A masterclass exploring thin coil construction, balance and the meditative process of form-building from vessel to Moon Jar.
Dates: 23rd - 25th of September, 2026
Location: LerKalaset, Ry, Denmark
Duration: 3 days
Teaching hours: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM (including 1-hour lunch break)
Format: Coil building
Includes: Clay, coffee/tea/snacks
Firing: Participants will have the option to have their pieces fired by paying a kiln and glazing service fee (DKK 450-1200 per piece, depending on the size). Unfired pieces can be collected at no additional cost.
Number of masterclass enrolments: 12
Masterclass enrolment fee: DKK 7355 (986 €)
Immerse yourself in the meditative art of coiling! Over this three-day master class, you’ll learn how to roll thin, even coils and use them to build forms ranging from simple vessels to the elegant Moon Jar. This master class is ideal for anyone who has taken at least a beginner ceramics course and is ready to deepen their skills.
“Using especially thin coils in my process, allows me to control many physical qualities such as weight, size, thickness, form and time. The more control I can achieve, the more balanced and refined the objects become. The more time spent on each work, the more sincere and alive they become as my energy and focus migrate throughout.” -Joanne Seongweon Lee
Day 1: Basic Forms – Cup and Tall Cylinder
We’ll begin by practicing how to roll consistent coils and use them to construct foundational forms such as cups and cylinders. These shapes will help you develop control and confidence before moving on to more advanced pieces.
Day 2: Bowls and Dome Forms
Next, we’ll explore how to shape bowls and domed forms while refining your ability to work with thin coils. We’ll focus on techniques for maintaining structure, using the banding wheel effectively, and incorporating ribs to guide and support your forms.
Day 3: Complex Form – Moon Jar
On the final day, we’ll bring together everything learned during the workshop to create a classic Moon Jar. This session will emphasize combining techniques, shaping with intention, and completing a cohesive, balanced form.
About Joanne Seongweon Lee
Originally from South Korea, Joanne Seongweon Lee received her BFA from New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University with a concentration in Ceramics in 2015. After graduation, she returned to South Korea for an Artist in Residence Program at the Korea Ceramics Foundation: Icheon Cerapia. She completed an MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art in 2019 and achieved the Franz Rising Star Project Scholarship: Outstanding Performance in Porcelain Design in that same year. After graduating, she finished her Residency at Sonoma Ceramics in Sonoma, California. 2021-2022, Joanne taught at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Currently, Joanne is at Anderson Ranch Arts Center as the Ceramics Coordinator in Snowmass Village, Colorado.
Artist statement by Joanne
"By taking a purist approach to colour, form and configuration, I allow the essence of clay to remain the emphasis of my work. Through my profound interaction with the materials, I have learned that the challenging qualities which come with working with clay, when overcome, eventually highlight both elegance and subtlety.
As I remove myself from the wheel and transition to coil-building, I am able to explore new qualities of clay through rather unusual construction methods. Using especially thin coils in my process, allows me to control many physical qualities such as weight, size, thickness, form and time. The more control I can achieve, the more balanced and refined the objects become. The more time spent on each work, the more sincere and alive they become as my energy and focus migrate throughout.
I intentionally preserve the seams formed between each coil, representing endurance and acceptance between the clay and myself as the maker. Each coil must shoulder the weight of subsequent coils that pile on top of one another. When these coil-constructed objects reach structural and aesthetic balance, I consider the forms complete. These objects serve as metaphorical vessels that contain my cultural background, personal memories and the profound emotions accumulated along the coils and facades."
Practical information regarding transport and accommodation:
If you arrive by car, there is free parking in connection with the studio. If you travel by public transport, there are trains and buses from Aarhus to Ry. From Billund and Aarhus airports, pickup can be arranged for €60 or a taxi for around €130. Alternative and cheaper options are bus and train from both airports.
Registration takes place upon payment.
Once you have received the order confirmation per email, you are registered for the masterclass. The invoice you receive per email shortly thereafter is valid as your ticket. (Note that both order confirmation and invoice will be issued in the Danish language). Your registration is binding. Refund or exchange will only take place in the event that LerKalaset reschedules or cancels the dates. You may sell your ticket if you are prevented from participating. If so, please inform LerKalaset of the name and email address of the new participant.
