Workshop recreates ancient cooking pots from Cyprus and the Mediterranean

They say it can be meditative to work with clay and many handicraft processes possess a relaxing quality to them. The repetitive act calms the mind and soothes the nervous system and when it comes to ceramic art, moulding the clay by hand is said to be a rather comforting practice. Perhaps it is one of the reasons why people have been so drawn to learning ceramic and pottery art and it seems that the interest is still high.

As such, another ceramics seminar is coming up but what is special about the 6^th Archaeological Experimental Ceramics Workshop is that it proposes the exploration of techniques and technologies of the past. This August the workshop in Foini village will focus on the recreation of ancient cooking pots from Cyprus and other Mediterranean countries.

From August 2 to 8 at the village’s Cultural Centre, participants will craft replicas of ancient ceramic cooking pots, engage in an experiential process and follow the footsteps of the ancient makers to learn about the past. Students will also be guided to recover new knowledge about ancient objects through the process of creative research. The workshop will be led by Dr Stella Karageorgi and Andreas Fasoulides and is a programme by Sensy, a non-profit organisation that preserves the cultural heritage of Cyprus and raises awareness about social and environmental issues.

Ideal for students, archaeologists and fine art artists, participants could attend the full week’s programme (with a €155 fee) or take part only for the day (for €22). Over the course of six days, teachers and students will work on the various aspects of ancient ceramic pots from setting up the workshop to building the kiln. Classes will from 8am to 7pm with a three-hour break between 1pm and 4pm.

The results of this project will culminate in a Final Exhibition and an open panel discussion which will be accompanied by a cooking demonstration where the objects created will be put into use. Lastly, the experiences and interpretations of the participants will be collected and presented to the public in the form of a publication.

6^th Archaeological Experimental Ceramics Workshop

6-day workshop recreating ancient ceramic cooking pots from Cyprus and the Mediterranean. With facilitators Dr Stella Karageorgi and Andreas Fasoulides. August 2-8. Cultural Centre, Foini village. €155 for full participation, €22 for one day. Pre-booking only. Tel: 99-539705