Sean C. Morgan
Of The New Era
Sweet Home High School art teacher Gelindo Ferrin is hosting world-class Italian potter Claudio Reginato at a workshop to be held May 5-6.
“I worked with him in Italy for six months,” Ferrin said. Ferrin said he helped Reginato with his work and attended the World Tournament of Throwing with him in 2002.
“I won one division. He won the rest,” Ferrin said. “I was the only American there. I was real happy about it. It was an incredible experience. I’ve learned a lot of stuff from him.”
The tournament included participants from 44 countries, he said. Reginato, with more than 40 years experience, has been a world champion for nine years, and is “an incredible competitor.”
Reginato followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, he said at his Web site. When his father died, he worked hard to learn the craft and succeed, winning several first-place awards at the “Mondialtornianti,” along with several other important awards.
“Throwing is not so easy,” he said. “And you need to be very confident with the wheel to have quality results.
“Along with the potters wheel, I work as a sculptor, which I like very much. I fire raku objects made of different kinds of clays when the weather allows me to do it.
“I use even stoneware, refractories, or I combine different materials to obtain interesting background effects. As a consequence, I dare say, I always try to find new results with glazes too.
“I grew up as a potter, so to me, the wheel is a part of myself and follows the rhythm of my soul. It’s important to make people realize that this craft deals with natural elements, such as earth, water, air, sun and fire.”
Reginato has been teaching, sculpting, throwing and collaborating with other artists for many years, he said. “I wish from the bottom of my heart to be able to teach the results of my experience to other people in order to see this very ancient tradition live through the hands of others.”
Reginato holds workshops throughout the United States, including Eugene, Ferrin said. Ferrin has also organized workshops in Arizona prior to moving to Sweet Home.
Reginato will arrive in Sweet Home during the week and provide demonstrations in class, Ferrin said. From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 5, persons taking the workshop will make pottery under the direction and instruction of Reginato in the high school art lab. During the workshop, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., on Sunday, May 6, participants will trim their creations; and Ferrin will fire it so it can be taken home.
The cost of the workshop is $55.
For information, call the high school at 367-7142 extension 156 to contact Ferrin.
Even if not participating, Ferrin is encouraging anyone interested in pottery or ceramics to attend and watch,.