A two-week break....

Having just had a two week break from teaching, sitting up in my little "sanctuary" - on my koppie - watching the birds and the light changing..... making pinch-pots, and talking quietly to myself...... It's amazing - after 43 years of working with clay - the profound pleasure that I am getting from sitting quietly - listening to my fire crackling wildly in the grate - and just being.... letting all thoughts flow freely - that is the what happens to me, when I give myself time, Clay has for me, the capacity to help me move into a space of meditation......... what a huge pleasure......

and now - after two weeks away from Yeoville - I find the thought of re-connecting to the people I work with there, so exciting.   Having had time to reflect, and coming forward, with a sense of fresh inspiration, days that are growing longer..... and anticipating what the clay is going to offer us in the next few weeks, before the Spring finally arrives.

A lovely morning - spent with special people.....

Yesterday morning at the workshop was so special.  It seemed to fly by like something on the wings of a huge bird..... must have been because we were enjoying ourselves so much.  A flurry in the air.... people going traveling - preparing to take pieces that they have made across the world to loved ones...... Discussing the pieces that came out of a glaze firing - the "Gifts that the Kiln gives us each week..." - I love that - one just never knows what is going to present itself... and once the kiln is opened - the discussions about techniques and how surfaces were dreamed up and manifested - is always a source of huge discussion....... Each maker exploring the endless possibility for growth and discovery - the clay is the means and our creative imaginations the things that move us to new horizons.........

This week has been lovely..... After a break of 3 months - we started working at the workshop in Yeoville on Tuesday - lots of happy faces - and talking - re-connecting with fellow- students
and people who have become close friends....

I feel so privileged to be part of this community of Creative Spirits.

People finding space - conversations - and working with clay -
in such amazingly diverse ways - exploring their creative dreams
giving shape to their vessels - embellishing - burnishing -
making objects that will outlive us by a thousand years.... whew that's quite a thought.

A number of new students - coming to find their way.

Someone who has done sculpture - but now wants to work on the wheel and make fine vessels....

Another - who worked with Clay as a child - and wanted to take it further....

A lovely woman from Kansas - who taught art to children - and wants to explore it as an adult
and not from the teaching perspective.

Planning a sawdust firing...... thinking of all the different woods we can use....

and this is the beginning of our new year..... Been in Yeoville for 25 years in this
beautiful house - full of old African vessels - Contemporary Sculptures - and so much more.....


Sitting drinking tea with the new students - making pinch-pots - and reflecting on the quality of what exists in this environment - still amazes me - in this big - bustling city - to find
such quietness and peace....

A CHANCE TO LEARN TO MAKE TRADITIONAL ZULU VESSELS....
A UNIQUE POSSIBILITY.....

Jabu Nala - who is South Africa's most prominent traditional potter - Daughter of Nesta Nala is interested in coming to teach Traditional Zulu Pot making....

If anyone is interested in this - please contact us - as a small group - or individually.... it is all possible - She has been invited as the Guest Potter at the Santa Fe - International Craft Market - in July... so that is something exciting to look forward to ...... really knows her oeuvre.... to watch her work - is very inspiring indeed...... and the shining black vessels - once they are finished...
Are just Beautiful!

THE PINCH POT DIALOGUES

CONVERSATIONS FOR OUR NEW YEAR
TWO-THOUSAND AND ELEVEN.

I have been thinking how I would like to start the new year -
Clay-Wise - and the idea of a Pinch-Pot-Dialogue
came to mind.... the title - evokes a like minded group of people
who get together on a regular basis - to explore the basics
and the not so basics of working with the most wonderful of mediums
C L A Y

I have recently been exploring the Pinch Pot.... working with different
kinds of clay - adding all sorts of "aggregates" to the clay -to get
varied and different results from the clay.

EarthernWare - Porcelain - Charcoal - and StoneWare Clays....

I am having enormous enjoyment from this pursuit...

It has become a Meditation in Clay for me ... and I am sure there are many people
out there - who could possibly feel inclined to join a group -

Making Pinch Pots - for the first few months of this Year.

If you don't think I have lost the Pot - or the Vessel completely
Then please contact me and lets talk about what you feel inclined to explore -
withing these Words....

REGISTRATION FOR CLASSES STARTING IN
FEBRUARY 2011

If you feel at all inclined to come and visit my school, try your hand at making a pot....
Fulfill many years of yearning to make a sculpture - but haven't quite plucked up the courage
To find a suitable space - or enviroment - or for that matter a fantastic group
of rather mad people - who all have a passion or an inclination -
Or who are busy developing this passion for clay
in Yeoville - facillitated by Kim - then give me a call,
Come and meet me for a cup of tea - and let's discuss what you would really love
to do with 2011..... I would love to be part of that process......



THE PINCH-POT DIALOGUES.

I have been considering starting a once a week group of people who work with clay,
who would like to get together - on a regular basis - and explore - talk about
and make - fantastic Pinch Pots..... in every kind of conceivable clay -
fired in as many different ways as we possibly can - and quite simply -
have a once a week time - which is not interrupted by the outside world
and where one can just be - with one's creative spirit - and a wonderful
group of like-minded people - some of whom have worked with clay before
And some who never have - where that is not important...

just the inclination to make...... and pursue and make.....


if this is you - at the moment - give me a call.

(011) 726-6420 and lets discuss it.

CLAY

pottery

Ceramics

Sculpture

Registration now happening

For classes that start in mid-February 2011

Beginner

&

master classes in:

Wheel-work

Hand-work

Sculpture decorating and glazing techniques

Ceramic chemistry

Traditional zulu ceramics

Porcelain instruction

Kim sacks is passionate about clay

Her experience of 40 years

Is vast and very varied.

