YOUTH Woodland Pottery Class – Gaawaabaabiganikaag

Come and learn about this ancient art form, create a pot and experience the firing process.

Woodland pottery is a utilitarian art form over 3000years old. Often, clay is harvested from veins visible near rivers and construction dig sites. Suitable clay deposits have a distinct color and feel. The clay matrix is processed by sifting out rocks and organic matter and is then treated much the same as other pottery clays.

This is a 4-day workshop. Attend all four days: June 15, 16, 17, 20: noon – 4 PM each day.
The workshop is suitable for kids ages 10 and up (adults are welcome).
The workshop will be held at Rail River Folk School located at 303 Railroad Street SW, in Bemidji.
There is no charge to participate, but registration (below ↓) is required. Please submit separate registration forms for each participant.

If you have to cancel your registration, please notify us at as soon as possible. If you register after the class is full, we will contact you and place you on a waiting list. If you have any questions, contact Liseli Polivka at liseli@watermarkartcenter.org .

Day 1: Learn about the history of woodland pottery and start making your own pot

Day 2: Continue working on the first pot and learn how to process raw clay.

Day 3: Continue working on pots, learn about burnishing and other finishing touches.

Day 4: Learn how to fire work produced during the class and take home your creations!

About the artists:

Mother and daughter duo, Janet Klarer and Eliza Klarer, create pottery by hand. They learned from Janet’s mother, Judy Toppings, an artist, teacher, and activist who worked alongside her cousin, Carrie Estey Ortiz, to revitalize the lost art form. Janet and Eliza serve the young arts nonprofit, Manoomin Arts Initiative, whose goal is to support emerging and working artists of their community.

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Please use a separate registration form for each participant. If you require any special accommodations, please mention them here.

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This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota, through a grant from the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.