May 18, Clay-Along Class offerings will explore the compelling potential and versatility of creating with clay at home. Reunite (virtually) with your clay-mates for weekly, live instruction via Zoom where experienced teaching artists will give demonstrations and guide you through different projects and techniques. Classes will run for an hour and a half each week for five weeks. Between meetings, learn from online resources and connect and discuss with others via Google Classroom. With a variety of experience levels and creative offerings — all tailored to be accomplished in a simple home studio — we are sure to have a class that is enticing and accessible to you.
No materials? No problem! You can select an optional materials kit that includes a guide to setting up an at-home clay space, 25 lbs of low-fire clay (choice of Low-fire Red: a smooth terracotta body; or Raku: a grittier, off-white body), a set of engobes (colored slips) and firings at NCC. If you have everything you need already, just select the content-only version. The details of kit pick-up and work drop-off at NCC will be communicated to you with your registration. We can’t wait for you to Clay-Along with us!
www.craftinamerica.org. Ceramic artist Veronica Castillo on assembling the Tree of Life. HOLIDAY episode PBS premiere: December 20, 2013.
For more on Craft in America, visit www.craftinamerica.org.
All Craft in America programs are now viewable on www.craftinamerica.org, the PBS iPhone/iPad app and video.pbs.org/program/craft-in-america.
To purchase DVDs: www.shoppbs.org
