Earth Art and Architecture

Course Description:

Cob is a mixture of subsoil, straw and water. It is a unique material and has traditionally been used in architecture all over the world.

Jackie Abey and Jill Smallcombe have been collaborating as one artist for over ten years as Abey Smallcombe. They have successfully carried out a number of exciting and ambitious architectural and sculptural commissions including building a visitor centre at the Eden Project.  (For further details see tutor page).

Using their knowledge and experience they have developed this course with Rupert Johnstone, a well-established and talented young ceramicist whose skills and approach to clay add an extraordinary dimension to the week (see tutor page).

You will be shown how to mix and build with cob, and be involved with constructing simple forms such as a bread oven, charcoal burner, cob kiln, cob seat …

Rupert will discuss the geology and mineralogy of clay and how to work with it. The finale of the week is the lighting of the cob kiln for you to fire a selection of your work.

You will be given a comprehensive understanding of earth materials, a free hand to be ambitious and the scope to experiment with an exciting material that is making a strong resurgence in the eco-architectural world.

 

 

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