Mogollon Pottery Workshop (Spring)

Corrugated – Smudged – Oxidized

This is a unique opportunity to learn pottery from two of the most well known teachers of primitive pottery in the Southwest. John Olsen the master of corrugated pottery and Andy Ward well known pottery Youtuber. This workshop will focus on recreating the ancient pottery made by the Mogollon culture who were the masters of corrugated, oxidized and smudged pottery in their time. This 4 day, intensive workshop will take you through the whole process from digging clay, hand coiling pottery, corrugating, stone polishing, painting and finally firing our pots in an open, outdoor fire. 

Ancient Pottery Types We Will Make

McDonald Corrugated

Tularosa Fillet Rim

Tularosa Patterned Corrugated

Cibecue Polychrome

Class Includes

• All materials
• Lunch fixings on 3 days
• Field trip to dig wild clay
• One year of full access to all online pottery classes on ancientpottery.how ($105 value)

Coil Pottery

Decorate Pottery

Fire Pottery

Technologies Covered

• Corrugated pottery making.
• Stone polishing pottery.
• Painting with yucca brushes.
• Firing pottery in an outdoor, open wood fire.
• How to collect and process wild clays for pottery production.

Class Schedule

Thursday, April 3
Mix up the clay we will use. Look at prehistoric pottery sherds and talk about how to reproduce the pottery we see. Begin forming your first pot.

Friday, April 4
Finish first pot and possibly begin second pot. Field trip to dig wild clay. 

Saturday, April 5
Finish up pottery, paint designs if desired.

Sunday, April 6
Fire pottery first thing in the morning. Class should finish up no later than noon.

Enroll in this Class

Cost is $495, a $150 deposit will hold your place. Sign up soon because space is very limited.

About the Instructors

John Olsen became interested in primitive pottery in the early 1970s majored in art in college. my passion has been in the primitive arts since that time. I am self taught and have 40 years plus in the study of prehistoric pottery, I took myself backwards from studio pottery to full on primitive pottery. My focus has been on virgin Anasazi pottery. I have done many workshops in most of the western states at national parks and state parks and in private settings. My teaching involves using native clays, preparing paint, and firing. My goal is to make correct style pottery that is functional and stunning like so many potters did so long ago. 

Andy Ward began reproducing prehistoric pottery in high school, now more than 30 years later he teaches pottery workshops throughout Arizona and New Mexico. The focus of Andy’s pottery is on polychrome pottery types of the prehistoric Salado and Mogollon people. He has taught prehistoric pottery workshops for the Silver City Clay Festival, Archaeology Southwest Preservation Archaeology Field School and Old Pueblo Archaeology Center, among others.

Testimonials

“As a former ceramics major in college married to an anthropologist, I found your class enlightening as well as very fun… My experience of local pottery has been so enriched by the experience of your class. Keep up the good work!!”
Carol D. Tucson, AZ

“Not only is Andy Ward an excellent potter, he is also an excellent teacher. His workshops on recreating ancient Native American pottery of the Southwest are superb. Participants experience the full range of pottery production from processing clay gathered from natural sources to forming the vessels, decorating them, and firing them. He teaches the practices of ancient potters, using the same tools they used. I have taken two workshops with Andy and plan to take others when the opportunity arises. It is more than a worthwhile experience.”
Sharon M. Tucson, AZ

“Andy’s class was one of the most fun and educational classes I’ve ever taken. I learned a lot about the history and different types of pre-historic pottery made in Arizona, the various methods used to form, finish and fire the pots, and was able to practice what I learned and make a pot of my own! And Andy is as kind as he is knowledgeable. I am not an “artsy” type and Andy was very patient with me. His encouragement, enthusiasm and love of traditional Southwest pottery-making is contagious. Everyone is the class was thrilled that they took it!”
Roberta G. Tucson, AZ

Transportation

If you plan on flying, the nearest airport is Salt Lake City, about 4 or 5 hours drive away.

Questions?

If you have any questions before you can commit for this workshop please contact Andy, the instructor using the contact form on this website.