arroyo seco apprenticeship

I offer two year long apprenticeships with the option to extend. The apprenticeship is an opportunity to share my studio, materials, process, gallery, and knowledge in exchange for work trade. I am looking for someone motivated and hard working. They need to be able to see things to be done, have an independent attitude, and be able to maintain a clean studio. The apprenticeship is an opportunity to learn how to sustain a lifestyle in ceramics.

OBLIGATIONS As an apprentice, I ask for 15 hours of work trade per week in my personal studio. Typical duties on work-trade days might include glazing, cutting wood, sanding work, mixing glazes or clays, processing materials, loading kilns, and packing orders. In addition, I ask for three days staffing my gallery. Apprentice studios are located in the back of the gallery which permits you to make work while also tending to the customers entering the gallery. I offer 20% commission on my work sold by you in the gallery and take a 20% commission on your work.

FACILITIES The gallery studios have one electric kiln and are equipped with electric wheels, work tables, and shelving units. Apprentices also have access to my anagama wood kiln and a gas-soda kiln. My personal studio space is equipped with three electric kilns, a slab roller, solder mixer, pugger, and ball mill. Apprentices are entitled to use all this equipment.

MATERIALS Apprentices are entitled to help me dig clay to process for their clay bodies or order the necessary materials to develop their own clay body. I do not offer commercial clay bodies and its is up to the apprentice to purchase these from the clay supplier. I do offer a fully stocked glaze room for experimentation in any of the kilns. 

EXPECTATIONS

  • have a basic understanding of materials

  • capable of mixing clay and glazes unsupervised

  • able to independently load and start a bisque

  • have a self-directed studio practice

  • be able to produce a sufficient amount of work to help fill the wood kiln

  • All apprentices are responsible for their own lodging and meals.

Ojo caliente apprenticeship

This position will mimic the same obligations, materials, and exchange as the Arroyo Seco position. This will be a 45 commute from Taos. You will have 24 hour access to a 120 sq ft (9’9x12’) private studio space equipped with shelving and a shimpo whisper wheel. The position differs from the Seco position in that you will have opportunity to teach to make additional income.

PRODUCTION

This position is for people wanting to learn how to be a production potter through making work from my white/black line. The pots you would be expected to make are listed in the shop tab on the website - I encourage you to take a look. This is a paid position helping me in my studio 2 days a week.

OBLIGATIONS/EXCHANGE I ask for 15 hours of work trade and one day staffing my gallery in addition to the two days per week of production. This trade is in exchange for a studio space and the same access to materials and facilities listed in the apprenticeship position.

OJO GALLERy

The ojo gallery is my second location which opened fall of 2023. The position offered is a full-time gallery manager/personal studio practice for work exchange. It is a chance to take your professional studio experience to the next level with minimal overhead. This is a position that requires a self-directed, attentive, and trustworthy individual which is why I'm offering it only to those who have worked for me for at least 1 year.

OBLIGATIONS/EXCHANGE I ask for you to run the gallery 4 days a week. In exchange, you will receive access to the studio space (24/7) at no cost. You will supply all of your own tools and materials outside of equipment that lives in the studio. The studio is located in the back of the gallery and you are welcome to be making during gallery hours. You will receive 20% commission on my work and 100% on your work (unless someone is covering your day, then they will receive 20% on your work). You will also have the opportunity to teach classes and organize summer workshops.

FACILITIES

  • Gallery - A 400 sq ft (25’x16’) space equipped with shelving and pedestals for you and myself to fill with work.

  • Main studio - This will be the your stuido. It is located in the back, separated by partitions, and is 200 sq ft studio (13’x16’). It is equipped with the following: 1 brent C wheel, slab roller, 3x6 work table, 3x6 shelving unit (2 bays, 3 ware boards deep), wedging table, desk/packing station, storage, tool cart.

  • Kilnroom/classroom - This is a 180 sq ft (12’x15’) space. We currently have 2 electric kilns - a skutt 1027 and skutt 618 test kiln. The space is also equipped with 5 shimpo whisper lights. The purpose of this space is for teaching taught by the gallery staff.

  • Back studio - The back studio is 120 sq ft (9’9x12’) with shelving and a shimpo whisper wheel. Opportunity for and additional staff / work exchange / private studio space.

  • Outside area - Kickwheel with motor, raku kiln, grinding and clay processing area.

  • Gallery staff are responsible for their own lodging and meals.

how to apply

Apprenticeship positions - I accept applications January 1st through February 29th. I will take the month of March to review applications and interview finalists. I will then send out acceptances April 1st. Start date will be June 1st. To apply please email the following to potmaker@gmail.com: 15 images of recent work, CV, and a short description on why this position, your goals, and how you see yourself in a small rural art community.

Ojo gallery manager - This will be be a discussion that occurs between myself and current apprentices.