Over the weekend, Baltimore Clayworks welcomed visiting artist Stacy Snyder for Constructing Meaning: Cups and Architectural Forms in Clay, a two-day workshop that invited participants to consider both the practical and conceptual possibilities of the handmade vessel. Participants explored how individual thrown components can be transformed through alteration, assembly, and construction. The workshop moved from the familiar form of the cup to more complex architectural objects, encouraging participants to think about how function, structure, and meaning intersect in clay.
The weekend began with a focus on cups. Stacy demonstrated a range of cup forms designed for different beverages, while opening up a broader discussion about what a handmade cup means in today’s world. Participants then put those ideas into practice, throwing their own cup forms and considering how subtle changes in proportion, shape, and function can influence the experience of using a vessel.
From there, the workshop expanded into architectural forms. Stacy demonstrated how thrown components could be combined to create objects such as house-shaped jars, vases, salt and pepper sets, and butter dishes. Rather than approaching these forms as single objects thrown in one piece, participants learned to think in parts; considering how individual components can be constructed, altered, and assembled into something more complex.
On Sunday, the focus shifted to handles and construction. Participants worked with the components they had created, exploring ways to bring separate pieces together while maintaining a sense of balance and cohesion. Stacy also demonstrated a variety of surface techniques, including underglaze with masking, iron decals, low-temperature glaze with masking, and low-temperature decals.
Throughout the weekend, the workshop emphasized experimentation and close observation. Stacy’s own work, which draws inspiration from architectural structures, rooflines, landscapes, utilitarian buildings, and glimpses of everyday life, provided a foundation for thinking about how familiar forms can be transformed through clay. For participants, the workshop offered an opportunity to develop new technical skills while reconsidering objects that are part of everyday life.
“As a Resident Artist at Baltimore Clayworks, something I like to take advantage of is the Visiting Artist Workshops. I find these very informative. Last year, I went to Pottery on the Hill in DC for the first time. There, I first saw Stacy’s work, and I was drawn to the use of form and color. I was excited to have the opportunity to be part of the workshop and get a glimpse into Stacy’s process.” – Hannah Kautto, 2025 – 2027 Long-term Resident Artist
Stacy Snyder’s approach encouraged participants to look beyond the individual object and consider the relationships between form, function, structure, and meaning. Over two days, the studio became a space for testing those ideas in clay, one thrown component at a time. We are grateful to Stacy for sharing her process, knowledge, and perspective with the Baltimore Clayworks community, and to everyone who joined us for this weekend of making and exploration.
