learning the art of nerikomi

Day 1: Got to meet Courtney Hassmann, a potter based out in Albuquerque, NM well known for their beautiful mugs and other pieces in warm colored Nerikomi. The beginning of the workshop had a funny disclaimer: clay cracks, and Nerikomi especially is known to tear and show signs of stress, it's just part of the art. It reminded me of the class I took a while back, with Chad Corbin at the Studio Arts Boulder - since renamed to Groundworks Art Lab. It was all about the art of Japanese hand-building, and Chad taught us the emphasis and acceptance of imperfection in the art of Japanese pottery. Ever since that class I have actually been more forgiving with imperfections in my own work, and will never be able to fully express how thankful I was to learn the many techniques, and philosophy it gave me. This workshop felt like an extension of that, a dive into the art of Nerikomi, a Japanese hand-building technique and the art of letting go of perfection.

First, we learned how to cane coils to create a petaled flower. Disclaimer. I am not a great hand-coiler. It's why I never got into coiling in the first place. My further endeavor into it this year was at a great thanks to the extruder. But alas here I was, sloppily making hand coils and trying my best to use the tips Courtney kept telling everyone at the workshop to get them nice and even. I swear I tried to use my palms and roll the coils evenly in one full rotation, but they kept coming out flat. At some point however I stopped caring and just coiled, realizing I was here to learn, not to make the world's greatest Nerikomi piece there ever was. Meticulously patterning in the petals was a lot harder than I expected but it did come out! We pinched the coils in triangles and voila a 4 petaled flower appeared, sharp and pointy. It wasn't perfect but I created something I had never done before, and to that regard I was so proud. We also learned slabbed stacking Nerikomi, but I admit that is something I have dabbled in before, so the caned coils is what really stood out in the class for me.

The workshop itself was filled with women of different backgrounds, so many potters in one room, new and experienced. I have never been good in groups, I tend to regress into myself and struggle to speak in crowds (unless it's my own class I am teaching haha), but listening to everyone talk, engaging here and there, was quite lovely. The room was filled with so much support, encouragement and even a little whimsy. Some women even shared their canes to create new multicolored patterns, and other women were giving their extra clay to each other to use. It was one big room of strangers having fun learning, making me more excited to return.

Day 2: We learned how to pinch pot our tiles or cubes if you will, into pots and mugs. Courtney started off by showing how they pinched their famous mugs, handle included. I had not realized how popular their work was the day prior, as this was my first introduction to their work. But with the room raving about an online sale the night prior I quickly realized Courtney is the real deal! I mean I believed it when they showed us their pieces the day prior, along with all the teaching. But it also showed in their use of tools and description of how to build the mugs that they have been doing this for a while, and learning to hone their craft. They also gave a shoutout to Dirty Girl Pottery Tools, and they have a cutting wire I have been searching forever for.

Anyways, using a banding wheel and diced up pieces of cane, Courtney slowly made a base then added a wall, pinching their way higher while twisting the banding wheel round, and round. It was impressive to watch them pinch their way to something quite simple yet so beautiful. It was even more impressive at how little they altered the Nerikomi design we just worked so hard to make. When it was my turn to reproduce the same, I was not as confident. I was unsure I had enough clay but decided to build a small bowl anyways. Again, in an endeavor to accept imperfection, I stopped thinking and planning, and just built. There were rulers out on the table and counting of cubes all around me, but I really felt like rolling with it, so I slowly just started building my bowl. Base first. Walls next. Focusing on the fundamentals and just being happy I was there.

I have struggled with health recently, and while I may not always be my best self to drag myself to the studio, joining this workshop was really fun and I was so happy to be a part of it. I am often reminded in days like these that there is a lot to learn, and a lot to absorb in the world of art. Being a nurse I am not often immersed in the art world, but joining studios like these, and going to classes and workshops is just so cool. I love working with my hands, probably why I love my nursing job so much, and clay as a medium. The art of Nerikomi furthered my love for it all, and it's been a skill I have been wanting to try for a while!

I am not yet finished with my bowl. It is drying on my shelf, waiting to be molded and trimmed, but I realized learning to coil these past few months helped me a lot. Seams are hard, cracks do happen, so we shall see what comes of this experiment. Tonight my plan is to buy 2 new colors, and 2 new tools. And slowly open up my repertoire of skills. Maybe Nerikomi will become prevalent in my work, maybe it won't. But for now I shall experiment. But in the meantime I have a lamp to finish that is taking all of my time and effort right now! Get ready for that soon!