Sonoma Community Center

Enriching lives through education and the arts — for Sonoma Valley and beyond

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The Garden as Vessel; Visiting Artist Workshop with Emily Schroeder Willis

Saturday, May 17 from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Age

17 and 18+

Class Details

Schedule

Saturday, May 17 & Sunday, May 18, 2025
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Free Artist Talk on Friday, May 16, 5:30 PM

Instructor

Emily Schroeder Willis, Visiting Artist

Location

Room 117, Ceramics Studio

276 East Napa Street
Sonoma, CA 95476

Ages

Adults, 17+

Skill Levels

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Registration Cost

$240 for 2 sessions
Register Here Financial Aid

About the class

In this two-day workshop, we will explore the art of creating simple ceramic forms that serve as vessels to capture elements of the landscape around us. The first day will focus on building simple forms, using coil and pinch techniques to craft a variety of shapes.  On the second day participants are welcome to bring in materials that hold special significance, which we will recreate in clay and use as surface decoration for the forms created on the previous day. We will explore the work of historical artists like Bernard Palissy and contemporary artists like Kim Dickey, who draw inspiration from their surroundings. This workshop is for all skill levels – no previous ceramic experience is required.

About the instructor

Emily Schroeder Willis

Instructor / Artist

Emily is an artist and Associate Professor, Adjunct at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She holds a BFA from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and an MFA from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Growing up in Minnesota, Emily was deeply influenced by Japanese mingei traditions and the cultural heritage of her mother’s Mennonite upbringing. Currently, her work engages with the history and symbolism of historical vessels as a way to explore and reimagine the pictorial landscape.

    Class FAQ

    All Memberships(Excluding the $50/year tier) receive 10% off any purchase above $40. You should have received your discount code in your membership confirmation email.

    If you have any questions regarding the use of your code, you can contact Sean Baskin at sean@sonomacommunitycenter.org or call the office at (707)938-4626.

    Not a member? View more information about our monthly and yearly plans here.

    The Sonoma Community Center is committed to creating an accessible learning environment. If you require any special considerations(medical, physical, learning) please share them with Sean Baskin, Program Associate, by emailing him at sean@sonomacommunitycenter.org so that he can forward them to the relevant Program Director and Instructor.

    • All Levels
    • Welcomes participants from beginning through advanced. Instructor provides a balanced and flexible curriculum suitable for participants with any level of experience.
    • Beginning
    • Participant has little to no experience with this medium and needs or expects guidance at every step during the class. Participant wants to learn about materials, techniques, and vocabulary of the medium.
    • Intermediate
    • Participant is comfortable with the medium and expects both guidance and time to work alone with the medium.
    • Advanced
    • Participant is very confident with all aspects of the medium. Participant is self-motivated; ready to experiment and develop their artistic voice.
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    We ask that you notify us at least 10 business days in advance of a class if you need to cancel your registration. You may cancel by phone or email and we will gladly offer you a refund or credit toward a future class. If you cancel with less than 10 business days notice, we will not be able to provide a full refund. A flat cancellation fee of $15 will be charged to cover the transaction fee.

    Sometimes, the Sonoma Community Center has to cancel a class due to low enrollment or unforeseen circumstances, such as a natural disaster or health emergency. If this happens and we do not offer a reschedule date, you will be refunded 100% of your registration fee, or credit towards a future class. If we are able to offer a reschedule date but you are unable to make the new date, we will gladly offer credit towards a future class.

    Late additions to any program, class, or workshop that has already begun will be allowed on a per-case basis depending upon the Program Director & instructors approval. Late additions will have to pay the full registration cost of the class, along with any materials fees, and will not be prorated for the time missed. You may reach out to the program directors directly, or the Program Associate Sean Baskin at sean@sonomacommunitycenter.org to request a late addition.

    We are always looking for new instructors. You can find more information about the process here, or fill out the form directly here.

    You can view our full class policies and guidelines here.

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