Masterclass
Local Clays
with Linda Swanson
Much like the local food movement, many artists and designers are now choosing to work with locally sourced clay to forge a deeper connection with their materials while reducing their environmental impact.
Using local clays offers many advantages, including unique aesthetic results tied to the specific properties of each soil. However, understanding and mastering these materials also presents a technical challenge.
This workshop invites participants to explore local clay as a surface with great expressive potential, even in small quantities. Attendees will learn how to transform this material into a key component for creating slips and glazes. They will experiment with new recipes, analyze fired samples, and deepen their understanding of ceramic compositions.
About
Linda Swanson
Linda Swanson is an artist whose practice is rooted in the metamorphic nature of ceramic materials and processes.
Her work explores the enigmatic properties of matter at an elemental level, as well as the power of wonder to challenge what we know—and how we come to know it.
Her ceramic works—both unfired and kiln-fired—have been exhibited across Canada, the United States, Europe, and Asia. She currently teaches at Concordia University, where she coordinates the ceramics program.
