I’m so excited to announce that my upcoming workshop at Joali Maldives was featured in Forbes! I will be leading both paper and clay workshops for Joali resort guests over the course of two weeks from December 23rd to January 6th. Through the workshops, a paper and clay artworks will be created inspired by the Maldives coral reefs. Families will be able to join me at the Joali Art Studio during the day to learn about reefs in the Maldives and create a unique paper/clay artwork to take home.
Joali is beginning its series of visiting-artist-run workshops.
This series will begin with a two-week program by Zemer Peled, the creator of the spa-based coral sculpture, who is known for her porcelain artworks inspired by natural forms. From December 23rd to January 6th, the artist will be leading paper and clay workshops for guests on the island. You’ll be able to join the artist in the Joali Studio each day to gain insight into the Maldivian coral reefs and create your own paper and clay artworks to take home with you at the end of your stay. You’ll look at the colors and shapes found within the reef while experimenting with different ways of working with the materials, from moulding the clay to paper folding and painting.
Giving insight into her work for Joali, Peled explains: “My sculpture, Maldives Vibes, was inspired by the rich underwater world of the Maldives coral reefs. It is primarily white in color to symbolize the coral bleaching that has affected the Maldives, but the striking colors that embellish the sculpture serve as both a memory of the vibrant coral reef and encouragement for its future protection. Over the course of two weeks, participants of my workshop on Joali will create their own paper and clay sculptures inspired by the Maldives coral reefs.”
Joali’s general manager, Steven Phillips, then elaborates on the resort’s overall plans: “We want some of the same artists who created work for the island to come back for two weeks to three months to host workshops in the island’s studio. I want them to use interesting mediums like painting on silk or clay. We’re putting a kiln in for Zemer, so she can do ceramics with the guests, then we’ll keep the kiln here. At the same time, I’m asking the artists who come over to leave an artwork behind, so we’ll get a new piece of artwork from each set of workshops we host.”