Discover the joy of working with clay in 577’s dynamic pottery studio, where creativity, learning, and community come together. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced potter, our classes offer hands-on opportunities to explore new techniques and refine your skills. With access to three distinct kilns—wood, raku, and electric—participants can experience a range of firing methods that bring their work to life.
Our classes encourage artistic growth in a supportive and inspiring environment. Participants who complete the adult six-week pottery course gain access to independent studio time, allowing for continued exploration and creativity.
Join us and become part of a thriving community of makers dedicated to craftsmanship and discovery.
Upcoming Classes
December classes open for registration on Wednesday, October 29 at 9am. Click HERE to view a full list of upcoming classes.
Adult Pottery 6-Week Course
Tuesdays, Sept. 30; Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28; Nov. 4 ~ 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Thursdays, October 16, 23, 30; November 6, 13, 20 ~ 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Wednesdays, November 12, 19, 26; December 3, 10, 17 ~ 9:30am to 11:30am
*This class is open to adults 18 and over, no prior clay experience is needed.
Join us for this comprehensive adult pottery class. This multiple-week class is for adult beginners through advanced potters – all levels are welcome. This class is the pre-requisite class needed for many of our pottery classes at The 577 Foundation.
Open to students 18 and over, this class offers in-depth demos followed immediately by your own work time to create and have fun. You will be able to try all hand-building methods like pinch, coil, slab, and extruded techniques, plus a chance at the wheel. Finally, we will learn about glazing. Class is built around learning one skill each week.
All supplies and firings are included. Come play in the clay!
577 Staff Instructors: Julie Beutler, Pottery Studio Manager and Ceramic Artist & Alison Buchanan, Pottery Coordinator
Collab Class: Clay Sipper Cup & Knitted Koozie
Two-Part Class:
Thursday, October 9 ~ 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Thursday, October 30 ~ 5:30pm to 7:30pm
*This two-part class is open to adults 18 and over; no prior clay or fiber experience is needed.
NEW CLASS! Warm your hands and your heart in this creative two-part collaboration between our pottery and fiber arts!
In Part One, you’ll dive into clay work as you craft your own ceramic travel sipper cup with our Pottery Coordinator Alison Buchanan. Starting with an extruded cylinder, you’ll learn how to roll and attach slabs to create the base and top. Add personality to your cup with texture stamps and surface decoration. Finally, add some color with underglaze painting or choose from a variety of glaze finishes. Cups will be fired by our staff and ready for use at the next session.
In Part Two, you’ll switch gears and join a cozy loom knitting session with Lindsay Grider, one of our 577 talented staff members and fiber artist. Using a 577 circle loom, you’ll create a custom cup koozie for your handmade mug. Choose your yarn: classic black or a lovely speckled tan. With your newly glazed cup in hand, you can pick the perfect complementary color. Then, learn the basics of loom knitting and walk away with a soft, stylish sleeve that’s both functional and fun. Loom not included.
This is the perfect class for anyone looking to explore both pottery and fiber art in a low-pressure, creative environment. Great for gifting or keeping!
577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan & Lindsay Grider
Collab Class: Pottery & Weaving
Two-Part Class:
Friday, October 17 ~ 12pm to 1pm
Friday, November 7 ~ 1pm to 4pm
*This two-part class is open to adults 18 and over; no prior clay or weaving experience is needed.
Create a unique clay and coiled fiber vessel in this beautiful collaboration of nature and pottery, led by 577 Horticulturist Samantha Day and Pottery Manager & Ceramic Artist Julie Beutler.
In the first session, Julie will guide you in creating your ceramic base using slab-building techniques. You’ll add holes around the edges for weaving, explore interesting textures to decorate your piece, and choose a gorgeous glaze color. Your base will stay with Julie for firing and glazing.
A couple of weeks later, you’ll return for your weaving session with Samantha. She’ll show you how to wax thread and a needle to coil grasses on the edge of your ceramic base, then weave upward to complete your vessel.
