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
July classes open for registration on Wednesday, May 26, at 9am. Click HERE to view a full list of upcoming classes.
Clay Animal Bells: Owl or Cat • Open to all / Ages 18+
Saturday, May 31 ~ 1:30pm to 3:30pm
*This class is open to adults 18 and over, no prior clay experience is needed.
Get into the spirit of spring with these adorable clay animal bells. In this fun, hands-on class, you’ll create your choice of either an owl or cat bell using a simple hand-building technique with extruded tubes. Your instructor, 577’s Pottery Coordinator Alison Buchanan, will guide you through the process step by step and help bring your vision to life.
Once your animal is formed, you’ll have the opportunity to personalize it with touches of color using underglaze (liquid colored clay). After class, your piece will be bisque-fired, glazed in clear, and fired again by 577. You’ll receive an email about two weeks later when your bell is ready for pickup.
Perfect for all experience levels—come play in the clay!
577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan
Unique Clay Slab Vase • Open to all / Ages 18+
Friday, June 13 ~ 9:30am to 11:30am
*This class is open to adults 18 and over, no prior clay experience is needed.
Celebrate summer’s blooms with a beautiful, one-of-a-kind skinny vase made by you—perfect for showing off fresh flowers and garden posies. In this hands-on class, 577’s Pottery Manager and Ceramic Artist Julie Beutler will guide you step-by-step through the process.
You’ll start by learning how to roll a good slab, then cut and shape the front, back, and sides of your new vase. Explore textures and decorative additions, and choose your favorite color from our selection of glazes to make your piece truly unique. After final construction, you’ll leave your vase with us to be fired and glazed. We’ll email you in about 14 to 18 days when your vase is ready for pickup.
Perfect for all experience levels. Come play in the clay and make something special for your summer flowers.
577 Staff Instructor: Julie Beutler
Clay Wall Pockets • Open to all / Ages 18+
Thursday, June 19 ~ 5:30pm to 7:30pm
*This class is open to adults 18 and over, no prior clay experience is needed.
Wall pockets are a versatile and charming addition to any home. Use them to collect mail, store matches, or display real or faux flowers indoors. They’re equally delightful outdoors, adding character to a fence or front door, or even serving as bird feeders or planters for ivy and succulents with added drainage holes. In this hands-on class, Pottery Manager and Ceramic Artist Julie Beutler will guide you step-by-step through making your own wall pocket.
You’ll start by learning how to roll a great slab, add texture or decorative elements, and prep your piece for hanging in a style that suits you. Patterns will be available to use, or you can create a freeform design with Julie’s help. At the end of class, you’ll choose a glaze color, and our staff will fire, glaze, and fire your piece again. We’ll email you about two weeks later when your wall pocket is ready for pickup.
Perfect for all experience levels. Come play in the clay and make something functional and beautiful for your space.
577 Staff Instructor: Julie Beutler
Adult Pottery 6-Week Course
Tuesdays, April 29; May 6, 13, 20, 27; June 3 ~ 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Wednesdays, April 30; May 7, 21, 28; June 4, 11 ~ 1:30pm to 3:30pm
*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!
Class Note: *There will not be a class on May 14.
577 Staff Instructors: Julie Beutler, Pottery Studio Manager and Ceramic Artist & Alison Buchanan, Pottery Coordinator
Porcupine Pencil & Pen Holders ~ Youth Pottery: Ages 7 to 17
Thursday, May 15 ~ 4:30pm to 6pm
This fun and interactive pottery class is perfect for the young artist in your life! In this hands-on session, each child will create a quirky porcupine pencil holder using simple pinch pot techniques. Led by Alison Buchanan, 577’s Pottery Coordinator, children will learn how to shape their pot and bring their porcupine to life by adding a head, eyes, and nose.
Once complete, each child will have the opportunity to finish their piece with underglazes. After bisque firing, staff will apply a final glaze. These whimsical pencil holders will be ready for pick-up in about two weeks, with email notifications sent when they are ready.
