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During the first week, your teacher Alessandro will introduce you to the fundamentals of traditional Sicilian pottery. You’ll start with warm-up exercises like throwing from the hump and making a decorative pigna (pine cone). From there, you'll move on to small-scale traditional shapes such as the quartara, brocca, giara, and bummulu: all variations of vessels used for storing and pouring water or wine.
In the second week, you’ll take things up a notch by creating a small collection of large-scale doughnut-shaped flasks and multi-arm candelabras: two iconic forms in Sicilian ceramics. You’ll learn to sketch out your designs, throw all the essential components (bases, bodies, spouts, handles, candle holders), and assemble them into complete, finished pieces.
By the end of the course you will:
Although the course is focussed on learning rather than making pieces, you will be able to keep some of the pieces you make:
Alessandro Strano, is a Sicilian master wheel thrower and founder of Studio MUD, a first-of-its-kind intercultural ceramics hub in Palermo.
Alessandro has over 30 years of experience as a ceramicist specialised in wheel throwing, and has perfected his skills over the decades by working at different studios and collaborating with local and international artists before founding a studio of his own in 2018.
Alessandro’s own ceramics pieces have a unique style that merges traditional Sicilian aesthetics and modern minimalism and elevates wheel throwing’s aesthetics.
He is one of Salemi Ceramics' first Sicilian friends, and has a special place in the Salemi Ceramics family. We're excited to have him teach at our studio, and we're sure you'll love his course!!!
This course is right for you if:
During this week, you won’t just get a ceramics course. We’ve also organised a program of activity so that you can connect with Sicilian culture, get to know beautiful Salemi and its rich history and territory.
You will:
We ask that you plan your arrival for Sunday. We have an included pick-up from either Palermo Centre (in front of Hotel Politeama) at 1100 or Palermo Airport at 1200. On Sunday afternoon (circa 1630, subject to change), you will be welcomed to Salemi by one of our team members, who will take you on an orientation walk of the historical centre. This will be followed by a welcome apericena (light dinner) with a Salemi Spritz at one of our favourite local restaurants.
We will bid you farewell at the end of your time in Salemi with an included transfer to either Palermo Airport or Palermo Centre (Piazza Politeama), departing Salemi at 0700 on Saturday morning.
**For pick-ups and drop-offs outside of these times and locations, please contact us for a transfer quote.
This is an intensive learning week! Teaching is primarily group-based with moments of individual feedback built in. Please note this is not one-on-one tuition.
You will be in the studio from Monday at 0900 through to approximately 1700 on Friday afternoon. Studio time is a combination of teaching and non-teaching time. A typical day looks like this:
0800 - Yoga in the courtyard (optional)
0900 - 1300 - Studio (teaching with a coffee/tea break at 1030 in the courtyard)
1300 - Shared lunch in the courtyard
1400 - 1630 - Free Studio Time - Afternoon studio hours are primarily self-directed practice, with your teacher available in the studio for guidance
1900 - Dinners are a combination of eating at local restaurants, home restaurants, and in-house at the studio
During the weekends, the studio will be closed. You will be free to organise your own weekend plans or participate in one of our optional weekend activities.
Please note: The exact schedule may vary depending on factors such as weather conditions for firing. Our program is carefully designed to balance teaching, practice, meals, and cultural experiences, and we do our best to follow the planned timetable. However, all times and activities are indicative and may shift with the season, the weather, or the needs of the group. Studio sessions, meals, and excursions may be adjusted, rescheduled, or substituted at our discretion. Flexibility is part of the Salemi Ceramics experience, and we believe these small changes often add to the richness of your time with us.
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We want to make Salemi a recognised centre for contemporary ceramic art. Come and be part of it!
