Clay Workshop with Jennifer Azzariti

Clay is a material ideally suited to very young children. Malleable, mutable, responsive—clay is a magical and forgiving partner for exploration. It invites children to put their hands and their minds—and all of their senses—into play simultaneously. Moreover, using clay has boundless physical, psychological, and symbolic potential. 

Based on 3 decades of experiences with children in schools, child-care centers and home-based groups, and work as a ceramic artist, Jennifer will focus on beginnings and relationships, examining children’s initial reactions to—and interactions with—clay.  Examples of short and long-term projects will illustrate clay as a language, and how building a clay vocabulary opens avenues for self-expression and cognition. A combination of presentation and hands-on learning will build your own comfort with clay. You will learn foundational techniques of hand building with clay: wedging,coiling, pinching, and slab building, and leave enriched with specific tips for how to use and manage clay in an early childhood environment.

Jennifer Azzariti's great passion is finding inroads and pathways to creativity in children and adults; making the connection between hands and minds a visible, cherished, and respected anchor for learning and life. She has 30 years experience in Reggio-inspired education. Starting at the Model Early Learning Center as the first studio teacher in the United States, she is the Atelierista and Pedagogical Director at St. John’s Preschool, consultant to Lourie Center Head Start and Early Head Start Programs, and other national programs.

This year Jennifer is on sabbatical, deepening her personal practice and passion for ceramics at the Minnesota New Institute for Ceramic Education at the Northern Clay Center.

Cost:

$40

Limit: 25 Participants