Class note: 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
Fantastic Clay Fishbowls ~ Youth Pottery: Ages 7 to 17
Wednesday, May 28 ~ 4:30pm to 6pm
This fun and creative pottery class is perfect for the young artist in your life—especially those who love aquatic or plant life! In this hands-on session, each child will roll out slabs of clay and use them to create their own imaginative fishbowl or terrarium scene. Led by Alison Buchanan, 577’s Pottery Coordinator, children will learn how to clean edges and shape all kinds of fun additions—like fish, sea creatures, and plants for aquariums, or bugs, leaves, and flowers for terrariums.
Once their designs are assembled, each child will personalize their creation with underglazes, adding bright stripes, colors, and patterns to bring their scene to life. After the first kiln firing, 577 staff will apply a clear glaze to give each piece a glossy finish and added durability. Projects will be ready for pick-up in about two weeks, and an email will be sent when they’re ready.
Class note: 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
Sipper Cups ~ Family Pottery: Ages 5 to 6 & Adult 18+
Friday, June 6 ~ 10am to 11:30am
Join us in the Pottery Studio for a fun, hands-on family class where each participant will make one custom sipper cup (2 total per family) that will be decorated/painted by you! This class is open to children 5 and 6 with an adult over 18, no prerequisite or experience is required.
Each person will receive one extruded cylinder to transform into unique sipper cups by adding a base and embellishments. Led by Alison, 577’s Pottery Coordinator, the class will explore different decoration techniques with plenty of inspiring examples to spark creativity. We will paint our decorations with underglazes for that perfect pop of color.
Once completed, each creation will be bisque-fired, glazed in clear, and fired again. Finished pieces will be ready for pick-up in about two weeks, with email notifications sent when they are ready.
This family class is for both children and their accompanying adults to enjoy an exploration of hand-built pottery projects. Class is open to children 5 to 6 with an adult over 18, no prerequisite or experience is required.
577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan
Clay Pinch Pot Animals ~ Family Pottery: Ages 5 to 6 & Adult 18+
Tuesday, June 24 ~ 10am to 11:30am
Enjoy creative time together in the 577 Pottery Studio as you make a charming animal pinch pot, choosing from a cat, dog, elephant, mouse, or ladybug. You’ll learn simple pinch pot and sculpting techniques to bring your chosen animal to life, and you will have the opportunity to decorate your creation with underglazes during class.
Alison Buchanan, 577’s Pottery Coordinator, will guide you step-by-step through the process and offer helpful tips along the way. Once completed, each creation will be bisque-fired, glazed in clear, and fired again by our staff. We’ll email you in about two weeks when your piece is ready for pickup. Perfect for beginners! Come make memories and a special work of art to take home.
This family class is for both children and their accompanying adults to enjoy an exploration of hand-built pottery projects. Class is open to children 5 to 6 with an adult over 18, no prerequisite or experience is required.
577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan
Slab of Summer ~ Youth Pottery Camp: Ages 7 to 13
Session I: Monday, June 16 – Friday, June 20 ~ 9:30am to 11:30am
Session II: Monday, July 21 – Friday, July 25 ~ 9:30am to 11:30am
Slab of Summer ~ Youth Pottery Camp: Ages 14 to 17
Monday, June 16 – Friday, June 20 ~ 2pm to 4pm
Join the 577 pottery staff for a fun and creative weeklong exploration of clay! Led by Pottery Coordinator Alison Buchanan, this exciting camp invites young artists to explore the endless possibilities of clay.
Throughout the week, your kiddo will learn foundational hand-building techniques such as pinch, slab, and coil to craft a variety of unique projects. Inspired by animals, nature, and the beautiful surroundings of 577, we will create a new piece each day, with a special project designed exclusively for summer camp. Toward the end of the session, everyone will get to experience the glazing process firsthand on one of their pieces (all other pieces will be glazed by staff due to firing limitations).
