Join Colombian American artist Natalia Arbelaez to model two- or four-legged zoomorphic and anthropomorphic creatures in clay. Natalia will guide participants through the process of creating reusable wooden armatures and simple single use armatures that can be used to explore making quick and gestural figures. The workshop will focus on basic techniques appropriate for creating both rudimentary and complex forms. While these forms are rooted in Natalia’s researched of pre-Columbian art, fun and play are an integral part of the studio. Surface will also be demonstrated, from adding washes to using Majolica to bring color and line to a piece. All levels welcome.
April 23 & 24, 2024
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
$65 per person
Open to Maine K-12 Art Educators
About Natalia
Natalia Arbelaez is a Colombian American artist, born and raised in Miami, Florida to immigrant parents. She received her B.F.A. from Florida International University and her M.F.A. from The Ohio State University, with an Enrichment Fellowship. In 2016-2017 she was a Rittenberg Fellow at Clay Art Center; Port Chester, New York and was awarded the Inaugural Artaxis Fellowship that funded a residency to Watershed in Newcastle, ME. Her work has been exhibited internationally, in museums, galleries, and included in various collections, such as the Everson Museum, MAD Museum, Fuller Museum and The ICA Miami. She has been recognized by NCECA as a 2018 Emerging Artist and was a 2018-19 resident artist at the Ceramics Program at Harvard University where she researched pre-Columbian art and histories.
Natalia was an artist in residence at the Museum of Art and Design in New York City where she researched the work of historical and influential women ceramicists of color and continued this research as a 2021 and 2023 Visiting Artist at AMOCA in Pomona, CA. She lives and works in The Mid-Hudson Valley region of New York.
Workshop Details
- The workshop will run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day. Please arrive at the studio by 8:45 a.m., as instruction will begin promptly. Watershed’s main campus address is: 19 Brick Hill Road, Newcastle, ME.
- Watershed will provide lunch during the workshop. Gluten free and vegetarian diets can be accommodated. Those with additional dietary needs may bring supplemental food that can be stored in the studio refrigerator or kitchen.
- Participants must agree to follow Watershed’s health & safety guidelines. Read them here.
- Upon completion of the workshop, Watershed will provide participants with proof of contact hours.
What to Bring
- Needle tool
- Ribs (metal, rubber)
- Wooden knife
- Metal knife
- Xacto knife (optional)
- Any other favorite tools
Payments & Refunds
- Payment is due online with registration.
- Watershed can provide you with a receipt to submit for reimbursement.
- Registration fees are refundable until 60 days prior to the workshop. For cancellations made fewer than 60 days prior to the workshop, the fee can be credited toward a program in the next calendar year.