Join us on Friday, July 10 at 7:00 PM for a free artist talk with celebrated ceramic artist David MacDonald.
For more than four decades, David MacDonald has created beautifully crafted functional pottery that reflects a lifelong commitment to craftsmanship, utility, and the enduring power of the handmade. Drawing inspiration from the rich visual traditions of sub-Saharan Africa, his vessels combine elegant forms with intricate surface patterning, celebrating both everyday use and cultural heritage.
A longtime professor at Syracuse University and recipient of the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts' Excellence in Teaching Award, David's work is held in the permanent collections of the Everson Museum of Art, The Studio Museum in Harlem, and the Montclair Art Museum.
Whether you're a potter, craft enthusiast, or simply curious about the creative process, this is a wonderful opportunity to hear from one of the region's most accomplished ceramic artists.
Free and open to all.
Learn more about David at https://www.davidmacdonaldpottery.com/
And register for our weekend workshop with David:
Dates: Friday, July 10 – Sunday, July 12, 2026
Schedule:
Friday: 1 pm -5
Saturday 9:30-5
Sunday 9:30 -4
Location: Rochester Folk Art Guild, 1445 Upper Hill Road, Middlesex, NY
Join ceramic artist David MacDonald for a three-day workshop focused on lidded vessel forms. Through demonstrations and hands-on studio work, participants will explore throwing, altering, fitting lids, and developing functional pots with strong form and surface.
Known for his richly patterned utilitarian pottery, MacDonald draws inspiration from the artistic traditions of sub-Saharan Africa, particularly the use of pattern and surface found in pottery, textiles, body decoration, and architecture. His work reflects decades of exploration into the vessel as both a functional object and a means of cultural and personal expression.
This workshop is intended for students with prior wheel throwing experience. Participants must be age 16 or older.
Lunch is included each day.
Course Tuition
Workshop Tuition: $400
Includes lunch each day.
Overnight accommodations are available and include lodging and breakfast.
2 Night Stay: $600 total
3 Night Stay: $700 total
Scholarships are available. Please email programs@folkartguild.org for more info
More Questions?
Contact our program director at programs@folkartguild.org