2024 Summer Workshops, USA

I will be doing 4 workshops in the States this summer. In June I’ll be in Mendocino CA giving a 3-day hands-on making workshop, followed by a firing workshop. In July I’ll be returning to my hometown of Flint MI to give a 2-day demo. And in August I’ll be heading towards Saugatuck MI for a firing workshop. Information Below.

June 17,18,19

Loosen Up

In this workshop John will introduce techniques to help the students loosen up and make more free flowing forms. Working both on the wheel and hand-building, often combining the two, John will demo many varied ways to take your work in a whole new direction.  it’s a great opportunity for students to expand and develop their skills.

June 22 to 28

Great Balls of Fire

In this hands-on firing workshop, students will get the chance to load and fire both the wood-fired train kiln and the wood-fired soda kiln. Students will learn stacking strategies to account for flame flow and ash accumulation. Students will also be required to take stoking shifts throughout the 48 hour cycle.

July 13 and 14

Two-day Demo

It’s such an honor to return to the Flint Institute of Arts. This is where I first touched clay as a fifth grade elementary student. I spent many hours discovering art in its youth classes during my childhood. So many wonderful memories.

A slideshow of my life and work in Japan will be on Saturday evening. Open to the public.

August 16 to 18, Unloading August 24

Wood Firing Workshop

We will fire Mike Taylor’s Seraphina’ Hybrid wood fire kiln.

Recent workshop in India

At the end of January I flew to Pondicherry India to co-lead a firing workshop with my good buddy Nick Schwartz at the Golden Bridge Pottery. GBP was established in the early ‘70s by American potters Debbie Smith and Ray Meeker. Debbie ran the production pottery while Ray built kilns, clay houses and other architectural masterpieces out of clay. While they are still a beautiful presence there, they have handed over the day-to-day running of the pottery to Aarti Manik, a wonderful, powerful ceramic artist/teacher.

We spent five days making pots, two loading the kiln, and six days firing. During the cooling we went on a three-day tour of Tamil Nadu. After which spend 3 days unloading the kiln and cleaning up the the pots. It was an exceptional firing, and a truly exceptional experience. Thank you so much Ray, Debbie and Aarti.