Join master ceramistJessica Steinhäuser—originally from Germany and now renowned in Canada for reintroducing the traditionalkachelofenwood stove—for an intensive and inspiring week on Fogo Island. Trained as a production potter in Germany, Jessica brings decades of expertise to thiswheel-throwing bootcamp, where the focus will be on making multiples with precision and confidence. Each student will take on projects tailored to their own skill level, from beginner to advanced, while learning Jessica’s techniques for creating consistent, identical forms. Over the week, you’ll explore pulling handles, experimenting with different lid styles, and trying your hand at slip trailing. To balance the rhythm of the wheel, Jessica will also weave in handbuilding exercises. Expect a week that is hands-on, fast-paced, and full of tricks and insights from a master potter—perfect for anyone looking to strengthen their skills, push their practice, or dive into clay for the very first time.
Jessica Steinhäuser is an award-winning Canadian ceramic artist internationally recognized for her kachelöfen—wood-burning ceramic heaters that blend ancient technology with contemporary design. Her work is held in private collections worldwide, including Three Glens in Scotland, a Green Apple Environment Award–winning farmhouse featured in The Telegraph, BBC Scotland, and World Architecture News. A dedicated educator as well as a maker, she has been teaching ceramics for nearly two decades as faculty at the Haliburton School of the Arts and through lectures and workshops across Canada, the U.S., and Europe, most recently at the Kachelofen Museum in Velten, just outside of Berlin. Featured in The Globe & Mail, Ceramics Monthly, Dwell.com, and numerous international publications, Jessica has also played a key role in reintroducing kachelöfen to Canadian homes. Trained in Germany as a journeyman potter, she immigrated to Canada in 1989, founded Stonehouse Pottery in Guelph, and continues to combine her studio practice with a passion for teaching and community-building in the ceramic arts.
