POTTERY WORKSHOPS AND RETREATS
DUE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS WE ARE ONLY HOSTING A MAXIMUM OF 2 STUDENTS PER WORKSHOP.
AS ALL CLASSES ARE TAUGHT IN THE OPEN AIR THIS IS SAFE WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING.
POTTERY CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS - MINIMUM OF 3 HRS AND EACH 3 HR SESSION IS R300
During the three hours you will be focusing on working with clay: either drape moulding our throwing for the price of the workshop we will also wax, turn, glaze and fire your pots for you, as well as post the finished item/s to your nearest Postnet!
We. can offer one on one classes and up to a maximum of 6 for a workshop.
You can also book a follow up workshop to learn further techniques around glazing and firing.
If you are interested in booking on one of our classes or workshops, please fill out the form below
POTTERY RETREATS - THE CENTRED POTTER - 4 DAY POTTERY RETREAT - R4200
This transformative retreat offers experienced potters and students alike, the chance to work on their technique and craft. Pottery is an intensely physical pursuit and using principles from Alexander Technique and other disciplines, you will be guided through the most erganomic ways to approach your practice. In addition you will have the opportunity to learn more about throwing, turning and working with clay intensively, as well as time for relaxation, in the idyllic forest setting of Starways Arts Centre, in the Hogsback Mountains.
COST: R4200 Per Person
INCLUDING: Accommodation, Lunches, Tea and a 4 day Workshop with Pottery Kit.
If you are interested in booking on one of our retreats, please fill out the form below.
POTTERY INTERNSHIPS AND RESIDENCIES
Starways provides some unique opportunities to learn about a full time functioning pottery and how to help your own practice thrive. In particular we are one of the only potteries in the country to offer experience in the almost alchemical experience of woodfiring. If you are a potter with some basic experience and you would like to explore the chance to work with us, please fill out the form below.
pottery and art at starways
The iconic pathway leading up to the Pottery is the main artery to Starways, bringing not only customers, but also friendships, ideas and a strong sense of community.
Pots made at Starways are a mixture of electric and wood-fired reduction stoneware. The different stylistic approaches of each resident potter is reflected in the pottery on sale at the Art Centre Gallery and in the online Shop.
Starways Pottery was founded in 1992 by internationally recognised potter, Anton van der Merwe, who is generally known for his Anglo-Japanese influenced stoneware. However, new directions are constantly being explored by the resident and visiting potters, who bring new ideas and creativity to the arts centre.
Current Resident Potters are Liyanda Mafika and Gwyneth Lloyd and are often joined by visiting potters Vale van der Merwe (Ireland), Carrie van de Langenberg (London, UK) and John Steele (East London, SA).
Founding potter Anton van der Merwe passed away in 2016. Here is an In Memoriam section which celebrates his life. If you have any contributions to add to this virtual exhibition, please contact us.
ANTON VAN DER MERWE (1950-2016)
POTTER, ARTIST, CRAFTSPERSON AND CO-FOUNDER OF STARWAYS ARTS
Anton started making artefacts at an early age in his father's workshop, that had an old gothic window to let the light in. Later the possibility of craft becoming art became clear to him.
He had no formal art tuition until late high school at Pretoria Boys High School 1965-1968. This school had a tradition and very high standards of art tuition. Amongst the teachers at PBHS were prominent South African artists Walter Battiss and Larry Scully. Anton was taught by Clinton Harrop-Allen who went on to become Professor of History of Art UNISA. He was also taught by Patrick Glen. He was given further instruction by his Aunt Liz Gerber and some part-time instruction by teachers at Pretoria Tech College in 1970's. That was the sum total of formal art tuition.
Self instruction is a long and arduous path, but there is a greater possibility of doing original and more relevant work in the Arts.
His favorite artists over the years are: Walter Battiss, Adolf Jentsch, Jean Weltz, all the Impressionists and Vincent Van Gogh.
After a period of a self-imposed apprenticeship, Anton presented at numerous group and one-man shows of his works in major South African cities from 1977 through 2014. He also showed his work in major craft galleries in the United Kingdom and The Netherlands. Most of the wood-fired pottery made at Starways is purchased by visitors who wander up the pottery path. An majority of his work now resides in the homes of people all over South Africa and overseas.
Pottery influences include Esias Bosch, Hyme Rabinowitz, Bernard Leach and Soji Hamada.
IN MEMORIAM
Anton van der merwe
For those of us who had the honour and the pleasure of working or living alongside Anton, there are few words that can encompass what a beautiful and creative mind and heart he carried for his work, his family and his friends. For those of us who walked up the pottery path or encountered him elsewhere, by chance or design, we were always met with a story, a smile and more often than not, a word of wisdom to take away with us.
Although it was incredibly sad to lose Anton, too early in his life, his legacy lives on very strongly at Starways. Not only did he leave us with an exemplary collection of pottery and paintings, he designed and built almost every structure on the property, creating the living and breathing backbone of an arts centre which has brought together many artists, poets, performers, thinkers and visitors, as well as family and friends.
Anton was incredibly spiritual, so much so, that before he died of cancer in 2016, he shared this gem of wisdom: 'If I make it through this, I get to carry on living, If I don't I get to become part of the spiritual world. So really it's a win-win situation.'
His legacy, of course, reaches far beyond Starways. his pottery, paintings, stories and his many words of wisdom residing in the homes and hearts of people all over the world.
If you have returned to the website with the purpose of reordering Anton's pottery, we hope that you will take the time to view work of the new resident potters, all of whom Anton had a hand in training and who all have their own distinctive approaches to pottery and ceramics.
