Workshop with Arthur Gonzalez; June 2026
Arthur demonstrating how to make a hollow coil head with the assistance of a traditional coiling base called a ‘puki’
This past week, I had the pleasure of attending a workshop with renowned figurative sculptor Arthur Gonzalez to learn the inside-out method that he developed in graduate school. Gonzalez has had a robust career spanning over forty years and has been a tenured professor at the California College of the Arts.
Unexpected discoveries and reminders:
Clay will always humble you; the final firing was rushed and only about half of the work survived.
Good art happens through collaboration. Though the body of the piece I made did not survive, I partnered with one of the attendees and together - my head, her body - we made a whole new creation. Honestly, I love the androgynous form and I think it works well with this ‘god-like’ figure to be sexless, genderless.
Bodies are vessels. We constructed the heads like a traditional coil pot - upside down in “Pukis”
Reminder to connect with people of different ages and abilities. The amount of experience in the room was tempered by several complete beginners. I learned valuable lessons from both.
People are resistant to think of themselves as artists. Some of my most talented and experienced classmates were hesitant to use the word “artist” as a descriptor - instead preferring to self-identify as potters, crafters, or more.
The artist mythos is self-constructed through narrative. The stories we tell about ourselves are the ones that people hold onto.
The power of repair. Arthur showed us a simple way to use gravity to help repair pieces and explained his process of repairing a large sculpture that was damaged “upon repair” that he fixed one piece at a time over two years.
What an experience! I’m grateful to have been able to make space for this growth.
Labyrinth goddess head on drying rack.
Hello, goddess. Loved how her expression came through.
R and me with our new artwork (my head, her body)