She is a graduate of

The Danish school of design –

Copenhagen.

She holds regular classes for beginners and advanced students of all ages.

The school is situated in a magical building

With exceptional facilities-

A library –

A collection of old African ceramics

Many kilns and wheels

A ceramic laboratory

And endless space

Should you feel inclined to discuss

A potential series of lessons

call her @ (011) 726-6420/083 3777499

Or e-mail her @

kim@kimsacksgallery.com

CERAMIC YEAR
2010

THE KIM SACKS SCHOOL OF CERAMICS - STARTS IT'S CERAMIC YEAR IN FEBRUARY - AND CONCLUDES FOR THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS AT THE END OF NOVEMBER 2010.


PORCELAIN

I am planning a 3 month introductory course on working with Porcelain.
The course will include in-depth discussions on the history - what is possible -when working with porcelain - looking at contemporary ceramicists around the world - and what they are doing..... giving insights into this fantastic and versitile medium.

The course will therefore be practical and theoretical. Once we have completed the introductory 3 months - Students will be able to continue - and choose what area of the medium they wish to explore.

There will be a number of visiting porcelain practitioners from around the country - sharing their knowledge and insights and skills with us - during this journey.

If you have anything you would like to discuss with me in this regards - please feel free to contact me - either by phone or by e-mail.

January 2010

The shape of things

A journey in clay

We are all patchwork,

And

so shapeless and diverse in composition

that each moment,

plays it’s own game.

And there is as much difference

between us and ourselves

As between

Us and others

I constantly hear people saying

that the world as we know it

is changing and that it will never be the same…

I personally feel that it is changing all the time –

it has never been static for any of us .

I have been thinking about the notion of

How things take on shapes –

the forms that exist

For certain things – in fact for all things

How they come to be like that – and if they should

continue that way or mutate to follow a

different set of functions

And I feel inclined to look at this More closely –

and in the context of working with clay

looking at what we choose to construct

how we make those choices

and what path we choose to follow our creative

clay

is a tremendous material

that one must learn to love

And believe in if it is to open itself for one;

A curious material who’s qualities lie in physics and chemistry have not yet been fully explored.

Working with it requires imagination.

The Chinese and Persians, who perhaps reached the

Greatest heights in ceramics, were poets and dreamers in clay. The Chinese kept 1000 kilns firing in 1000 cities

For 1000 years. They followed the path of experience and patience and finally knew all there was to

Know about clay. They enveloped ceramics in poetry,

Inscribed upon it as an ingenious world of symbols.

Even the most exalted god, t ao, took up

Residence in their vases.

Axel salto

I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO

JOIN ME ON A CLAY JOURNEY

FOR THE NEXT 3 MONTHS

For these 12 weeks –

we will explore the History of the Shape of that each of us each of us – finds most inspiring in our daily lives

Examine the journey that the chosen shape

Has taken through history –

and how we can make and

construct these beloved shapes

in a way that we resonate with personally

How we go about designing and creating shapes that inspire and define our lives and the way we live them.

Objects that are Personal and Ceremonial

The difference between the two, and

How we distinguish between them.

We will research – and test

alternative materials – and how they function in the clay we have chosen to work with.

We will continue to explore and push the boundaries of red, white, buff, black AND BROWN clays.

We will continue with our research and testing of found materials from our travels.

–

translucent and opaque surfaces –

being fired at different temperatures…

how they resonate with each other –

and with our own creative spirits –

In choosing what “Clay-Bodies” we work with –

We become Alchemists….

We Play, We Dance, We make Magic with the clay-

and in turn

Re-create and give shape to

Our world and our universe…

Contact kim sacks for further information

Regarding clay journeys

(011) 726-6420 – kimsacks@gmail.com

Kim Sacks School of Ceramics


There is only one place in Johannesburg to learn pottery and that is at

THE KIM SACKS SCHOOL OF CERAMICS.

Whether you are an absolute beginner who has never touched a piece of clay in your life, or an experienced potter who would like to do a refresher course or two, our highly experienced teachers will help you to make your porcelain dinner service, or a pot so tall that it touches the sky.

We offer full time and part time classes, in the morning and evening.
We teach adults and children. Our students are taught handwork, wheel-work, and sculpture. The decoration and design aspect of ceramics is also explored in depth. We work in stoneware, porcelain, earthenware and raku.
Our facilities are superb. We also have regular “visiting teachers” who come from all parts of the country to lecture and hold workshops.

If you are serious about pottery, clay or ceramics, come and visit us,
we’d love to meet you .



THE KIM SACKS SCHOOL OF CERAMICS – YEOVILLE JOHANNESBURG


Notes on the Yeoville Property


Kim Sacks established the Kim Sacks school of Ceramics in the 70’s. It moved to it’s permanent home in 1986 – where it is to this day. It is known nationally – as one of the most important Clay Environments – in South Africa. Many prominent South African Ceramicists have been trained in this School. It also hosts regular “artists in residency” programmes – accommodating craftspeople and ceramicists – from all over Africa and the world.


It is a wonderful environment where the study of working with clay is undertaken. Whether somebody wants to attend part-time pottery courses, or they want to join a full time training programme, which gives a person a thorough education and working knowledge of the pursuit of ceramics and everything that is needed in the production of hand-made and wheel-thrown pottery, all this is possible in this unique, personal environment. One has rural potters – working side by side with contemporary – urban designers. People are welcome to come and visit – every Thursday – we have an Open Day Policy

– phone Kim for details: (011) 726-6420