On a Friday night in the studio at Berkshire Art Center, you might shape stoneware clay. You might knead it into a wedge until the wider end coils like a snail and then whack it onto the kickwheel and slick it with water.
Rest your elbows on your knees and massage the clay between the heels of your hands until it’s steady on its base as the wheel spins, and then you can press with your fingers to draw the centar down and the rim up … you’ll have wet slip clay up to your elbows and the beginning of a cup in your hands.
In an old schoolhouse in Stockbridge, Berkshire Art Center has been teaching hands-on art since 1991. Today the art school also holds classes at schools and museums and downtown gathering places across the county.
They teach drawing and painting, clay and bookbinding, printing and photography and more. Some workshops are in-depth explorations over several days or several weeks, and some can you can drop into for an afternoon.
They also hold artmaking and holiday events for families, art camps for children and arts nights out in the studio for adults, where visitors can try out a project with a glass of wine or a local beer.
A young artist at Crosby Elementary School gets hands-on in a IS183 class. Image courtesy of IS183
A student draws at an easil at IS183 in Stockbridge.
Ceramics students throw pots on a wheel at IS183 Art School. Photo courtesy of IS183
Amateur jewelers work metal at an Arts Night Out event in the studios at IS183.
A young artist at Herberg Elementary School gets hands-on in a IS183 class. Image courtesy of IS183
Young artists at Morningside Elementary School show their work from IS183 classes. Image courtesy of IS183
