Day in Clay is COVID-19 compliant with school districts in the tri-state area
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Team Building – cross cultural programs

What is Team Building/Bonding?

Team bonding is about a company’s employees coming together in a noncompetitive environment to participate in a common activity which explores a range of creativity.  This results in a sense of togetherness and personal accomplishment among their fellow colleagues.

Team bonding events include;

college retreats

religious groups

celebrations 

anniversaries

product launch

fundraisers

corporate retreats

milestones

theme events

staff development

What is day in clay?

Day in Clay artist in residence programs provides participants with a diverse engaging experience and the lessons are timeless. Creativity and expression go hand in hand with success and innovation.  Working in clay is transforming and as a teacher and I can inspire that transformation.  It’s a pleasurable experience and a challenging learning experience that most people have always wanted to do but never had the opportunity.  It’s very satisfying to create something of value with your hands as everyone in the session will easily accomplish under my direction.

 

This visual arts workshop  experience does not require previous artistic skills. Clay provides a nonverbal approach to increasing the individual’s creativity.  Participants express that working in clay is enlivening, challenging, enjoyable and even therapeutic.

Program Content and Structure:

Day in Clay has a variety of programs to suit the needs of your group or company.   Many of the themes/programs can be customized and altered to meet any particular subject matter or ideas that the company would like to pursue, whether or not they relate directly to the company’s story line.

  • Vessel making
  • Mask Making
  • Tile making
  • Architectural murals
  • Sculptural collaborations
  • Potter’s Wheel Signature program
  • Applied arts projects
  • Corporate themes- company philosophy, environmental awareness, social consciousness

 

Day in Clay explores individual cultures by using ceramic techniques of the past to express current themes.   Some projects may be related to multicultural themes. This is a great way for participants to connect to their artwork and provide a context for the how and why of their creations.

 

Clay can be used to create narrative imagery to illustrate a poem, folk tale, or to simply say something about your own life and conditions. A great example of this is the Greek, Native American, African, Japanese, vessel making program.  Company themes can also be explored i.e. logos, tile murals, telling a story or a message about your products or highlighting and celebrating some aspect of the history of the company.

Fundraising:

Some programs can result in a fundraising charitable effort to benefit any cause or foundation that might be aligned with your company’s ideals and purpose.   It can create corporate visibility to the community as high-profile individuals or celebrities are immortalized on the customized vessel and auctioned to raise funds.  The program provides a unique item for sale at your  fundraiser, or tangible keepsake from a team-building event or corporate retreat.  Honored guests, celebrities, and team members may inscribe the piece which can be offered for silent auction, corporate gift or showcase.

Why Day in Clay?

  • Problem solving in a nonverbal way with the clay enhances their job creativity and innovation. Right brain activity.
  • Working with their colleagues in a situation that is removed from the constraints of their daily work environment creates a unifying
  • Clay reacts to the touch and very easily morphs into various forms. The process itself is very satisfying, as well as, the final result. It allows for a visceral experience.
  • It creates a unique and unifying individual and group experience through the ceramic medium in a safe and noncompetitive atmosphere. Individuals can take these kinds of safe risks through this nonverbal artistic ceramic form of expression. 
  • It creates an outlet outside of the employee’s daily routine  and environment, allowing for a fulfilling, satisfying, and challenging diversion resulting in more creativity.

How does the program work – how is it structured

I transform the room into an artist’s studio.  Floors and tables are covered and protected.  Through my live demonstrations everyone will learn about the creative process and techniques resulting in  their own finished piece.

This is not a program where students come and paint on preformed molded pieces.  We start from scratch with a lump/slab of clay.  Everyone creates their own individual piece unless it is a group tile mural or group sculptural project. I supply all the clay, tools and visual references for each program. 

Materials

I use an air dried /self-hardening clay which can be painted at a later date or on site at the workshop.  This eliminates the firing process.  If it is necessary to fire the finished clay pieces they will be transported back to my studio where they will be glazed, fired and later delivered back to the client.   Most times participants leave with a piece in hand or painted at a later date unless it culminates into a collaborative effort i.e. show/display/tile mural or for installation.

Day in Clay – participants at work

Testimonials

The staff workshop was the greatest. Everyone had a fantastic time! We want you to come back next year with your wheel and go to some of our other schools.
George VollanoArts Director - School District of Stamford CT.
I had the privilege of taking your class on our PD day Monday at Clifton High School and I was trying to get the ball rolling to maybe have you come to our school sometime this Spring...Not definite yet but I would just like to know approximately how much it would cost so I can get an idea of what I can do with them. Maybe a basic price list kind of thing
Shari HipschmanArt Teacher - Clifton Public Schools #12, Clifton, NJ
Thank you for putting on such a wonderful workshop that clearly had every child actively engaged and wide-eyed. I appreciate you coming out to work with the art students of Clifton, and I look forward to potentially having you do the same with our art teachers one day in the future. Thanks, and all my very best
Jason Leshowitz District Supervisor of Visual & Performing Arts - Clifton, NJ
Cliff Mendelson has been teaching us a great diversity of technique and exciting ways to work with clay. Even in my 3rd year I am always learning something new that I can bring into my classroom. This is a diverse group of non-art teachers from K to 12th grade and he managed to keep them excited while learning something outside of their normal disciplines and made it relevant. Looking forward to next year.
Kim KilcoyneArt teacher - Scarsdale Teachers Institute, Scarsdale, NY.
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Day In Clay provides a hands-on art experience. Programs designed for your curriculum. Within minutes, participants are involved in the process of working with clay and learning about the relationship between art and society.

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