Alan Steinberg

Alan Steinberg has been working in clay and teaching since 1968.For the last eleven years his claywork has focused on objects for sacred space. Some are functional vessels, some are sculptural, using unglazed high fire clay, often mixed with sawdust, grains, paper pulp or gravel, giving the surface the feel of natural stone. Influenced by poetry, mythology, and nature, he often incorporates English texts or unknown languages, evoking archeological finds from lost civilizations.Steinbergs teaching has varied, from kindergarteners to Elder Hostel. He offers classes that focus on hand-building skills and varying length workshops that are with clay rather than about clay. These hands-on workshops incorporating responses to nature, poetry, rituals, myths and stories of many cultures, are aimed at developing our ability to tap into our well of creativity and acquainting us with the archetypal sources of inspiration that have inspired artists everywhere as far back as our time in the caves. Participants work individually and cooperatively, discovering the relationship between their outer and inner landscapes, and their sense of purpose as environmental stewards. A founder of the Brattleboro Clayworks, Steinbergs works have been shown in Galleries from Alaska to Hawaii, Maine and the USVI.He has taught at Rowe Conference Ctr, N H League of Craftsmen, VT Leadership Institute, Pendle Hill, Omega at the Crossings, Truro Art Ctr, NECAP, and the Virgin Islands Environmental Resource Station.