Tea Bowl Handbuilding and Tea Ceremony
Create your own ceramic tea bowl and experience the ancient practice of Cha Dao Tea Ceremony
Workshop details
On this two day workshop we will be using kurinuki (hollowing out a form) and coiling hand building techniques to make two ceremonial tea bowls which will be glazed and wood fired by myself at a later date. This workshop invites you to engage mindfully in a creative practice, observe the basic form of the tea bowl and then interpret it creatively, drawing on inspiration from the natural world and your own imagination. As part of the workshop we will immerse ourselves into the ancient practice of Cha Dao Tea Ceremony hosted by experienced Chajin Claire. In Chinese “Cha Dao”, meaning “The Way of Tea”, often refers to a path of cultivating mindful presence, simplicity, and ultimately being in balanced harmony with nature and with the view that all life is interconnected. Suitable for all skill levels, no experience is necessary. Workshop dates: Saturday 27th May 2023 10am - 4pm Sunday 28th May 2023 10am - 4pm Location: The workshop will be held at the Newport Memorial Hall in Pembrokeshire featuring the “most remarkably well preserved medieval pottery kiln in the UK” (conservation report commissioned by Cadw). What is included: All materials, bisque firing, glazing and wood firing of your finished work. Tea, biscuits or cake. Equipment and tools will be provided. Please bring an apron or wear clothes you do not mind getting some clay on. You can also bring a cushion to sit on and a blanket for the Cha Dao tea ceremony to make yourself comfortable as we will be seated on yoga mats on the floor. After the workshop: I will carefully transport your finished tea bowls to my home studio where they will be bisque fired in an electric kiln, glazed with one of my own glazes (as per our discussion) and then fired for approximately 20 hours in a wood fired kiln. The wood firing takes place only a few times per year due to its labour intensive nature. I will let you know an approximate date of my next firing over the course of the workshop. Once the tea bowls have been wood fired, you can either collect them in person or I can send them in the post (postage is not included in the workshop cost). Disclaimer: Please note, damage or a loss to the ware can occasionally happen during the wood firing. I will do my best to have successful results of the firing. However, in case of any damage to your pot incurred in the kiln firing, I will not be able to take any responsibility.
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel your booking more than 14 days before course start date, you are entitled to a 50% refund. If you cancel your booking less than 14 days before course start date, you are not entitled to any refund.