Please note:  Both 5-day workshops with Jennifer McCurdy have similar content; we have scheduled two workshops back-to-back to give more people the opportunity to attend a workshop.

Higher Fire is excited to host Jennifer McCurdy for a small-group, intensive 5-day hands-on workshop!

Friday – Tuesday, Apr 24-28, 2026, 10am – 5pm

McCurdy has developed a unique style that is lyrical and dynamic. Some of her pieces look like the flames from a fire, some look like fragments from a giant ice crystal. All are stunningly beautiful!

Her work can be found in museum collections throughout the United States, including the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery; the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; the Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse; the Minneapolis Museum of Art; the Newark Museum of Art, New Jersey; and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

With a maximum of 10 participants, everyone has the opportunity to work directly with Jen McCurdy while learning a plethora of throwing, carving, and alteration skills with porcelain.

Learning Objectives

• Dry-throwing techniques for porcelain
• Structural mechanics of altering vessels
• Carving and finishing techniques
• Form development and finding your own style

Details

• Day 1: Demonstrations in throwing and altering porcelain vessels in different shapes and forms, including closed forms; students begin throwing
• Day 2: Continue throwing, demonstrations in trimming and defining a “foot” for the form; begin carving vessels made the previous day
• Day 3: More carving techniques and alterations; experience how different carving & alterations are possible as skill increases
• Days 4 & 5: Begin to sand and finish smaller pieces that have had a time to dry, continue working on any new wet and/or trimmed forms, and discuss handling, bisque, and firing strategies to harness movement created by heat-work in the kiln

Schedule & Tuition

Friday – Tuesday, Apr 24-28, 2026  10 AM – 5 PM

• $1,695 – Regular, non-member
• $1,495 – Studio member (active member of HF-Downtown or JTown Clay)

Tuition includes your first 25lb bag of Miller porcelain. Coffee/tea/light-breakfast provided daily.  Each student gets their own pottery wheel.

Spaces are limited with 10 seats available. Member pricing is the same for regular or firing members.

Workshop takes place at JTown Clay — 520 N 7th St., San Jose, CA 95112.

Skill: Intermediate

Participants should be comfortable centering and throwing cylinders with up to 4-5 pounds of clay. Previous porcelain-throwing experience a plus!

Workshop Cancellation Policy

Cancellations received at least three weeks before the workshop date may receive a full refund minus a $25 processing fee.

Cancellations received less than three weeks before the workshop date receive a 50% refund, unless we can fill your seat. If we can fill your seat, you may still receive a full refund minus a $25 processing fee.

There are no refunds for cancellations received less than 72 hours before the workshop.

Please note: You may transfer your ticket to another person at no cost! Please let us know who the new ticket holder will be.

All cancellation and/or transfer requests must be made via email:  team@higherfirestudios.com

Workshop full? Join our waitlist: