I do a few workshops each year. Below, I try to give a general idea of the things I can cover in a workshop. My intention in workshops is to have fun and get a lot done. There is a list of some of the workshops and presentations I've given over the last few years.

Health and safety. Throwing upstanding etc.
The Artist's Complete Health and Safety Guide, Monona Rossol. Order through: ACTS, 181 Thompson St. #23 NYC, NY 10012-2586 about 20 bucks (cheap).
Clean studio: clean lungs
Air-exchange, kiln venting, exhaust fans and hoods, central vacuums (make your own air supplied face mask, work clothes etcetera.

Studio design and efficiency.
Rolling racks, damp closets, work flow, heat recovery and more.

Computers and craft.
The Internet, web sites, book keeping, wordprocessing, wholesale catalogues and more.

Marketing, self-promotion and other shameless acts. You are your work.
Wholesale. retail, gallery and public exhibitions, craft shows, consignment, commissions, catalogues, free publicity through press releases and events calendars. The importance of mailing lists.

Presentation: CV, keeping and organizing portfolios, slides and more aggravating essentials.
Start now, don't worry about the backlog, in two yeas the old stuff will seem less important.
Photographing your work.

Equipment.
Essentials: the wheel, the kiln and thee.
"Store bought" or home made. Central vacs, Giffin grips, rolling racks, tools, wheels.
I have tried: wheels, kilns, grips, pointers, clay mixers, air supplied respirators, pneumatic trash can lifters, rolling racks, buildings, glass bottomed boat, zebra striped truck cap, fold out trailer fair display, central vac, automatic agitators, ball mill, foundry furnace and tools, various tools. Some work well and make sense; some make good stories (ask about the catenary kiln arch form).
Air supplied face masks.

Fund-raising. Innovative approaches to fund-raising and financing.
Pre-selling shows and editions.
Grants. Dwindling sources, Canada Council etc. Lotteries with reasonable odds. Frequency of application increases your odds.

Competitions.
Enter often, don't hold your breath, don't take rejection personally.
Save some of your best work for future exhibitions and competitions. Make sure you have good slides of good work.

Technique.
Raku firing using electric kilns. Glazing techniques: resist, spray, sgraffitto, etch and brush etc.
Throwing and trimming. Texture slabs and press molds.

© Peter Powning

Workshop Rates:

Cost of return transportation from Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, International Airport to workshop venue.

Cost of meals, transportation and lodging during the workshop and during travel to and from workshop. (In many cases I’m quite happy to billet with a family willing to put up with me and my dietary habits in a non-smoking household).

Fee: $350/day for workshop plus $350 added to cover time away from studio while travelling. (3 day workshop would be 3x $350 = $1050 + $350 travel time = $1,400: 2 day would = $1,050 etc.)

I like to tailor my workshops to the needs of the group. The more information you can give me in advance the better able I am to satisfy your needs. I have a large collection of slides depicting my own work and techniques which I like to show two at a time (two Kodak Carousel Projectors required). These often make a good starting point for the workshop.

To contact me about doing a workshop for your group or institution email me at ppowning@nbnet.nb.ca.

Recent workshops and presentations by Peter Powning

2000:

New Brunswick Teachers Association, One day workshop, group of 45, in studio.
Gallery talk to NB College of Craft and Design, NBCC Gallery.

1998:
Fusion Conference, Missisauga, Ontario. Guest speaker, panelist and workshop leader.
Graduation Speaker, NB College of Craft and Design, 1998

1996-1997:
Glass Art Association of Canada Conference, Montreal, P.Q.
Nova Scotia Guild of Potters, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Sculpture Department, Grenville College, Cornerbrook, Newfoundland.
Ceramics Department, West Viking College, Stephenville, Newfoundland.
Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, lecture and workshop series ‘97-'98.
Devon House, Saint John's, Newfoundland.
NB College of Craft and Design, Fredericton, New Brunswick.

1997:
Visiting Artist at NB College of Craft and Design Fall term 1997
Ottawa Potter's Guild, Ottawa, Ontario.
Various presentations and workshops at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia in association with "Elemental Clay and Glass"
New Brunswick Museum, Saint John, New Brunswick.
Waterloo University, Waterloo, Ontario.
Aitken Bi-Centennial Exhibition Centre, Saint John, NB.
Dalhousie University Art Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia

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