Jennifer M. Stevens
Iroquois Potter 
Web Site: Wakohsi•yó Studio (Wah-go-see-yo)
Telephone: 920-562-8180
Email: Wakosio, wakosio@yahoo.com
"I love to work in many different avenues of the arts. In the past 10 years, I have enjoyed being involved in children’s theatre, vocal performances, writing, visual arts and traditional Iroquois pottery. It is in pottery that I am able to combine my skills as an artist and potter, my Oneida culture, and my love of children and their creative energy in an educational and fun workshop.”
Pottery for Iroquois people was functional yet through its ornamentation each pot had its own spirit and story. In this hands-on workshop, students will make their own pinch pots, work with Jennifer in creating a classroom pot, and personalize their pots and the classroom pot through ornamentation and creative writing.
NOTE: All programs are adaptable in time, intensity and age levels.
PROGRAMS /WORKSHOPS /RESIDENCIES (please limit class size to 25 or less)
Pinch Pots (kindergarten to 3rd grade, 45 minutes): This workshop introduces students to the start of Iroquois Pottery, the pinch pot. Students learn a brief history on and the first steps in making Iroquois pottery.
Pot of Thoughts (3rd to 6th grade, 90 minutes): In this workshop, students learn about the uses and meanings of traditional Iroquois pottery and explore some contemporary ways of using a pot. In this hands-on workshop, students create a “class pot” using traditional Oneida techniques with the artists. Symbols and words are used to create the design elements that reflect the students’ ideas and thoughts.
Coil Pottery (4th to 8th grade, 45 - 120 minutes): This workshop introduces students to hand built pottery, using clay coils and techniques to smooth and shape traditional Iroquois pots. Depending on time and student abilities, this workshop continues to introduce pottery styles through the addition of the neck and collar of the Iroquois pots.
Iroquois Pottery (9th to 12th grade, 120 – 200 minutes): In this workshop, students build traditional pots adding necks and collars to the pots with embellishments and relief sculptures. With additional time, Jennifer demonstrates a flash fire technique taking already fired pots and putting them into fire pits for an organic finish.
APPROVED FEE
$320 Full Day, 5 – 45 minute workshops (SEED Eligible Rate)
$1,400 Full Week, 5 Full Days (SEED Eligible Rate)
Single workshops or presentation are also available, but not eligible for SEED funding. Please contact artist for fees.
ADDITIONAL COSTS (Not eligible for SEED funding)
Mileage more than 20 miles is figured from Oneida, Wisconsin to your program site at .50 per miles, round trip. Possible lodging expense when artist lives more than 60 miles from program site. Pottery tools are provided by the artist. The school is responsible for providing the clay; the artist can provide clay and be reimbursed.
WHAT THE CRITICS SAY
Jennifer “…was very flexible and tailored to her workshop to each grade level.” West DePere Middle School