Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery
A Chicago potter’s somewhat slanted view of clay & play
Categories: challenge, classes

LILLSTREET THROWDOWN : Challenge #8…
Roll the longest continuous coil using 1.75 pounds of clay… and NO HANDS!!! And if it does break, you can not put it back together!! Lot of wrists, lots of fun… but a bit tougher as they started running out of table space to keep going!

Categories: challenge, classes, wheelthrowing

LILLSTREET THROWDOWN : Challenge #7…
Throw five matching cutie-patootie vases off-the-hump in 10 minutes.
It was Katie versus “sit-in ringer & former “Throwdown Champion” Christine!

Categories: challenge, classes

LILLSTREET THROWDOWN : Challenge #6…
Pull the largest slab using 1.75-pounds of clay in 10 minutes… but using only one hand and no tools!!! Not as easy as it sounds!!!

Categories: challenge, classes, wheelthrowing

LILLSTREET THROWDOWN : Challenge #5…
Wheel throw the tallest cylinder… with a bottom & straight sides in 10 minutes!!!

Categories: challenge, classes, handbuilding

LILLSTREET THROWDOWN : Challenge #4…
Handbuild a perfect egg… hollow while using 1.75 pounds of clay in 10 minutes!!! Ellen versus Ruth… pinch pots but with two different approaches. One went equal half & half, while the other went fat end, skinny end!!!

Categories: challenge, classes

LILLSTREET THROWDOWN : Challenge #3…
Pull the longest handle without breaking… for 10 minutes! Shannon versus Joanna…
and who woulda’ thought it would be such a shoulder workout...well, me…
but obviously not Shannon who figured it out soon enough!!!

Categories: challenge, classes

LILLSTREET THROWDOWN : Challenge #2…
Handbuild a 5″tall free-standing pyramid in just 10 minutes… it was Claire versus Taylor… and GO!!!

Categories: challenge, classes

After everyone paired up, we started the THROWDOWN challenges… which is also when they found out their “pairs” were actually going to be competitors!!! One winner, one loser for each challenge on the wheel. Spin the “Wheel Of Challenges” and find out what’s in store for you & your competitor!

LILLSTREET THROWDOWN : Challenge #1…
Wheelthrow a dinner plate with the wheel going in the”wrong” direction!

Categories: challenge, classes

Last week in THE GREAT LILLSTREET THROWDOWN class, I challenged my students
to spin the “Wheel Of Challenges.” And then hilarity ensued… as we let the games begin!!!

Categories: challenge

After about ninety minutes, my LILLSTREET THROWDOWN‘ers had accomplished their task. The challenge was to make a trio of candlesticks… and they did! Some were more traditional in style, while others were a bit more creative. So much fun to se them ALL tackle the challenge & win!!! Can’t wait to see them all again after they’re glazed, fired & hosting some flickering candles!!!