Special Course

Textures and Wheel Throwing with Anas Rifi-Zinati

This course is directed at students that have previous experience in wheel throwing and want to explore the possibilities of clay surfaces by adding textures, patterns and details. During the course we will refresh the basics of wheel throwing and learn a variety of techniques to alter clay on the wheel: stretching with and without sodium silicate, coloured slip, textures by kanna…. 

You will have a unique chance to fully immerse yourself in the practice of wheel throwing, making progress that would be hard to achieve within the noise of everyday life.

By the end of the retreat you will have the opportunity to choose which piece(s) you would like fired, glazed and shipped to you. As pieces need approximately a week to dry out, this will be done for you once the retreat has concluded.

Outcome

Although the course is focussed on learning rather than making pieces, you will be able to keep some of the pieces you make:

  • The course includes the firing and glazing of up to 3 kg of dry clay (that’s two medium dry bowls, or one large vase thrown with 3-4 kg of wet clay)
  • There is an extra charge of 20€/kg of clay for firing and glazing of more than 3kg of clay
  • All pieces will be glazed with a standard transparent high temperature glaze
  • We do not ship unglazed bisque pieces, as the chances of them breaking during shipping are too high
  • Shipping costs are charged extra, and can vary from 40€ for 3 kg for Germany, to 80€ for  3kg shipped to the US

Who is the course right for?

This course is right for you if:

  • you can confidently centre and throw pieces of 2 kg
  • you are a ceramics student or practising ceramicist who wants to take a deep dive into the magic world of ceramics textures

Your Teacher

Anas is a ceramic designer based in Barcelona. After studying interior and industrial design at Escola Massana, he opened his own studio, Espai Alfar, where he produces his own work as well as developing project for other designers. He is also a regular teacher at renowned Barcelona school El Torn.

Anas’s work profile ranges from conceptual through to product design and his specialty is in large format throwing and slip mould production. Anas draws inspiration from his great grandmother who was a potter from the arid Mountains in Northern Africa. His work follow a philosophy based on responsible production, an enriching process and collaborations with other designers and artists.

Discover Sicily

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:

  • Eat breakfast like the locals do in our favourite local bars
  • Enjoy meals in a variety of authentic, local Sicilian restaurants / home-restaurants
  • Carry out at least one excursion to a local cultural heritage site, either Gretto di Burri or Segesta archaeological site

The Project

The Salemi School of Ceramics is a social enterprise that has been opened to create a learning centre for contemporary ceramics, the first of its kind in Sicily.

The School has been created in partnership with the local town of Salemi, which has provided the gorgeous space - the Sant'Agostino Monastery - that will be used for the school.

Salemi has a gorgeous historical centre and because it is quiet and peaceful, it is the perfect place for a mindful ceramics retreat.

What's Included

  • Ceramics classes and mentorship by Anas Rifi-Zinati
  • All materials
  • Palermo Airport pick-up (12 noon Sunday) or Palermo City Pick Up (11am Sunday). There is an additional charge for any pick-ups at other times
  • Return Palermo Airport transfer and Palermo City drop off on Saturday, departing Salemi at 7am
  • 2 x Yoga and 2 x meditation classes
  • All meals and non-alcoholic beverages from Sunday dinner through to Saturday breakfast
  • Glazing and firing a max of 3kg of pieces (this will be done after the retreat has finished)

What's Not Included

  • Accommodation
  • Additional costs for purchasing extra pieces to be decorated
  • Additional cost for firing and glazing extra pieces
  • The cost of shipping of the pieces that will be fired by the studio  (shipping costs for 3kg packages range approximately from 40€ for most EU countries to 80€ for the US)
  • Alcoholic beverages

A Typical Day

Classes will be held from Monday through to Friday. On Sunday, there will be a welcome dinner and on Saturday, we will bid you farewell. Classes will be 4h each morning 

(9am-1pm) and 2/3h each afternoon (2-5pm), except one afternoon of cultural activities.

Order of the day:

  • Yoga (2 classes x week)
  • Breakfast
  • First Class 9am-10.30am
  • Break
  • Second Class 11am-1pm
  • Lunch
  • Third Class 2pm-5pm
  • Finish

EUR €1399
Special Course
Textures and Wheel Throwing with Anas Rifi-Zinati
27th April - 3rd May 2025
Learn from our resident teacher
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Meet the team

Our team is passionate about bringing Salemi to life and providing you with an authentic Sicilian experience