24-27 JUNE 2005
at Yria Ceramics above Kostos Village
From June 24th through 27th, Yria Ceramics, above Kostos Village, will host the International Pithoi Symposium. The symposium will bring together four internationally recognized masters in the ancient art of the pithos, or large pottery jar. These masters will demonstrate their skills as throwers and designers, and share their knowledge.
The masters participating in the symposium are:
Paul Chaleff (USA): recognized master of the Japanese anagama firing technique of wood fired pottery as well as the creator of large scale ceramic vessels and sculpture. His sculpture and pottery can be found in many public art collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art, as well as in numerous private collections throughout the world. See www.paulchaleff.com.
Julian Stair (UK): has exhibited internationally for 23 years and has work in 20 public collections including the Victoria and Albert Museum, American Museum of Art and Design, Boymans Museum, Rotterdam and Hong Kong Museum of Art. He was a finalist at the Second World Ceramic Exposition in Seoul, Korea.
His most current work is a series of lidded jars and life-size sarcophagi. See www.julianstair.com.
Ioannis Lembessy (Sifnos): Sifnos is an island long renowned for traditional pottery and Ioannis will show his reproductions of ancient beehives.
Nicolas Gavgalakis (Crete): The oldest master of the group, Nicolas Gavgalakis from Crete - where Bronze Age pithoi set a splendid example - has travelled the world demonstrating his island's continuous tradition.
Enormous storage jars from the Greek islands date back to 2,000 B.C. These two well-known masters from the islands are still producing pithoi using ancient techniques.
As well as the demonstrations, participating institutions will be The Averoff Foundation from Ioannina, Greece representing the World Craft Council Hellenic section and The Museum of Traditional Pottery from the Plaka, Athens. A series of films and discussions documenting the technique of pithoi throwing in Koroni, Greece and the Mediterranean over the years will take place at 8pm on Saturday June 25th, and Sunday June 26th at the Lefkes Town Hall.
Demonstrations will take place between 10am and 2pm.
The symposium has been made possible by the generous sponsorship of the Muni-cipality of Paros, The Prefecture of Paros, Alpha Bank and Mr Apostolos Polyzoides.
For further information contact: 22840-29007 and see www.yriaparos.com.
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Samples of some beautiful wild flowers of this Greek Island.
Cooking recipes from Alice Meyer-Wallace's Cookbook.
Mary Godfrey's humourous illustrations of life in Paros Island.
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