Handbuilt Clay Ghost & Ghost Dish

Sat Oct 4th 12pm-2pmInstructor Erin Hoekzema

Get spooky and creative in this playful handbuilding clay class! In this one-session, you’ll sculpt your very own adorable clay ghost and a matching ghost-shaped dish or tray—perfect for holding jewelry, trinkets, or Halloween treats.Finished pieces will be kiln-fired and ready for pickup within a few weeks.Come get your hands dirty and craft something boo-tiful!

 Students will use textured roller and slabs of clay to hand build a trio (Sm, Med, Lg) of pumpkins that may be painted with slip and dipped in clear glaze or glazed with a single studio glaze.

Ages 16 and up

Sunday, October 5th 12 pm to 2 pm 

Take Flight

Learn subtractive sculptural technique where you take material away to release the form, think Michaelangelo, while rendering bird forms in clay, wood and stone. You will work with wire loop tools in clay, chisels and rifflers in stone and learn the cabriole technique to create your unique designed by you bird forms.

Mon Oct 6-27, 6-8pm

Location: Sculpture Studio

Leaf Plates (Rooting Around)

Impressing fallen fall foliage into clay will reveal it’s structure in amazing detail while making a serviceable food safe serving dish sure to attract attention.

Oct 11, 2-4pm

Location: Hidden Lake Gardens

Please note if you are not a member of Hidden Lake Gardens you will need to pay the entrance fee. 

Raku Face Jugs

Face jugs have a long tradition around the world. In the southern United States, the first examples date to the mid-1800’s and were crafted by enslaved African American potters who created these unique pieces for various purposes. In the furst session of this class you’ll be provided with a basic wheel-thrown jug to decorate using hand-building techniques to create a face that is uniquely yours! In the second session you will glaze your piece and we will fire it in the Raku kiln for you to take home that day.A little bit about Raku:Raku firing is a very hands on firing process that creates a very unique finish. Pieces are glazed then placed into the raku kiln where they are fired up to approximately 1800 degrees. Once the kiln reaches temperature the pieces are removed with tongs then placed into barrels filled with a combustible material such as saw dust or straw the closed. This creates a reduction rich environment, meaning in order to burn, the fire has to get the oxygen molecules out of the Clay body and glazes. This is how the rich coppers are developed and the clay body turns black.Students must wear close toe shoes and be prepared for live fire during the second session of this class. All materials will be provided.

 October 11th and 25th 2-4pm

Leaf Plates (Rooting Around)

Impressing fallen fall foliage into clay will reveal it’s structure in amazing detail while making a serviceable food safe serving dish sure to attract attention.

Oct 12, 2-4pm

Location: Hidden Lake Gardens

Please note if you are not a member of Hidden Lake Gardens you will need to pay the entrance fee. 

Tea Time

Design and create a fully functional teapot with cups and saucers, sugar and creamer while learning about pouring vessels and lids. We will try out your creations at a tea room at a mutually agreed on sixth session with a special tea time.

Saturday, Oct 18-Sat Nov 22, 10am-noon (5 weeks)

Location: Clay Studio

Max:11 students

Instructor: Pi Benio

Crystalline Glazed Vases

Dates: Saturdays October 18th & 25th, and Saturday November 1st.

Time: 1 pm to 4 pm

Basic wheel throwing experience will be helpful. Hand building is an option.

Students will make 2 to 3 vases using a white cone 10 clay, along with catchers and pedestals for the pieces.  The second Saturday we’ll attach the pedestals and glaze the pieces.  We’ll be using traditional crystalline glazes for this class.  The third Saturday we’ll remove the pedestals and grind the bases of the pieces