Pottery

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

*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 

Monstera Magic • Open to all / Ages 18+

Tuesday, September 9 ~ 5:30pm to 7pm

*This class is open to adults 18 and over, no prior clay experience is needed.

Get your hands in clay and bring the tropics to your table with this relaxing, beginner-friendly pottery class. In this workshop, you’ll create a stunning set of two monstera leaf plates— a perfect decorative or functional piece inspired by nature.

Your instructor will guide you as you trace two monstera leaf templates (one larger, one smaller), then cut and shape your design from a slab of clay. After class, we’ll take care of the glazing for you. Your plate will be professionally glazed and kiln-fired by our studio staff, giving it a glossy, food-safe finish that highlights every detail.

Class Notes: This class is open to adults ages 18 and up. No prerequisite or experience is required. Just come ready to get creative and celebrate the season with clay!

577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan

Pollinator Cups • Open to all / Ages 18+

Saturday, September 20 ~ 1pm to 2:30pm

*This class is open to adults 18 and over, no prior clay experience is needed.

Join us for this fun and meaningful class where art meets nature! You’ll create adorable pollinator water cups—small ceramic pieces designed to hold shallow water and provide hydration for our hardworking honeybees (butterflies will enjoy them as well).

Your instructor will demonstrate multiple techniques for shaping and decorating the cups and discuss the importance of color and placement to attract pollinators. Each participant will receive a care sheet with tips on how to use and maintain their bee cups in the garden. Depending on size, we’ll create between 5 to 8 cups per person. A small project with a big impact!

Class Notes: This class is open to adults ages 18 and up. No prerequisite or experience is required. Just come ready to get creative and celebrate the season with clay!

577 Staff Instructor: Julie Beutler

Pumpkin Wall/Door Hanger • Open to all / Ages 18+

Wednesday, September 24 ~ 9:30am to 11am

*This class is open to adults 18 and over, no prior clay experience is needed.

Celebrate the beginning of fall! In this fun and festive class, you’ll create your very own pumpkin wall hanger—perfect for adding a handmade touch to your seasonal décor.

Your instructor will guide you step-by-step using handmade patterns, cookie cutters, and slab-building techniques. You’ll design a one-of-a-kind piece complete with dangling decorations like candy corn, ghosts, leaves, or any whimsical combo you dream up. Paint parts of your creation with underglazes before leaving it with us to be kiln-fired and glazed. You’ll be notified when it’s ready to pick up (about 14–16 days later).

Class Notes: This class is open to adults ages 18 and up. No prerequisite or experience is required. Just come ready to get creative and celebrate the season with clay!

577 Staff Instructor: Julie Beutler

Unique Clay Address Plaque

Thursday, October 2 ~ 5:30pm to 7:30pm

*This class is open to adults 18 and over, no prior clay experience is needed.

Back by popular demand! Create a truly one-of-a-kind address plaque for your home in this fun, hands-on class. Using slab-building techniques, you’ll create a one-of-a-kind ceramic plaque that brings personality and charm to your front porch, garage, or garden. Choose a vertical or horizontal layout, then select from a variety of number styles to trace or stamp into your design.

From there, let your creativity run wild — add borders, textures, patterns, or decorative elements to make it unmistakably yours. Beautiful underglazes will be available to paint parts of your creation. Whether you prefer clean and modern or whimsical and colorful, you’ll create a piece that’s as functional as it is beautiful.

Your instructor will guide you step-by-step so your project turns out exactly as you imagined. You’ll leave your piece to be fired and glazed, then you’ll be notified via email when it’s ready to be picked up, which is typically 14 to 16 days later.

Class Notes: This class is open to adults ages 18 and up. No prerequisite or experience is required. Just come ready to get creative and celebrate the season with clay!

577 Staff Instructor: Julie Beutler

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

Family Pottery: Fall Into Clay! (Ages 5-6/Adult 18+)

Friday, September 5 ~ 10am to 11am

Celebrate the cozy season with a creative family experience in clay! In this playful, hands-on class, young artists (ages 5 and 6) and their grown-up (18+) will work together to make fall/Halloween-themed trinket trays using the push-pot method—a fun way to create shallow, bowl-like pieces perfect for holding treasures, snacks, or seasonal décor.

Your instructor will guide everyone through the process as they choose from a variety of festive shapes like pumpkins, leaves, apples, silly ghosts, spider webs, candy corn, and even real leaves. Learn how to press and shape soft clay over molds or into forms to give each piece depth and structure. Every creation will be one-of-a-kind! Once shaped, families will decorate their trays with underglazes, adding bright fall colors and personal touches to bring their pieces to life.

After class, artwork will be bisque-fired, glazed with a clear coat for durability, and fired again by our studio staff. You’ll receive an email when your finished creations are ready for pickup, usually in about 2 to 3 weeks. This class is designed for children ages 5–6 with an accompanying adult (18+). No pottery experience needed—just bring your smiles and get ready for a clay-filled morning of creativity and fall fun!

577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan

Youth Pottery: Ramen Bowl & Cup (Ages 7-17)

Thursday, September 25 ~ 4:30pm to 6pm

Calling all young artists ready to get creative! In this hands-on pottery class, kids will explore texture, form, and design while making their very own ramen bowl and matching cup—perfect for their next noodle night.

