Clay Speaks of Odyssey's “Living Forms, Narrative Pieces”

ASHEVILLE – Like Leonardo da Vinci, Lindsay Pichaske began her artistic career with a physician’s curiosity about the human body.

Pichaske studied to be a doctor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill before beginning her life in clay. “My figures invoke a sense of morbid curiosity, making you wonder what sort of traumas they have experienced,” the potter said.

A former resident of Odyssey Center for Ceramic Arts, Pichaske gives back to the pottery community when she teaches “Living Forms, Narrative Pieces,” every Monday from August 20 to October 6. Students will use slabs, pinched forms, slip casting and molds to create narrative sculptures that can hang on the wall or stand on their own during this class.

Strongly influenced by what she calls the “creepy world of childhood,” Pichaske will teach basic sculpting techniques and explore how animals, figures and natural forms in clay tell stories. Her own figures challenge preconceived ideas, “their loaded stares, sullen power and fine features confront you with dual discomfort and magnetism,” she said.

“Living Forms, Narrative Pieces” is suitable for all levels and will be inspirational for all types of sculptural work, according to Odyssey Director Cynthia Lee. “Lindsay’s exuberant and cheerful personality will make this class a joy. Students will be intrigued by the strange contrast she embraces,” Lee said.

For more information about Odyssey classes and workshops, visit the center at 236 Clingman Avenue in the River Arts District, call (828) 85-0210, e-mail odyssey@highwaterclays.com or visit Highwater’s Web site at: http://www.highwaterclays.com.

Hands-On Teaching at Odyssey

Great potters aren’t born, they’re built, formed by their experiences with other great ceramicists.

In her new workshop “Good Ideas, Better Pots” held at Odyssey Center for Ceramic Arts from July 23 to July 27, Becca Floyd will make you rethink your pots, whether they’ve been throwing for a day or many decades.

“Becca is a wonderful instructor for beginners or experts,” said Lori Theriault, who has taken a class with Floyd in the past. “She responds well to all levels and you’ll learn something new no matter where you are if you’re eager to learn.”

Floyd is a highly acclaimed artist who has taught at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown and Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, TN, in addition to Odyssey. Her work has been featured in nationally recognized books and magazines, including “500 Teapots," “The Complete Guide to High-Fire Glazes" and “500 Pitchers."

In this workshop Floyd will teach altering, decorating, the use of line, texture and pattern to find the pot inside the thought. This class is recommended for students with recent experience throwing. Floyd will also share glazes and demonstrate glazing methods for the reduction kiln.

A former resident at Odyssey, Floyd is such an engaged teacher that many students return to take the same class over and over again. “A lot of people in the class I attended had taken classes with her in the past and they came back because they really enjoy her teaching style,” Theriault said.

“We get a lot of compliments about Becca’s classes,” said Cynthia Lee, Odyssey’s managing director. “People appreciate her teaching style, how she explains what her hands are doing, that sort of unique hands-to-brain communication.” Students even praise Floyd’s constructive criticism.

“It was a fabulous experience,” Theriault said. “I enjoyed it so much that I’m attending her next class. If you’re anything like me, you have a thirst to learn and Becca really adapts herself to her students.”

Odyssey Center for the Ceramic Arts is an educational program of Highwater Clays, Inc., located in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, North Carolina. The studio school’s mission is to promote understanding, appreciation and professional development in the ceramic arts. The center has seven additional classes to chose from in the Late Summer Session in handbuilding and wheel throwing and sculpture with a talented instructors.

For more information about Odyssey classes and workshops, visit the center at 236 Clingman Avenue in the River Arts District, call 828.285-0210, e-mail odyssey@highwaterclays.com or visit Highwater’s Web site at: http://www.highwaterclays.com.