Program

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Faces of Clay

Program Categories
Crafts, Educational Programs, Historical Programs and Characters, Miscellaneous, Storytellers

Audience Age
4 and up; teens

Description

Pottery Wheel Demonstration with Optional Hands-On Pinch Pottery Workshop
60 min. or 90 min. workshop

The indigenous people of the Southwest have a saying "Every piece of clay is a piece of someone's life". Faces on clay are found on all sorts of pottery throughout the ages. This fast paced program includes the making of golems (clay creatures that have been magically brought to life), Storytellers (clay figurines made by the Pueblo people of New Mexico), face jugs and many other figural forms while sharing the fascinating history and multicultural stories hidden in each piece of clay.
Hands-on: We will be passing from person to person a freshly made pot from the potter’s wheel and the chance to feel a dry and wet pot as it rotates on the wheel. Each person will also make a pinch pot (cup made from a ball of clay by pinching the clay with the thumb and finger) and the unfired piece goes home with the participant.
Book Suggestion: When Clay Sings by Byrd Baylo; Claymates by Dev Petty; A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park; The Fire Children: A West African Folk Tale by Eric Maddern
Appropriate For: February - African-American History Month; March - Irish American Heritage Month, Women’s History Month, Youth Art Month; May - Jewish American Heritage Month;
October - National Arts and Humanities Month; November - Native American Heritage Month

Fee
$300.

For detailed fees and mileage information see www.PiedPotter.com - email: rick@americanredware.com - call 413-436-7444

Group Size
Unlimited

Program Length
60 min.

Facility Requirements

Ramp or elevator for all workshops

A parent/guardian for children under the age of 8

Standard 15 amp outlet for the pottery wheel demonstration workshops

This is a very clean program, there won’t be any clay remnants left behind. For more information please call Rick Hamelin at 413-436-7444, or email rick@americanredware.com or visit www.PiedPotter.com

Last Modified
10/04/2022

Comments

Through the years I have completed numerous summer reading programs and here are some of the comments I received as feedback.

Folks are still talking about your program and how much they enjoyed it. I have our dragon, now named Norbert (yes, from Harry Potter) on display in the Youth Room with lots of people commenting on him!
Meg, South Hadley Public Library

Rick’s show was fascinating! I got no work done!
D. Bro, Assistant Director, Huntington Public Library

Fantastic, informative, age appropriate. Thank you so much.
Bambi Miller, Tyler Memorial Library, Charlemont

Rick entertained a mixed audience with facts, stories, pottery terms and demonstrations on the wheel and the time flew by! Even small children were enthralled, especially when he created the dragon. Very worthwhile cultural presentation.
Kate McCarron, Lunenburg Public Library

It is often difficult to engage 5th and 6th graders but the kids really liked this demo! Even a 3 year old made a pot! People who came into the library for other reasons came in and stayed for Rick!
Laura Grant, Children’s Librarian


Rick captivated the audience. Children and adults both had a fantastic time learning about clay and pottery. He had a very good rapport with the children.
Meg Clancy, South Hadley Public Library


Kids loved watching a dragon come to life and making 7,000 year old pinch pots!
Heather Marchetta, Longmeadow Richard Salter Storrs Library

Recent Library/School Appearances by About Clay by Pied Potter Hamelin

Elizabeth Valero
Millbury, MA
 (508)865-1181

Meg Clancy
South Hadley, MA
 (413)538-5045

Margret Nareau
Huntington, MA
 (413)667-3506

Paula Long
Montgomery, MA
 (413)862-3894

Katie Krol
Williamsburg, MA
 (413)268-7472

Rebecca Folb
Worcester, MA
 (508)799-1655

Performer’s Contact Information

About Clay by Pied Potter Hamelin

Rick Hamelin
P. O. Box 1082
Warren, MA 01083-1082
 (413)436-7444
 rick@americanredware.com
 http://www.piedpotter.com
Preferred Contact Method: Email

View All Programs Offered by About Clay by Pied Potter Hamelin