The Florida Heat Series attracts artists from around the country
The Morean Center for Clay’s 5th Annual Florida Heat Surface Workshop kicks off Wednesday, February 7, and runs through February 10.
The 5th Annual Florida Heat Surface Workshop invites some of the country’s leading ceramic artists, including Linda Sikora, Mike Helke, Michael Hunt, Naomi Dalglish, Peter and Lori Pincus, Shoko Teruyama, Ben Carter and Adam Field, to demonstrate their talents and approaches to designing a well-thought-out pottery surface. The workshop covers all firing and surface approaches, including but not limited to glazing, slips, underglaze, decals, scraffito, mishima and more.
Matt Schiemann, Clay Studio Artist Program Manager at the Morean Center for Clay, said, “The Florida Heat Surface Workshop brings together eight different artists from around the country. You would be hard pressed to find another workshop that would bring together such diverse and knowledgeable ceramic artists in one location.”
This workshop coincides with the 5th Annual Florida Heat Surface Workshop Presenters’ Exhibition opening Saturday, February 10, from 5pm-9pm for Second Saturday ArtWalk. The exhibition runs through March 31 and is free and open to the public Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm, at the Morean Center for Clay located at 420 22nd Street South, St. Petersburg, Fla., 33712.
This workshop follows the conclusion of the Florida Heat Woodfire Workshop where more than 1200 ceramic pieces were loaded and fired in the Center for Clay’s 500 cubic foot wood kiln.
Wood firing ceramics is unique in that the piece is fired in an anagama kiln allowing the ashes from the wood, which fuels the anagama, to interact with pieces during firing. The ashes settle on the ceramic pieces to create a unique, natural glaze.
The Florida Heat Woodfire Workshop was attended by more than 30 participants learning from some of the nation’s top wood fire artists including John Balistreri, Chris Gustin, Nancy Train Smith and Matt Long.
The Morean Center for Clay hosts a variety of ceramic workshops throughout the year, drawing together a community of ceramic artists on the local, national and international level.
“Florida Heat Surface is a workshop that is beneficial for both the beginner and the advanced ceramic artist. I really believe you can’t afford to miss this workshop and the amount of knowledge that will be shared by this group of artists,” said Schiemann.
For more information on the 5th Annual Florida Heat Surface Workshop and for a full schedule of each day, please visit MoreanArtsCenter.org or call 727.821.7162 ext. 2310.
The Morean Arts Center, with roots dating back to 1917 as the Art Club of St. Petersburg, focuses on an innovative, community-oriented approach to art and art education. The mission of the Morean Arts Center is to connect people with art and to contribute to the economic development of the region. Operating under the Morean Arts Center includes the Chihuly Collection, Glass Studio & Hot Shop and the Morean Center for Clay.