Two days of creativity and fun — no prior clay or weaving experience needed! You’ll leave with a stunning, one-of-a-kind treasure that blends the best of both worlds.
577 Staff Instructor: Julie Beutler & Samantha Day
Clay Sculpture: Festive Fox
Wednesday, October 29 ~ 10am to 12pm
*This class is open to adults 18 and over; no prior clay experience is needed.
Get into the holiday spirit with a cozy morning of clay sculpting and creativity! In this cheerful adult pottery class, you’ll learn to sculpt an adorable fox using the pinch pot technique. No prior pottery experience is needed—just bring your creativity and enjoy the process.
Your instructor will guide you step-by-step through shaping your fox and demonstrate how to add fun holiday touches like scarves, hats, or earmuffs to give your sculpture that festive flair. You’ll have access to a variety of tools and techniques to make your piece uniquely yours.
Once sculpted, you’ll paint the accessories with colorful underglazes to add seasonal charm. The foxes will then be glazed and kiln-fired by our staff, ready for pickup in 2–3 weeks—just in time to display or gift for the holidays!
577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan
Clay Penguin Candy Dish
Monday, November 10 ~ 5:30pm to 7:30pm
*This class is open to adults 18 and over; no prior clay experience is needed.
Add a touch of winter charm to your home or office with this fun and creative pottery class. Open to all skill levels, this class will guide you through making your very own penguin-themed candy dish—perfect for holiday treats or as a whimsical decoration.
Your instructor will guide you through building a penguin with simple pinch-pot techniques and help you create a small matching bowl. Once the main structure is complete, you’ll have the opportunity to personalize your penguin with accessories such as cozy scarves, hats, or earmuffs.
To finish, you’ll decorate your piece with colorful underglazes to bring your penguin to life. Our staff will then apply a final clear glaze after firing, ensuring your candy dish is shiny, durable, and ready for use. When all the finishing touches are complete, expect your penguin to be ready for pickup in 2 to 3 weeks, and we’ll notify you by email.
577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan
Holiday Cookie Plates
Friday, November 14 ~ 9am to 10:30am
*This class is open to adults 18 and over; no prior clay experience is needed.
Join us for a yearly favorite at 577 as you create two medium round holiday cookie plates—one to keep and one to gift, or both to keep if you prefer. With guidance from your instructor, you’ll roll out slabs of clay, add textures and decorative details, and optionally paint highlights.
This welcoming class is suited for all skill levels and offers a thoughtful way to add handmade charm to your holiday season.
To finish, our staff will apply a clear glaze and fire your plates, making them food-safe and durable. They’ll be ready for pickup in about 2 to 3 weeks, and we’ll email you when they’re ready.
577 Staff Instructor: Julie Beutler
Family Pottery: Pumpkin Trinket Tray (Ages 7-17/Adult 18+)
Monday, October 6 ~ 4:30pm to 6pm
Celebrate the season with some fall-inspired creativity! In this hands-on family pottery class, each adult and child duo will create their very own Pumpkin Patch Trinket Tray—perfect for holding treasures, treats, or festive decor.
Start by learning how to roll out your own clay slabs, then shape them into a tray form. Together, you’ll sculpt miniature pumpkins and fall-themed accessories—like leaves, vines, or acorns—to decorate your tray. Kids and adults will both enjoy the creative process of building and designing side-by-side.
Once your tray is assembled, you’ll have fun painting it with vibrant underglazes. Afterward, our studio staff will apply a clear glaze and fire it in the kiln. Completed artwork will be ready for pickup in 2–3 weeks, with an email notification when they’re finished. This class is designed for youth ages 7-17 with an accompanying adult (18+).
577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan
Family Pottery: Turkey Platter (Ages 5-12/Adult 18+)
Saturday, October 18 ~ 2pm to 3:30pm
Create a lasting Thanksgiving memory together in this hands-on family pottery class! Each adult and child duo will design and decorate a one-of-a-kind large oval ceramic serving platter—perfect for your holiday table or as a cherished keepsake.
