Workshop Description

Join me in the beautiful artist community of San Miguel de Allende Mexico for a unique hands-on five-day workshop where we will explore and experience new approaches to sculptural forms, emphasizing three-dimensional design. 

Develop a personal vision of hand-building techniques for creating sculptural forms in this class designed for students with some prior experience with clay, but all skill levels are welcome. Demonstrations focus on slab construction, but students can experiment with coil building, pinching, or other methods that meet their needs. This class will use various material techniques, including paper clay, decorating techniques, underglaze techniques, textures, colored slips, and glaze applications. This class will provide specific instruction from the instructor for advancing your work to a higher level. Each student will then work independently. There will be individual and group instruction and critiques.

Workshop fee is $1,000 USD. 

To register visit my website at

https://jerrybennett.net/shop/ols/categories/workshops  at registration and the remaining balance is due ,February 3, 2025. The registration fee can be paid via my website or directly via PayPal./shop/

What’s included in the workshop

• Comfortable workspace with all materials and basic tools
• Lectures exploring sculpture, hand building, paper clay ceramics and slide shows
• Exclusive Facebook group with daily postings 
• Handouts
• Video training on how to make paper clay will be offered free through teachable.com to registered students taking the class.

Class schedule 

9 am - to 4 pm 

The studio will be open from 8:30 am - 5:00 pm

Nourishment

A healthy lunch will be prepared fresh daily. We will have coffee/tea and fruit available throughout the day. Students are responsible for breakfast and dinner. The studio has a fridge and a microwave that will be available to all students.

Optional

• Bisque Firing
• Class Evening out for Dinner
• Tours to the famous Fabrica Aurora Art Center, Tile Factory in Delores Hidalgo, Mask Museum, La Gruta Hot Springs Pools and Via Organic Gardens and Restaurant. 

Not Included in the workshop

• Travel and lodging.
• Cost of shipping bisque fired work.

**Come early or stay an extra weekend to see all that San Miguel de Allende has to offer and meet artists in the community.

About Jerry Bennett

Jerry Bennett, a leading international paper clay artist and a key figure in the exploding field of paper clay. His work is in many galleries and museums throughout the world. Bennett was a resident artist at the Philadelphia Clay Studio for five years. He received his MFA from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. Bennett has given workshops and lectures at over fifty colleges, schools, and art centers throughout the United States. In 2005, he was a guest at the first International Paper Clay Symposium in Kecskemet, Hungary. In 2012 he led the Second International Paper Symposium in Kecskemet, Hungary. He is an active studio artist in Philadelphia, teaching locally and running the Two Rivers Studio. For additional information, please visit www.jerrybennett.net

About San Miguel de Allende

San Miguel de Allende is an enchanting city with a rich cultural heritage and a thriving arts community. It's rated one of the top city destinations in the world, according to Travel+Leisure Magazine. It has been on the Worlds most beautiful city awards list for multiple years and was named as the worlds best city in 2021. It is also a Unesco world heritage site. It is also known for its world class cuisine.

San Miguel de Allende was built on a foundation of rose quartz and feldspar. Rose quartz is believed by many to have powerful vibrational energy. This energy is said to be gentle and nurturing, with a calming and soothing effect on the mind and body. The vibrational energy of rose quartz is thought to promote feelings of love, compassion, and self-acceptance. It is often used in crystal healing to help heal the heart and promote emotional well-being. 

Known as the land of eternal spring, the temperatures range between low 40’s at night to high 80’s during the day throughout the year.For Travelers

• San Miguel is accessible from two airports:  Leon (BJX) (an hour and 30 min. from San Miguel) and Queretaro (QRO), (an hour and 20 min. from San Miguel).  
• Transportation to and from either airport is most economical using the shuttle service, Bajiogo https://bajiogoshuttle.com/ the fee is about $30.00 USD. You can book and pay online or call them to arrange transport. Please have your travel itinerary available and the address for the hotel where you are staying when you make your reservations. You can also arrange for a private shuttle or a private car to taxi. Your driver will meet you at the airport by the exit holding a sign with your name on it. 
• We suggest you wait to make travel reservations till we know the workshop is a go. We will contact you immediately when we know.
• We try to accommodate as many students we can but we do have to limit space so that each student receives individual attention. Once the class is full there will be a waitlist. We will contact you, in order of request, if a spot opens up.
• In addition to packing any of your favorite studio tools bring an extra bag with some packing material if you intend on bringing your sculpture back as a carry-on. We will have tape and some packing supplies in the studio as well.
• General info about San Miguel de Allende travel see https://explorergenes.com/one-week-in-san-miguel-de-allende-mexico/

Accommodations

• We are very happy to announce a special offer** from Casa las Palmas just for our students. It Is great for students who want to be in a beautiful retreat like setting with other students and be close to the studio. Visit their website at https://casalaspalmas.com.mx/ 

** Package special for students at Casa las Palmas includes 5 nights, full  breakfast and transportation to and from the workshop for $700 single,  $900 double. There are 5 rooms, each with private terraces and  kitchenettes. Some rooms have a king size bed and others have a queen  bed plus a sleeper sofa. Optional twin bed can be added to any room. Visit  the website to see the beautiful sanctuary experience of Casa las Palmas.  https://casalaspalmas.com.mx/ Contact Lorietta at Estudio Lorietta,  lorietta@pobox.com, or the Owner of Casa las Palmas with any questions  you may have.

• There are several sources for accommodations in the central part of San Miguel de Allende on the internet. Let us know if you need help or want suggestions. If you are interested in sharing an apartment or house with other students let us know. Contact Estudio Lorietta for more information at lorietta@pobox.com.

Sightseeing in San Miguel de Allende 

• Tours and adventures outside of the workshop hours and days? Contact Coyote Canyon Adventures at https://coyotecanyonadventures.com/index.php?vw=1324&vh=860&v0=&v1=32&v1b=0&v2=eng&v3=0&v4=despliega&v5=despliega&v6=despliega&v10=0&v13=&v14=&v25=155&v26=0 
• They offer many trips from winery tours, balloon rides, and cultural tours, to country excursions on horseback. Contact Estudio Lorietta lorietta@pobox.com or Coyote Canyon Adventures for a complete catalog of their offerings. My name is Jerry Bennett Pottery and I am a passionate artist with over 10 years of experience in painting and illustration. My artwork is inspired by nature, animals, and human emotions. I believe that art has the power to make people feel and connect with one another. Through my paintings, I want to bring joy, peace, and inspiration to people's lives.