Your instructor will guide each participant as they begin with a pre-made bowl base, then roll and shape clay coils to build the walls of their bowl. For the cup, kids will use the pinch pot method—a fun, beginner-friendly technique that lets them shape the clay with their fingers to create a small drinking cup. Along the way, they’ll add fun details, stamps, and surface textures to personalize their pieces. After class, each creation will be bisque-fired, glazed with a clear coat, and fired again by our studio staff. We’ll email you in about 2 to 3 weeks when your finished artwork is ready for pickup.

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: Painted Sipper Cups (Ages 7-17/Adult 18+)

Monday, September 29 ~ 5:30pm to 7pm

Join us in the Pottery Studio for a fun, hands-on family class where you’ll create two custom sipper cups hand-painted by you! This class is open to children ages 7–17 with an adult over 18. No experience needed—just come ready to get creative and make something special together!

Receive step-by-step guidance as you transform two extruded cylinders (one per person) into unique sipper cups by adding a base, top, and decorative elements. You’ll explore different decoration techniques with plenty of inspiring examples to spark creativity, and paint your 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 class is designed for youth ages 7-17 with an accompanying adult (18+). 

577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan

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

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: 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

Tea House: Tea Bag Holder

Thursday, September 18 ~ 5:30pm to 7:30pm

Prerequisite: To register for this class, participants must have successfully completed the 577 Adult Pottery 6-Week Class.

NEW! Are you a tea lover or know someone who is? In this creative and cozy class, you’ll handbuild a charming little tea house that looks like a brownstone or cottage. Designed to hold and dispense your favorite tea bags, this one-of-a-kind piece will look adorable on your kitchen counter or tucked into a breakfast nook.

You’ll work with slab-building techniques to construct your tea house, learning how to work with suede and leather-hard clay and the advantages of each. These versatile methods will set you up for success in future pottery projects, too!

*Class Notes: Glazing or highly detailed painting would be done on your own indie time.

577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan

Berry Bowls

Saturday, September 20 ~ 9am to 11am

Prerequisite: To register for this class, participants must have successfully completed the 577 Adult Pottery 6-Week Class.

Had a great garden haul this year? This class is perfect for gathering fresh herbs, berries, or market produce. You’ll create a beautiful and functional berry bowl using slab-building techniques, resulting in a fruit pint–style vessel that’s as charming as it is useful.

Julie will guide you through the process, including how to add drainage holes, handles, and optional under dishes. She’ll also share tips for successful construction and decoration so your piece is ready to shine in the kitchen. Bonus: Julie will give a short demo on how these bowls can be made on the potter’s wheel. Already familiar with throwing? You’re welcome to bring a leather-hard greenware bowl to modify and decorate during the class.

Whether you’re harvesting from your backyard or shopping local markets, this berry bowl is sure to become a go-to favorite in your kitchen! *Class Notes: Glazing would be done on your own indie time.

577 Staff Instructor: Julie Beutler

Chip & Dip Set

Monday, September 22 ~ 5:30pm to 7:30pm

Prerequisite: To register for this class, participants must have successfully completed the 577 Adult Pottery 6-Week Class.

Get ready for tailgate season, cozy gatherings, and everyday entertaining with a large handmade chip and dip platter—complete with a few fun style options for the dip dish.

Julie will guide you through slab and pinch handbuilding techniques to create your one-of-a-kind set. She’ll also share tips for glazing larger functional pieces, keeping the process as simple and successful as possible, and designing flexible forms that work for any season.

As a bonus, Julie will give a short demonstration on the pottery wheel to show how similar chip-and-dip forms can be thrown, offering inspiration for future projects and possibilities. *Class Notes: Glazing would be done on your own indie time.

577 Staff Instructor: Julie Beutler

Cute & Spooky Clay House

Monday, October 4 ~ 9am to 12pm

Prerequisite: To register for this class, participants must have successfully completed the 577 Adult Pottery 6-Week Class.

Imagine a gingerbread house—only cozier, spookier, and perfect for autumn! Spend the morning creating your very own ceramic house from start to finish, complete with charming little details. You’ll begin by choosing your base design — brick or cobblestone walls and your preferred roof style — then the real fun begins!

Will your house be a little spooky, with ghosts and tiny monsters peeking around the corners? Or will it be warm and autumnal, with pumpkins and hay bales out front? The choice is yours!

Julie will guide you step-by-step, showing you how to work with leather-hard slabs for the main structure, then soft slabs, pinch, and coil techniques for all your decorations. You’ll finish your masterpiece with underglaze accents. A clear coat glaze applied by Julie is available or you can glaze on your own!

577 Staff Instructor: Julie Beutler

Half Day Throwing

Tuesday, September 2 ~ 5:30pm to 8:30pm

Thursday, September 11 ~ 9am to 12pm

Friday, October 10 ~ 9am to 12pm

Monday, October 20 ~ 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. 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, September 10 ~ 9:30am to 11:30am

Friday, September 19 ~ 9:30am to 11:30am

Wednesday, October 15 ~ 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

September Firing: Pick-up: Aug. 5; Drop-off: Aug. 27; Raku Fire: Sept. 17

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

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.  

September ~ Pick up: September 4; Return: September 23

October ~ Pick up: October 3; Return: October 20