Welcome to the 2026 Canton Pottery Games!

Canton Pottery Games event descriptions

 

Throwing - Individual Events

1. One Pound challenge:1 pound of clay, for 1 minute: tallest opened form (not just a cone!)   One try only.

 

1. Blindfold challenge -  Throw two matching forms while blindfolded using 1-pound balls of clay. Contestants will make three attempts and select their best matching pair for judging based upon similarity and overall quality.

 

1. Hands Only throwing - Throw three bowls using only your hands. No tools, ribs, or sponges are permitted. Water may only be applied by hand. Contestants receive one 3-ounce, one 1-pound, and one 3-pound ball of clay. Total time: 15 minutes.

 

1. Lottery throwing - Immediately before the event, drawing will be held to determine the object, clay weight, and tool(s) to be used. No practice is allowed. One attempt only. Ten-minute time limit.

 

1. Hump duplicates:  Contestants will be shown a sample object immediately before the event. Using hump throwing techniques, create as many matching pieces as possible within 10 minutes. Judges may reject pieces that are incomplete or do not reasonably match the sample. Highest number wins with consideration for similarity/quality in case of a tie.  

 

Throwing - Team Events

1. Two people one hand each.   Sign up with the person you’d like to throw with or you will be randomly paired at the event.  The goal is to throw the best form using 2 pounds of clay in 20 minutes.  You will have 2 balls of clay available, and submit the best for judging.  

 

1. Team Musical Chairs -Two-person teams create a form using 2 pounds of clay. Music will stop at random intervals, requiring teammates to immediately switch places. Only the person seated at the wheel may touch the clay.

 

1. Teapot relay - A team of 3 members create a teapot.  Heat 1: teapot body, heat 2: the spout, heat 3: the lid.  Team members can plan for 5 minutes before beginning but cannot observe the prior heats and will only be able to share measurements with the next team player.   Once all components are created, the entire team may work together to assemble their teapots.  

 

Handbuilding - Individual Events

1. Widest pinch pot with 2# clay, within 3 minutes. Cracks will negatively affect the judging. No tools, fingers and water only.

 

1. Tallest coil pot, Build the tallest vessel using only hand rolled coils and coiling techniques. 5 minutes

   1. Deliver to judges across the room, about 10 feet, without collapsing.  Structure must remain standing until all entries have been judged.   

 

1. Clay Pictionary: Contestants will each receive a random prompt for an object to sculpt in 60 seconds.   Non-contestants will guess what it is and the most correct guesses wins.  

 

1. Mask Making: Create masks inspired by a specific prompt.  30 minutes time limit.

 

1. Pull the longest handle. 5 min.

 

Handbuilding - Team Events

1. Hand building musical chairs.  Teams of three receive five minutes to plan. One teammate begins building while the others observe. When the music stops, builders rotate, continuing the same piece. Teams may discuss strategy throughout, but only one person may touch clay at any time. 20 minute build time.

 

1. Build-a-Beast Relay: Teams of 3 with each member assigned head, torso or limbs.  The teams will be given a creature prompt, with each member having 10 minutes to make their individual sections.   Afterwards, the three pieces are combined, 5 minutes limit, to create their beast. No communication is allowed during any part of the creation.  Judging will be based on creativity, overall likeness to the prompt, how well they fit together.