This camp is open to two age groups, with dedicated sessions for each. For ages 7 to 13, we are offering two sessions. Each session will feature fresh projects, so students are welcome to sign up for both. All materials and firings are included. No prior experience is necessary. Drop-off and pick-up information: Adults are not required to attend youth pottery classes. Children should be dropped off at the start of class and picked up promptly at the scheduled end time.
Get ready to roll up your sleeves, play with clay, and bring your imagination to life at 577 this summer!
577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan
577 Collab Class: Pottery & Drawing on Clay
Thursday, May 8 ~ 9:30am to 12pm
Prerequisite: To register for this class, participants must have successfully completed the 577 Adult Pottery 6-Week Class.
Back by request! Are you excited to elevate your pottery decorating skills? Looking to boost your confidence with underglaze techniques? Join us for an innovative class led by Julie and Isabelle Tucker, 577’s Program Coordinator and Drawing/Studio Arts instructor.
Explore how drawing can transform your pottery techniques. Through engaging exercises and accessible techniques, Isabelle will show you how drawing can enhance your clay skills, inspire future designs, and refine your eye for design and craftsmanship. We’ll apply these skills to premade leather-hard tiles, reviewing and using basic underglaze techniques that will bring your pieces alive with color.
You’ll receive new drawing tools to keep: a handy drawing journal, drawing pencils, and a kneaded eraser. Finish your clay pieces when you’re ready (during your indie time). By the end of class, you’ll leave with more confidence in your pottery and design skills. Who knows? You might even discover a newfound love for drawing!
577 Staff Instructors: Julie Beutler & Isabelle Tucker
Hanging Planter or Bird Feeder *New Class!
Thursday, May 22 ~ 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Prerequisite: To register for this class, participants must have successfully completed the 577 Adult Pottery 6-Week Class.
Explore the creative possibilities of the clay extruder in this fun, hands-on class led by 577’s Pottery Manager and Ceramic Artist Julie Beutler and Pottery Coordinator Alison! You’ll learn several techniques for crafting unique clay forms that can be transformed into hanging bird feeders or planters—perfect for succulents, cacti, or air plants.
Looking for even more inspiration? Julie and Alison will also share creative ideas for adapting your piece into a deeper planter, a knick-knack shelf, or even a candle holder. Whether you’re decorating a garden, patio, or cozy indoor space, this class will spark new ways to use clay in your home and beyond.
Class Note: Glazing will be completed independently during Indie Studio Time.
577 Staff Instructors: Julie Beutler & Alison Buchanan
Textured Clay Strip Bowl *New Class!
Thursday, May 29 ~ 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 creative evening in the pottery studio learning how to build a unique, handcrafted small bowl using textured clay strips. You’ll explore the basics of decorating and constructing your piece by carefully layering the strips into a bisque mold to create a one-of-a-kind, functional form.
Julie will also demonstrate a handled option and share tips on how to glaze your bowl. These charming small bowls make great fruit bowls, coffee table catch-alls, or simply beautiful decorative pieces.
Class Note: Glazing will be completed independently during Indie Studio Time.
577 Staff Instructor: Julie Beutler
Clay Wall Pockets: Raccoon, Fox, or Cat
Saturday, May 31 ~ 9am to 11am
Prerequisite: To register for this class, participants must have successfully completed the 577 Adult Pottery 6-Week Class.
Get in touch with nature as you create your own charming animal-themed wall pocket! In this hands-on class, you’ll craft a custom clay pocket shaped like a raccoon, fox, or cat—perfect for holding dried flowers, small plants, or simply adding a touch of woodland whimsy to your space.
Alison will guide you step by step and demonstrate how to bring your animal to life by adding eyes, ears, noses, and tails. You’ll also have the opportunity to add color with underglazes during class.
Class Note: Glazing will be completed independently during Indie Studio Time.
577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan
Saturday Workshop: Garden Art Extravaganza
Saturday, June 7 ~ 10am to 3pm
Prerequisite: To register for this class, participants must have successfully completed the 577 Adult Pottery 6-Week Class.
