Eastport Arts Center will offer a Clay Tile Workshop with Marlys Farn-Guillette on Saturday, April 1, from 1-4 pm. Participants will be guided through the process of hand building a clay tile, to be presented as a wall hanging or a free standing piece. In an exploration of the flexible medium, students will learn how the clay can be carved, pressed textured or even made into a mixed-media piece with added elements making it suitable for curing. After the workshop, Farn-Guillette will wait for the pieces to cure, then fire the greenware for participants to pick up at a later date. Several finishing options, such as hand painting or raku glazing for completing the tile after the initial firing will be discussed during the workshop. 
Students are encouraged to look at examples of art tiles, either online or at the library, prior to the workshop, and begin considering simple design ideas. Farm-Guillette suggests choosing a theme, i.e. flower design; creating a piece of ‘memory ware’ using bits of treasures you have cherished; or going for a contemporary look using found objects to create textures and designs. “Within a small ‘canvas’ of clay,” notes Farn-Guillette, “the possibilities are endless.”
A transplant from Saskatchewan, Canada, Farn-Guillette has been involved in the arts since her high school and university days. She once taught high school art in St. Stephen, New Brunswick, and has been a member of Eastport Gallery for many years. Her primary mediums are raku clay and painting, but within those arenas she is always learning and exploring new materials and approaches. Often the question pops into her head: ‘… What if I try …?’
The workshop is for ages 12 and up. Space is limited. A $20 fee covers all materials. A sliding fee scale (pay what you can) is available by request. To sign up, or with any questions about the workshop, please email alison@eastportartscenter.org. Studio work clothes are suggested for participants, who are encouraged to bring anything that has an interesting texture or pattern to press into the clay, or items for fused and mixed media pieces, such as beach glass, pottery shards, and treasured old buttons and bits. Support for this workshop has been provided by Belvedere Traditional Handcrafts Fund of the Maine Community Foundation.
Eastport Arts Center is at 36 Washington Street, Eastport, and is handicapped-accessible. EAC abides by State of Maine CDC COVID guidelines, revisiting our policy monthly. At this time, EAC encourages people to wear masks when in our building. More information about the educational offerings of Eastport Arts Center, where creativity and community meet, may be found at eastportartscenter.org/education.