First off, what a silly name for our “apprenticeship” program. When I dreamed up the name of sfcw “apprenticeship” program, I never thought about its other connotation. I only thought of the idea of giving someone information-helping them, not robbing them! Somehow everytime hands up gets mentioned at the studio people immediately throw both hands up in the air. I tried to change the name of the program, but when I mention it everyone shouts, ”NO, I like it!”

Silly name aside, I would like to introduce you to the two of sfcw most valuable assets.  sfcw two studio “apprentices” Janelle and Saba have been hard at work learning and working in the studio.  Both Saba and Janelle submitted applications to sfcw and expressed interest in learning more about what it means to be a potter.

When all of us decided to take on the adventure of running a ceramics studio, various ideas were floated about. One idea that seemed to make sense to a number of us, was the idea of helping some of our students learn more about what it takes to become a well rounded potter. General pottery classes teach students how to create and glaze work, but they almost never teach students how to make glaze, load a kiln, or do any of the firing.

sfcw hands up program was conceived to help fill the gaps in the education of pottery students. A few of us have had similar experiences in our lives where we worked with other potters who taught us about various technical tasks involved in ceramic production. The hands up “apprentices” also fill a vital roll here at sfcw taking responsibility for many of the jobs that need to get done.

So far our “apprentices” have been learning about mixing glazes, doing colored slip tests, loading bisque kilns, and soon how to fire the electric kilns.  In the future we will have them learn how to recycle clay as well as how to load and fire the gas kiln.

They are both fast learners. We only hope they will continue to be interested in working with us at sfcw for a very long time. So, Thank you Janelle and Saba for all your hard work!

P.S. If you notice how clean the studio is, give them a Big Thank You for their hard work at keeping sfcw looking good.

Check out these beautiful photos of our first bisque kiln load at sfcw and also our two “apprentices” at work.