Join us in the pottery studio for a fun, all-day garden art making celebration. Julie will kick off the day with demonstrations, ideas, and examples to help spark your creativity before everyone starts working on their own garden-inspired pieces. Guidance and support will be available throughout as you create art to brighten your garden, yard, patio, or porch. The focus will be on handbuilding to make it accessible for all skill levels, but those with strong wheel skills are welcome to create wheel-thrown pieces as well.
We’ll make and discuss a variety of items, including birdhouses and feeders, garden signs and markers, hanging signs, flowerpots, green man faces, frogs, turtles, and other creative ideas. If you have specific projects in mind, you’re welcome to email images to Julie by May 25 so feedback and prep can be provided. We’ll take a break for a potluck lunch around noon before returning to creating. Details on lunch will be sent the week before class.
Class Note: Glazing will be completed independently during Indie Studio Time.
577 Staff Instructor: Julie Beutler
Slab Cups & Mugs
Wednesday, June 25 ~ 9:30am to 11:30am
Prerequisite: To register for this class, participants must have successfully completed the 577 Adult Pottery 6-Week Class.
Join us in the Pottery Studio for this exciting slab building class! Julie will discuss the different styles of making mugs or cups and how she makes patterns. She will demonstrate how to roll successful slabs, cutting/cleaning, and tips for adding bottoms to your cups/mugs. Finally, she will review several handle styles, how to make them comfortable and usable, and how to best attach them. Depending on the size, style, and details you choose, you will complete two (2) to four (4) cups/mugs in class.
This class is perfect for those wanting to sharpen their hand building skills and knowledge from this class will be helpful for many future pots, not just cups/mugs.
Class Note: Glazing will be completed independently during Indie Studio Time.
577 Staff Instructor: Julie Beutler
Clay Flowers
Friday, June 27 ~ 9:30am to 11:30am
Prerequisite: To register for this class, participants must have successfully completed the 577 Adult Pottery 6-Week Class.
Bring a little joy to your day with Clay Flowers! This is a class all about creating blooms that never fade. Julie will provide several demonstrations covering techniques like slab, pinch, and coil, showing you how to craft freestanding flowers for a vase or attach them to plates, vases, and other handbuilt or wheel-thrown pieces.
We’ll explore using underglazes, along with tips for glazing on your own and ideas for non-firing finishes. Julie’s demos will include how to finish and assemble your creations, and each student will have the opportunity for individual guidance as needed.
Class Note: Glazing will be completed independently during Indie Studio Time.
577 Staff Instructor: Julie Beutler
Clay Napkin Holders *New Class
Saturday, June 28 ~ 9am to 11am
Prerequisite: To register for this class, participants must have successfully completed the 577 Adult Pottery 6-Week Class.
Looking for a fun way to add something new to your tabletop or counter décor? Join Alison in the studio to create your own unique napkin holder, perfect for adding a personal touch to your home or giving as a thoughtful gift.
The class will start with a demonstration on rolling and working with slabs. Alison will share different styles, decorating ideas, and texturing techniques, along with useful tips for building and drying that you can use in future clay projects.
Class Note: Glazing will be completed independently during Indie Studio Time.
577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan
Half Day Throwing
Wednesday, May 14 ~ 5:30pm to 8:30pm
Saturday, June 28 ~ 1:30pm to 4:30pm
Monday, June 30 ~ 5:30pm to 8:30pm
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 with Julie. 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 Julie, 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.
Waitlists are available if class is listed as full.
Supervised Indie Time
Thursday, May 8 ~ 2pm to 4pm
Monday, May 26 ~ 9:30am to 11:30am
Thursday, June 5 ~ 9:30am to 11:30am
Monday, June 23 ~ 5:30pm to 7:30pm
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 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.
Hybrid Pottery to Go – Raku
Sessions Available Each Month
June Firing: Pick-up: May 1; Drop-off: May 29; Raku Fire: June 9
July Firing: Pick-up: Jun. 3; Drop-off: Jun 25; Raku Fire: July 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 for 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.
May ~ Pick-up: May 1; Return: May 29
June ~ Pick-up: June 3; Return: June 25
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.