by Knight Trainees

For my first photo essay in Knight Training, I visited the ceramics studio at Glen Echo Park in Maryland. Students there were generous enough to let me photograph them while they worked at their potters' wheels in the very cramped but magical yurt. —AW

  • Each yurt at Glen Echo Park in Maryland houses an art studio. This is the ceramics yurt.
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    Each yurt at Glen Echo Park in Maryland houses an art studio. This is the ceramics yurt.
  • Duck! The yurt's doorway is a challenge. But once inside, the world outside seems to disappear.
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    Duck! The yurt's doorway is a challenge. But once inside, the world outside seems to disappear.
  • It all begins on the potter's wheel.
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    It all begins on the potter's wheel.
  • The yurt is home to many classes throughout the week. Students work independently - each at his or her own wheel.
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    The yurt is home to many classes throughout the week. Students work independently - each at his or her own wheel.
  • Barbara has been taking pottery class here for years.
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    Barbara has been taking pottery class here for years.
  • Shinko looks for her own pieces, among the dried pots waiting to be glazed.
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    Shinko looks for her own pieces, among the dried pots waiting to be glazed.
  • When the glaze is fired in the kiln, it transforms.
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    When the glaze is fired in the kiln, it transforms.
  • Jeff Kirk, Glen Echo's pottery guru and chief instructor, unloads the kiln.
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    Jeff Kirk, Glen Echo's pottery guru and chief instructor, unloads the kiln.
  • Students get pointers on what NOT to do.
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    Students get pointers on what NOT to do.
  • This student hand carves a piece that she's made. It's meant to imitate undersea coral.
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    This student hand carves a piece that she's made. It's meant to imitate undersea coral.
  • A lot of pieces don't make the grade, but at the Glen Echo ceramics yurt - there's always next week.
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    A lot of pieces don't make the grade, but at the Glen Echo ceramics yurt - there's always next week.

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