I have always wanted to try my hand at making ceramics, but tend to be put off by the seemingly tricky techniques and delicate materials. At Marsano – a place you might know for its fancy flower arrangements and vintage furniture – Katrin Tettenborn is running pottery classes that are tailor made for tentative hands. Surrounded by plants, furniture and a sky of dried flowers, me and seven other participants were introduced to the so-called handbuilding technique. Using just my hands, I formed my first object from a fist-sized lump of clay, and soon enough any anxieties about making a mistake faded. The group is then invited to make pieces in various sizes and shapes using plaster molds, allowing you to make a series of objects and perhaps even a whole table service. From teacups to gigantic salad bowls, anything is possible.
After the first workshop comes the so-called biscuit firing, where the pieces are placed in a kiln at 600 degrees without a ceramic glaze. The group then reconvenes to see how many pieces have withstood the high temperatures, after which it’s time for glazing. Different colors and techniques give the pieces an individual touch and, like with the pottery, you’re given free rein to experiment. The atmosphere is relaxed and conducive to good conversation – though you can of course sit in silence and meditate as you work the material. In the end you get to take home beautiful ceramic objects that have an everyday use. I for one want to keep making pottery, and will join one of Marsano’s open workshops on the third and fourth Tuesday of the month. They’re open to anyone who already knows the basics.
Text: Nicola Sifrin / Photos: Sophie Döring
Marsano, Charlottenstr.75, 10117 Berlin–Mitte; map
You can check upcoming course dates online.
@marsanoberlin