Using a pre-rolled clay slab, you’ll trace your handprints and turn them into festive turkeys using underglazes. Personalize your platter with fun texture stamps, fall-themed decorations, and a selection of letter stamps to add names, dates, or messages like “Give Thanks” or “Made with Love.”
No prior pottery experience needed. Your instructor will guide you through the fun process from layout and design to painting. Platters will be clear-glazed and kiln-fired by staff and ready for pickup in 2–3 weeks—just in time for Thanksgiving! We will send email notifications when they are ready. This class is designed for youth ages 5-12 with an accompanying adult (18+).
577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan
Youth Pottery: Draw & Sculpt Dragons (Ages 7-17)
Saturday, October 18 ~ 9:30am to 12pm
Let your child’s imagination take flight in this magical dragon-themed art class! In the first half, your child will learn basic drawing techniques while exploring how to draw their very own dragon. With step-by-step guidance, they’ll sketch unique dragon designs, learning about shapes, proportions, and expressions. A small sketchbook, pencil, and art eraser are included with the class.
In the second half, we’ll bring those dragons to life—using the pinch pot technique to sculpt a dragon from clay! Kids will learn how to form a basic shape and add features like wings, tails, horns, and more to match their sketches. Once their clay dragons are complete, everyone will have the opportunity to use colorful underglazes to paint them. After class, pieces will be clear-glazed and kiln-fired by our staff. Completed artwork will be ready for pickup in 2–3 weeks, with an email notification when they’re finished.
Class Notes: This class is open to children ages 7 to 17. No prerequisite or experience is required. Adults are not required to attend youth pottery classes. Youth participants may be dropped off at the beginning of class and picked up at the scheduled end time.
577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan
Family Pottery: Plates for Santa & Reindeer (Ages 5-8/Adult 18+)
Saturday, November 8 ~ 2pm to 4pm
Bring the holiday magic to life in this festive family pottery class. In this workshop, children ages 5 to 8 and their accompanying adult (18+) will work together to create two special Christmas snack-sized plates—one for Santa’s cookies and one for the reindeer’s carrots. The result is something to cherish, as these handmade keepsakes are sure to become a treasured part of your family’s Christmas traditions for years to come.
Guided by your instructor, families will cut plate shapes from pre-rolled clay slabs and place them into molds. From there, you’ll decorate with festive stamps, textures, and personalized words or messages. Once the designs are complete, you’ll use colorful underglazes to paint your creations, making each plate truly unique.
Staff will glaze and fire the plates after class, ensuring food-safe, beautifully finished pieces. Expect pickup in about two to three weeks, and we’ll send an email when they’re ready. This class is designed for youth ages 5-8 with an accompanying adult (18+).
577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan
Youth Pottery: Clay Igloo Diorama (Ages 7-17)
Tuesday, November 11 ~ 4:30pm to 6pm
This class is perfect for the kiddo in your life who loves winter. Young makers will create a pinch pot and transform it into a charming igloo with just a few easy steps. Next, they’ll craft an “ice slab” base and add playful decorations to make each igloo one-of-a-kind.
Demos will include how to make penguins, snowmen, ladders, polar bears, campfires, and other winter-inspired creations. Participants will add color with underglazes during class, and staff will apply the final glaze after the bisque firing. Pottery will be ready for pick-up in about two to three weeks, and an email notification will be sent when it is ready.
Class Notes: This class is open to children ages 7 to 17. No prerequisite or experience is required. Adults are not required to attend youth pottery classes. Youth participants may be dropped off at the beginning of class and picked up at the scheduled end time.
