Workshop: Architectural extrusions: Sculpting vases with the Extruder
**NON-MEMBERS, purchase pass here**
This workshop is built around the extruder, a tool that pushes clay through a shaped die to produce consistent coils or hollow forms. Led by Brooklyn-based ceramic artist Matthew Lew, whose ceramic practice is rooted in architectural thinking, participants will learn how to produce hollow extrusions and use them as the building blocks for a sculptural vase.
The 3-hour session begins with a simple digital presentation of Matthew's past work to demonstrate the medium's possibilities, followed by a live demonstration covering extruder mechanics, cleaning, and proper die selection for hollow forms. Beyond just using the tool, the goal is to inspire confidence and unlock a new world of making ceramics by playing with structure and volume.
In this workshop you will:
- Learn how the extruder works, including proper use, cleaning and die selection for hollow forms
- Practice creating strong, clean attachments between extruded and slab-built components
- Explore carving techniques to refine and add detail to your form
- Learn how to keep a piece balanced as you build and understand how the weight of added components affects the overall form
- Work toward a finished vase that brings all of these elements together into a single cohesive vessel
What you will walk away with:
- A work-in-progress sculptural vase built from extrusions and slabs
- A working understanding of the extruder and how to use it as a handbuilding tool
- A foundation for continued experimentation with extrusion and structure
Who is this workshop best for?
Open to those with a basic understanding of hand building techniques.
Materials provided
All clay, tools, and materials. Extrusions and slab bases will be prepped in advance.
What must attendees bring?
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Other important info
- Firing is not included. The studio fires glaze to cone 6.
- Members: Firing charged at regular member rate of $0.04 per cu-in.
- For non-members: Firing is at $0.08 per cu-in. Reach out to [email protected] and we will set you up for firing!
About the instructor
Matthew Lew is a Brooklyn-based ceramic artist whose work uses architectural forms to explore light, color, and shadow. Born and raised in San Francisco, he graduated from the California College of the Arts in 2015 in Graphic Design, and has spent the past eight years in the tech industry crafting digital interfaces.
Matthew uses ceramics to explore his passion for minimalism and brutalism. He is interested in how physical objects manipulate their environment through geometry, flow, and repetition. By establishing strict structural rules to play within, his recent work with extruded clay creates a physical skeleton for carving out lightness and contrast. He is deeply curious about the flexibility of clay, creating functional lamps, vases, and bowls that bring architecture into personal spaces.
Class Price
$65
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