Pottery Pumpkins inspired by Yayoi Kusama (CSC237)

Spend a day learning how to create and decorate your own hand-built pottery pumpkin, inspired by renowned contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama’s famous pumpkin sculptures.

What will you learn on this course?

During this one-day course, children will learn how to make a hand-built pottery pumpkin and add decoration inspired by the distinctive art style of Yayoi Kusama.

Children will learn different hand-building techniques such as coiling, slab building and sculpting clay, using coloured slips and techniques to decorate their pumpkins.

The workshop provides an exciting introduction to ceramics, where children get to explore the medium of clay and develop their creativity with new friends, in one of MAC’s fully equipped studios.

This is the perfect environment to encourage your creativity and experiment with Yayoi Kusama’s recognizable use of repetition and pattern when decorating.

Learners will be encouraged to review and refine their work to produce finished ceramic pieces that are unique to them.

Please note that ceramic works need time to dry out and be fired twice in MAC’s kilns. Your work will be ready for collection 4 weeks after the date of your workshop. We will contact you when your work is ready to collect. When you arrive at MAC please ask for an Art Studio Technician or a Duty Manager who will be happy to help you retrieve your piece from our secure pottery cages.

Please note, by the nature of ceramics there is always a risk of technical failure, cracks or explosions for which we cannot be held responsible.

Who is this course for?

This course is suitable for children aged 6 to 11 years. It is open to all ability levels and does not require any previous experience. The Tutor will provide demonstrations and guidance to suite all levels. We provide a learning support worker and all our staff our DBS checked. Parents are not expected to accompany children on the course.

The course is accessible for children of all abilities, but you do need dexterity in your hands to work with clay. A parent or carer may attend to assist the child if required; carers must book a complimentary ticket if attending a course to provide support. The room is wheelchair accessible.

Age ranges are set carefully to consider key age developments, materials being used and course stimulus. It is very important that age ranges are not too large or across key stages and therefore need to be adhered to.

Do you need to bring anything?

All course material and equipment are provided.

Please note that lunch is not provided. Children will need to bring their own lunch to eat on a supervised one-hour break.

Are there any additional costs?

There are no additional costs. The course price includes all materials and the firing of your work.

Who teaches this course?

Andrea Clarke