Learn to love clay at OAC! Whether you want to explore wheel-throwing, expand your hand-building skills, or learn new techniques, you will enjoy our variety of ceramics workshops. Our on-site ceramics studio features seven electric wheels, two kilns, two large work tables, a wedging station, and a glazing station. New classes and workshops will be added throughout the year. Be sure to join our mailing list to stay up-to-date on new offerings.
CURRENT CERAMICS CLASSES:
Visit THIS LINK to view all the ceramics classes we have on offer currently!
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CERAMICS OPEN STUDIO MEMBERSHIPS:
Visit THIS LINK to learn about our Open Studio opportunities for OAC members! This new program offers access to our professional ceramics studio for your own projects or to gain more time to practice techniques learned in class.
CURRENT CERAMICS INSTRUCTORS:
We are always bringing in guest artists throughout the year, plus we have amazing year-round teaching artists on staff!
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| A.C. Bell – Ceramics Studio Manager, Wheel Instructor OAC welcomes potter and instructor A.C. Bell to our Ceramics team! A recent transplant to Frankfort, Amelia has taught and exhibited at a variety of studios from Lillstreet in Chicago to Odyssey Clayworks in Asheville. She joins us as our dedicated Ceramics Studio Manager and will be leading new classes and workshops while maintaining our beloved studio year-round. Please stop by and introduce yourself, or better yet – sign up for one of Amelia’s classes today and polish up those wheel skills! |
Multi-disciplinary artist Steve Kline has long been an instructor in our Ceramics department. A former instructor at Loyola University in New Orleans, Steve made a name for himself as an artist in Louisiana creating monumental sculptures for public and commercial spaces in a variety of mediums. His works can be found at Armstrong Park, Tulane University, and other locations. Now based in Frankfort, Steve continues to work in metal, wood, and clay to create original sculptural works and exhibits his work regionally. Locally, his outdoor, multifunctional sculptural bench, “A Fold in Time,” was recently commissioned for Traverse City’s TART trail. Join Steve for a class and you’ll benefit from his wide range of creative experience! |
CERAMICS FAQs:
Q: Is Studio time included with ceramics classes
A: Yes! This semester we are offering two Lab sessions a week for Ceramics students. Use this time to finish projects, practice on the wheel, trim, and glaze. While you can use Lab time to make work, please do not consider this a “production” studio. Lab days are included at NO CHARGE with your class registration.
Q: What is the difference between a Lab session and the Open Studio Membership?
A: The Lab sessions are FREE for class participants to work on their class pieces – glazing, trimming, adding handles, etc. The new Open Studio Membership is available for people who want more time to produce work in the OAC studio, outside the structure of a class. You can come and go as you like during the Open Studio sessions, and make what you please. You are welcome to combine an Open Studio Membership with a Class, and receive a 10% discount on your Open Studio Membership.
Q: What about clay?
A: Students registered for classes will receive 12# of clay at the beginning of class, and can purchase more as needed. Students will have their own storage shelf during the run of the class – please store your work in progress there, and your clay. (Or feel free to take your clay home if you prefer!) There is overflow storage for tall or awkwardly shaped pieces. We are working to create as much storage space as possible in the studio for your work, clay, tools, etc. by adding new shelving throughout and moving some materials into the Kiln Room.
Q: How much is clay?
A: The materials and facilities costs built into your extra purchases of clay (outside what you are given with your class registration) covers not just the clay itself but power to fire the kiln (twice for each bag of clay), labor for our Ceramics Studio Manager to prepare your work and the kiln for successful firing, then unload it, the cost of studio glazes and their upkeep and replacement, the cost of keeping the doors open to our OAC Ceramics studio (utilities, insurance, staff, etc.), the cost of replacing kiln elements, kiln shelves and furniture, even replacing the kiln eventually – all the things that go into running a professional studio. 12# of clay are included with every class registration. If you need to purchase additional clay, it is available for $40 for a 12# bag or $80 for a 25# bag.
Q: Can I bring my own clay?
No outside clay will be accepted. In a shared studio, it is vital to ensure clay bodies and glazes used in our kilns are safe and appropriate for our firings.
Q: What clay bodies will be available?
A: We are in the process of moving to a cone 5-6 pure white stoneware clay body for our standard studio clay. We will also stock porcelain. The current Buff (cone 5-7) or White (cone 6-10) clays will be available for your use until they are depleted. We will be exploring other clay bodies as we get the new studio updates completed – feel free to talk to Studio Manager, Amelia, if you have a special interest!
Please bookmark this page and check back regularly as we add new classes online throughout the season. Dates and times are subject to change.
Cancellation Policy: Occasionally, classes must be cancelled if minimum enrollment is not met, there is a health or weather emergency, or other unforeseen events. We understand this may be a disappointment to our students, and we’ll do our best to inform you as early as we can of the cancellation.
If Oliver Art Center cancels a class, we’ll offer a full refund or credit towards another course, at your discretion.
If a student must withdraw from a class, a full refund less $10 processing fee will be issued if cancellation is received at least one week prior to the first day of class. After that time, no refunds are provided. If you sign up for a multi-day or multi-week class but miss a session, please utlitize your Lab days to make up the time.