Georgian Ceramics and Jewelry with Nato
Experience the art of traditional Georgian ceramics in Tbilisi, a one-time Silk Road capital with a thriving new bohemian scene. Learn to create your own ceramic jewelry or objects from master ceramist Nato, renowned for reviving the Georgian ceramic tradition. Inspiration abounds as you explore the city’s architectural eclecticism, food, wine, natural hot springs, and diverse cafe landscapes.
- Snacks, Coffee, & Tea
Pricing
- One Guest
- USD $1535
- Additional guest(s) (max 2)
- USD $580
Meet the Artist
Nato is a Georgian ceramist and jewelry artist renowned for her contributions to the revival of Georgian ceramics tradition and enriching it with new trends and creative thinking. She discovered her love for ceramics at age 15 when she saw the workshops of Georgian ceramic masters - Alda Kakabadze and Rezo Iashvili. Today, her artwork adorns numerous interiors and can be seen in galleries and collections worldwide.
She has mastered working with all kinds of clay – chamotte, red, white, and porcelain. She fuses traditional Georgian ceramic making with highly skilled porcelain artistry to create contemporary sculptures, interior accessories, and tableware.
Her latest passion is to create one-of-a-kind clay jewelry, which expresses her feminine energy and love for beauty everywhere. Each of her works is different in shape, compositional solution, and style; it also differs in technology, color, and material.
"Clay is a powerful and responsive material. It bonds together the four strongest natural forces, and I absorb them during the working process. The energy gained transforms into something real and touchable, reflecting on the roots of Georgian art and culture as the origin of my art. I love my country and find eternal inspiration in its history, culture, nature, and people. I love sharing what I know and have, and I love to see how it brightens another person's day." says Nato.
She has mastered working with all kinds of clay – chamotte, red, white, and porcelain. She fuses traditional Georgian ceramic making with highly skilled porcelain artistry to create contemporary sculptures, interior accessories, and tableware.
Her latest passion is to create one-of-a-kind clay jewelry, which expresses her feminine energy and love for beauty everywhere. Each of her works is different in shape, compositional solution, and style; it also differs in technology, color, and material.
"Clay is a powerful and responsive material. It bonds together the four strongest natural forces, and I absorb them during the working process. The energy gained transforms into something real and touchable, reflecting on the roots of Georgian art and culture as the origin of my art. I love my country and find eternal inspiration in its history, culture, nature, and people. I love sharing what I know and have, and I love to see how it brightens another person's day." says Nato.
VAWAA Includes:
- Sketching your own jewelry, art object or products like tea pot, clock, and wall decorations.
- Guidance on contemporary or traditional Georgian design, materials and composition.
- Learning various clay-work techniques like wheel throwing, casting and making a mold.
- Electric kiln loading, firing and best practices including Georgian traditional techniques of polishing and smoke firing. Please note that extended stay will provide more firing opportunities.
- Glazing and surface design techniques.
- Participating in creating ones own decal.
- Option to learn how to paint a ready made shape with traditional Georgian designs or ceramic gold.
- Option to learn ceramic design and fabrication for artists.
- Visit to an inspiring local museum and artist studios.
- All tools and materials needed to complete your piece of jewelry. Precious stones can be bought at the studio for an additional fee.
- If desired and time permits, you can engage in an array of wonderful local activities to enrich your experience including winery tours and tastings, hiking in the vineyards or the Kaheti region, biking, outdoor yoga class, local retreat center on Lake Lopota, mineral water health resort in Borjomi, local farms, markets and live music. You can opt for a wonderful thematic ceramist led excursion in Tbilisi.
Explore Tbilisi
Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi, is the new bohemian destination where East meets West, offering something for everyone. Charming cobblestone streets, dome-shaped bathhouses steaming with sulfuric waters, and crumbling Soviet factories repurposed as hipster hotels reveal a vibrant creative core.
The Old Town — has traditional pastel houses and wooden, carved balconies, while in the Art Nouveau neighborhood of Sololaki, every ezo (courtyard) seems to reveal a new speakeasy bar or tucked-away café. One can spend the day exploring museums and theaters in the impressive neoclassical architecture along Rustaveli Avenue or enjoy the thriving Georgian kitchens and bars.
Georgian hospitality cannot be overstated and is a topic in itself. It creates a nice, welcoming, homely feeling about this city and country. Moreover, Georgian history and culture are an eternal source of inspiration for contemporary art. And like most Georgian things, ceramics, too, are intertwined with the country's wine culture. Photo below by: Mostafa Meraji
The Old Town — has traditional pastel houses and wooden, carved balconies, while in the Art Nouveau neighborhood of Sololaki, every ezo (courtyard) seems to reveal a new speakeasy bar or tucked-away café. One can spend the day exploring museums and theaters in the impressive neoclassical architecture along Rustaveli Avenue or enjoy the thriving Georgian kitchens and bars.
Georgian hospitality cannot be overstated and is a topic in itself. It creates a nice, welcoming, homely feeling about this city and country. Moreover, Georgian history and culture are an eternal source of inspiration for contemporary art. And like most Georgian things, ceramics, too, are intertwined with the country's wine culture. Photo below by: Mostafa Meraji
Additional Details
Tbilisi enjoys pleasant weather throughout the year. Spring is short and Autumn harvest time is particularly beautiful.
This VAWAA can be extended for up to 10 days with a discount available for longer stays. If interested in extending your time, let us know by how many days and we will do our best to accommodate you.
Nato speaks English, French, Russian, and Georgian.
This VAWAA can be extended for up to 10 days with a discount available for longer stays. If interested in extending your time, let us know by how many days and we will do our best to accommodate you.
Nato speaks English, French, Russian, and Georgian.
Guest Reviews
Alina B., Germany
What can I say, this experience was incredible! Having little experience with ceramics, I was not sure what to expect but Nato showed me so many techniques to work with the clay that i can now reproduce on my own. Outside of being a knowledgeable mentor, Nato was incredibly kind, warm and welcoming. Going into the studio was something I really looked forward to - it was such an inspiring and fun a Read more
Meg P., Turkey
Nato is a force of nature - a true Renaissance woman, she works with each participant to hear what they wish to learn and experience. She then caters the experience with ease. Her generosity in welcoming us into her ceramics studio is second to none. To know Nato is to meet Georgian culture face-to-face. Her passion for her country, the people, and its traditions is as rich as the palette of her s Read more