577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan
Family Pottery: Snowpeople! (Ages 7-17/Adult 18+)
Monday, November 24 ~ 4:30pm to 6pm
Get into the winter spirit with this fun and festive pottery project. In this family class, children ages 7–17 and their accompanying adult (18+) will each create a clay snowperson using simple pinch pot techniques. These handmade snowpeople will be a charming seasonal keepsake to display year after year.
Learn to shape cheerful snowpeople and add fun details, then craft accessories like scarves, hats, or earmuffs to give each piece personality. Once the designs are complete, you’ll decorate the accessories with colorful underglazes to make every snowperson unique.
Staff will apply a final clear glaze and complete the firing after class, ensuring beautifully finished, durable pieces. Expect pickup in about two to three weeks, and we’ll send an email when they’re ready. This class is designed for youth ages 7-17 with an accompanying adult (18+).
577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan
Happy Lil’ Gnome
Monday, November 17 ~ 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Prerequisite: To register for this class, participants must have successfully completed the 577 Adult Pottery 6-Week Class.
Spend a relaxing evening in this cheerful pottery class as you create a happy little gnome. Perfect for all experience levels, this project makes a whimsical decoration to enjoy year after year.
Guided by your instructor, you’ll learn how to apply slab-building techniques to create a gnome, shaping and refining it with a mold. Add personality with fun accessories such as hats, scarves, or beards full of character.
Once your gnome is built, you’ll use colorful underglazes to paint and decorate it in festive style. The final clear glaze will be completed on your own time after the class, giving you the opportunity to put the finishing touch on your holiday creation.
577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan
Holiday Votive & Tea Light Holders
Tuesday, November 18 ~ 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Prerequisite: To register for this class, participants must have successfully completed the 577 Adult Pottery 6-Week Class.
This brand-new class at 577 invites you to enjoy a festive, hands-on clay experience. You’ll explore the possibilities of clay through slab, coil, and pinch techniques, with the option to try a bit of wheel throwing.
Guided by your instructor, you’ll begin with a demonstration and then work step-by-step to create two to three charming holiday votive or tea light holders. Craft whimsical designs such as stars, polar bears, snowflakes, trees, or snowpeople. Which will be your favorites that you bring to life?
Whether you’ve just completed the six-week class or are an experienced potter, this workshop is a joyful way to celebrate the season with creativity. The final clear glaze will be applied on your own during independent studio time, giving you the opportunity to put the finishing touch on your holiday creations.
577 Staff Instructor: Julie Beutler
Throwing Demos and Q&A
Tuesday, November 25 ~ 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Prerequisite: To register for this class, participants must have successfully completed the 577 Adult Pottery 6-Week Class.
Join Julie for an in-depth wheel-throwing demonstration packed with techniques, tips, and time for your questions. She’ll cover a wide range of forms and processes, starting with the basics of cylinders and how they evolve into vases, pitchers, and bottles. You’ll also see demonstrations of two different bowl forms, bottles with collaring, plates, baking dishes, lidded pieces, altering techniques, and even a quick session on trimming.
Throughout the evening, she’ll explain not only what she’s doing but also how she positions her arms, hands, and body to achieve success on the wheel. With nearly 35 years of wheel experience in both creating and teaching, this opportunity to watch, question, and learn promises to be a special experience.
This demo class is ideal for any skill level—from those curious about starting wheel throwing to experienced potters looking to refine their techniques. Come watch, learn, and ask questions to build your confidence at the wheel.
577 Staff Instructor: Julie Beutler
Half Day Throwing
Friday, October 10 ~ 9am to 12pm
Monday, October 20 ~ 5:30pm to 8:30pm
Saturday, November 8 ~ 9am to 12pm
Prerequisite: To register for this class, participants must have successfully completed the 577 Adult Pottery 6-Week Class.
Practice your skills on the wheel in this intensive study class. Class is set around your individual goals but the focus is to help you gain confidence on the wheel.
Start the session with a couple of short demonstrations from Alison, then you will have the rest of the time to work. Don’t worry if you feel a little rusty, your instructor will rotate between students to give advice and help. Prior to class, you will also receive an email with links to throwing videos to help rekindle that memory of throwing on the potter’s wheel.
