Listening Through Clay
Handbuilding workshops for children
Ages 7–9 and 10–12
Listening Through Clay
Hand building Workshops for Children (Ages 7–9 and 10–12)
A 4-week summer program in Rosendale, NY
Overview
Listening Through Clay introduces children to ceramics as a tactile and exploratory practice rooted in attention, patience, and material awareness.
Working primarily with low-fire clay and natural slips made from locally sourced materials, students will learn foundational handbuilding techniques such as pinching, coiling, and shaping. Rather than focusing on polished results, the workshop emphasizes process—how clay responds to touch, how forms emerge gradually, and how transformation occurs through drying and firing.
Each session encourages curiosity, experimentation, and a slower pace of making. Clay becomes a way of thinking through the hands.
Approach
Children will:
Develop sensitivity to texture, moisture, and pressure
Learn how clay holds form and memory
Work with natural slips instead of commercial glazes
Explore both functional and non-functional objects, including vessels and simple sound forms
The environment supports open-ended exploration while offering clear technical guidance. There is no pressure to produce identical outcomes—each child’s process and objects will be unique.
What We’ll Make
Over the course of four weeks, students will create a small body of work that may include:
Hand built vessels (bowls, cups, small containers)
Sculptural forms
Simple ceramic sound objects, such as rattles, ocarinas
Surface experiments using slip and burnishing
most importantly children will be encouraged to have fun and enjoy working with clay
Pieces will be fired and ready for pickup after the session ends.
Who This Is For
This program is designed for children who enjoy working with their hands, exploring materials, and engaging in process-based activities.
Two age groups are offered:
Ages 7–9
Ages 10–12
No prior experience with clay is necessary.
Schedule & Details
Location: Rosendale, NY
Dates: July 6–30
Schedule options:
Monday & Wednesday, group age 7-9
Tuesday & Thursday, group age 10-12
Time: 3:30–5:00 PM
Duration: 4 weeks (8 sessions total)
Group size: 7–10 students
Cost: $300 (materials and firing included) second sibling receives a 30% discount
About the Instructor
I am a ceramic artist working with clay and sound, creating sculptural forms that explore vibration, material resonance, and perception.
As an educator, I focus on introducing clay through hand building, natural materials, and process-based learning. My teaching emphasizes attention, experimentation, and developing a direct relationship with material.
I have taught children ages 4–14 in New York City and currently teach seasonally at SUNY New Paltz.
Registration
To register please go to cart
Spots are limited to maintain a focused, small-group environment.
