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Apprenticeship Program
Apprenticeships at the Saint John's Pottery
The Apprenticeship Program is designed to train post-graduate art students in sustainable resource development and ceramic art production. Working closely with Richard Bresnahan and the Saint John's Pottery, apprentices take part in a learning methodology that has informed a lineage of indivudals working in clay.
From 1981 to the present, over two dozen art students from colleges around the country received stipends funded through the Grotto and McGlynn Foundations to apprentice with at the studio. The program is supported by Saint John's University and individual donors who have committed to offering this ancient and life-changing approach to teaching.
The success of this program is demonstrated by the fact that all former apprentices are still involved in the creative process working with clay either in a teaching environment or in their own private studios. A handful of former apprentices are highlighted in the national exhibition tour and catalogue Stoked: Five Artists of Fire and Clay.
Guidelines for Application to the Apprenticeship Program
The Apprenticeship Program at the Saint John's Pottery is an immersive experience, based on traditional models of generational learning. Apprentices are expected to participate in all aspects of material preparation, develop self-discipline in their training, and to hone their attention through regular journaling.
Historically, the program has welcomed candidates with wide ranges of experience, from near beginner to advanced. Apprenticeships generally last for two to three years. Occasionally, a longer or shorter term apprenticeship may be arranged depending on the specific developmental goals of the applicant.
When possible, interviews for apprenticeship are held during a fall firing of the Johanna kiln. Former apprentices working on the stoking shifts play a key role in helping the applicant understand if a formal apprenticeship is a good match for their needs. For more information on the Apprenticeship Program, please contact the Saint John's Pottery.