577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan
Supervised Indie Time
Wednesday, October 15 ~ 9:30am to 11:30am
Friday, November 7 ~ 9:30am to 11:30am
Prerequisite: To register for this class, participants must have successfully completed the 577 Adult Pottery 6-Week Class.
Supervised Indie Time sessions are perfect for folks who have recently completed the 6-week adult class and need additional time with your instructors or for those needing a refresher after a short break from the studio.
Join us for these casual supervised classes perfect for you to work independently on your projects where you can use the table, extruder, slab roller, and even the wheel. If you need some tips on projects or ideas you are working on, Julie or Alison will be in the studio to help answer questions, remind you of techniques or where things are, and just be there to help give you inspiration on a project.
577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan or Julie Beutler
Hybrid Pottery to Go – Raku
Sessions Available Each Month
October Firing: Pick-up: Sept. 4; Drop-off: Sept. 23; Raku Fire: Oct. 8
November Firing: Pick-up: Oct. 3; Drop-off: Oct. 20; Raku Fire: Nov. 5
December Firing: Pick-up: Nov. 3; Drop-off: Nov. 19; Raku Fire: Dec. 8
Prerequisite: To register for this class, participants must have successfully completed the 577 Adult Pottery 6-Week Class.
This class is a hybrid of our popular “work from home” classes where you will make all the pieces at home and then join us for an in-person outdoor firing of the raku kiln. We will supply you with all the tools and resources you need to make four to six pieces: clay, pottery tools, drywall board, plastic bags to make your pieces at home.
You will also have options to receive links to videos on basic constructions to make pots of your choosing using techniques including, pinch, coils, slabs, as well as instructions/ideas for what to make for your raku firing. You can also choose to use your block of clay to create your pieces at home, in your own indie times or other clay classes at 577, or a combo of both.
Pottery to Go – Custom Design by You!
Multiple Dates – See below
Prerequisite: To register for this class, participants must have successfully completed the 577 Adult Pottery 6-Week Class.
Try this unique at-home class that allows students a chance to work from the comfort of their home strengthening their pottery skills. The only (mostly) limits are your imagination. This class is designed to be what you want to make. Experiment with new forms, work out a pattern, or work on more labor-intensive techniques like sgraffito or coils. It’s your clay to create what you would like.
Don’t worry if you are stumped for ideas. Julie can provide you with videos from previous Pottery-to-Go classes like pinch pot animals, slab plates, coil pots, and more. In this “work from your home” class, we will supply you with all the tools and resources you need to make this project: clay, pottery tools, drywall board, plastic bags, a few short videos if you choose, plus email support from Julie. Optional: underglazes are available for an additional fee.
Important Note: For those interested in this class, we HIGHLY RECOMMEND completing 15 to 20 hours of indie studio time and a couple of other pottery classes before signing up for these at-home classes (in addition to the required 577 six-week class). Please note: This class no longer counts toward the three classes needed to keep indie time privileges.
October ~ Pick up: October 3; Return: October 20
November ~ Pick up: November 3; Return: November 19
Independent Studio Time
Access to our pottery studio for independent time is designed to give qualified students equipment andstudio space to create pottery. Students must have completed the 6 week adult pottery course and beapproved by the Pottery Studio Manager.
Class Locations & Parking Map
Signed up for a class and need help finding your classroom location and parking? Each class description lists its location. Click the button below to view a full map of the grounds and buildings with two lots available for easy and convenient parking.
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Because space is limited, we rely on you to register for classes thoughtfully. Please help us continue to offer these wonderful classes as affordably as possible by adhering to the following registration, cancellation, and refund policies.
Photo & Video Release
Photos and videos may be taken during 577 classes and events for use on our website and other relevant media outlets and your attendance constitutes consent. View the full policy below including how you can opt-out of this release.