Via the St. Croix Watershed Research Station:

The St. Croix Watershed Research Station is offering a pottery workshop as part of its Artist at Pine Needles program. The 4-session workshop, beginning August 6, will be taught by Iowa potter Sally Gierke.

Gierke is partnering with painter Edie Abnet to offer the workshop at the May Township studio of Abnet’s late husband, potter Richard Abnet. Techniques of hand-building will be taught, and participants will create garden and household decorations.

Sally describes her workshop:

“Let’s decorate the garden with inspiration from our wonderful St. Croix River! Nature offers us many gifts and ideas for working with clay. Come explore and learn hand building techniques as we are inspired by the local fauna and river. We will use clay to create adornments for your outside oasis–wind chimes, beautiful coil flower pots and even garden tiles. We will learn hand building and design techniques and create whimsical pieces that will decorate your garden for years to come.”

Potter, muralist and art educator Sally Gierke has been working with clay for the past 40 years. She has completed six major clay mural commissions and has been an artist in residence in six National Parks. She will be sketching and working on hand building pottery techniques for her residency in August. Sally regularly incorporates river textures, patterns and images into her work, as she lives and works on the Mississippi River in Iowa. See examples of her work at www.sallygierke.com.

To Register:

The workshop will include 4 two-hour sessions and is open to ages 10 and up, with a limit of 20. Participants will attend all 4 sessions from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on August 6, 7, 8 and 13. A fee of $50 will cover materials.

Contact the Research Station at 651-433-5953 ext. 10 or 13, or email researchstation@smm.org by August 2. Additional information for participants provided upon registration.

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