Goddess: A Workshop with Maryann Cord

A day to explore the medium of sculptural clay and have fun creating, while delving into the ancient heritage of the Goddess. Participants will create their own small ancient goddess from clay, will learn hand-sculpting techniques including the use of the dowel in clay, and explore texture and mark-making using ordinary objects and stamps.

Ancient earth-mother-goddess figures are among the oldest ceramics known dating back some 30,000 years. Participants will also explore the use of oxides, under-glazes and mason stains to add color and depth to the clay.

The goddess you create during the workshop includes the cost of kiln firing and will be fired and made available for pickup at a later date.

No experience necessary. Bring your friends and your imagination with you!

Cost: $150. (Members $125.) – includes all materials and a communal vegetarian lunch.

About the Instructor:

Maryann Michalski Cord works freestyle sculpting clay with her hands, combining figures and faces – hand built original portraits born of earthen clay expressing spirit, emotion, myth, dreams, and ancient tradition. Utilizing a once-fired method Cord brushes mason stains, oxides, and other pigments directly onto the raw unfired clay in a painterly fashion before firing. From time to time Cord’s work pays homage to Beatrice Wood’s unique approach to the sculptural forms she called Sophisticated Primitives often portrayed in the nude, and designed to evoke a reaction. A museum enthusiast and avid world traveler, Cord has always been fascinated and inspired by works of art from the ancient world. Her work lives in private collections around the world.