A 7-Day Laboratory on Local Materials in Ceramics (EN / DE)
When: July 18 – July 25, 2027 – secure your spot now (registration at the very bottom) – SAVE THE DATE FOR NOW – THE EXACT DATE STILL NEEDS TO BE CONFIRMED AT THE PROJECT MEETING.
What: We will dig for clay, process it, learn basic hand-building techniques (pinch pot and coil), make our own tools, and glaze our pieces using homemade wood ash glaze. The focus of this workshop leans a bit more toward glaze experimentation, so we will try to fit in two glaze firings.
The laboratory is suitable both for people with no prior experience and for professional research. There is more than enough time and space for in-depth exploration and independent research, as well as guidance and hands-on experimentation.
Throughout the laboratory, there will be plenty of time for individual research using the available materials and equipment. There are also two electric pottery wheels and one kick wheel. However, there will not be enough time during the workshop for an introduction to wheel throwing, as the main focus is on working with local materials.
See below for last year’s schedule and content, which leaves plenty of room for your own needs, experiments, and projects:
Where: 7 days at GutAlaune / or right next door in the cozy, charming WIP-A-Lounge, just outside the gates of Halle and directly on the Saale River. GutAlaune has been run as a project and learning space since 2016, improvised and kept alive through a great deal of volunteer commitment.
Accommodation and Logistics: We will be sleeping in our own tents, and there will very likely be the option of a shared mattress dormitory in the new straw and clay house (please bring tents, sleeping mats, and everything you need to feel comfortable outdoors). There is covered workspace in case of bad weather, though we hope to spend most of our time outside.
There is an outdoor kitchen with a lounge/dining/working area, two outdoor showers (one cold, one warm), compost toilets, and the Saale River is right outside the grounds for cooling off. We have a cook who prepares vegetarian/vegan meals so we can focus fully on the material – for smaller groups (fewer than 11 people), we will cook together ourselves to keep costs low, or only have a cook for the first days to get into the flow unhindered.
Costs: We try to make the laboratory as accessible as possible and have cut costs wherever we can. However, since the laboratory takes place without external funding, we arrive at a suggested donation of around €480 if we get about 11 participants together (€480–€550 depending on your financial means: all-inclusive – costs may fluctuate slightly – we will keep you updated).
To keep costs down, we share tasks like cleaning, washing dishes, and chopping veggies among everyone.
Sign up here to join! If you have any questions, write them into the registration form and we will get back to you!
Important Note: We do not have much/fast internet on site. Please make sure to book extra mobile data if you rely on it. Also, please ensure your hygiene products and toiletries are biodegradable – we operate a completely ecological wastewater system (check with the product’s customer hotline if it isn’t stated on the packaging).
