Pottery

Coil-Built Flower Pot

Saturday, February 7 ~ 1:30pm to 3:30pm

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

Join us for a relaxing and creative clay session as you learn to make your own unique flower pot using the traditional coil-building method. In this hands-on class, your instructor, 577 Pottery Manager and Ceramic Artist Julie, will guide you as you discover how to roll and shape coils, attach them securely, and experiment with a variety of techniques for decorating, texturing, and finishing your piece.

Each participant will construct a functional flower pot—perfect for your home or garden. These pots will be fired only to bisque temperature, think classic terra-cotta, which helps promote a healthy root system for your plants. You’ll receive an email when your finished pieces are ready for pickup, typically 14–16 days after class.

Come unwind, play with clay, and create a beautiful pot that’s both artistic and practical!

577 Staff Instructor: Julie Beutler

Frog Salt Cellar & Spoon

Wednesday, February 11 ~ 5:30pm to 7:30pm

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

Hop into creativity with this fun, beginner-friendly pottery class where you’ll create your own frog-themed salt cellar complete with a matching spoon. 577 Pottery Coordinator Alison will guide you through a demonstration on how to build and shape your pieces using simple handbuilding techniques.

Once your salt cellar is formed, you can add delightful details — from sculpted frog faces to little feet — and paint your creation with colorful underglazes. Glazing will be completed by 577 staff after the bisque firing. You’ll receive an email when your finished pieces are ready for pickup, typically 14–16 days after class.

This class is perfect for anyone looking to learn basic pottery skills while making something both functional and whimsical.

577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan

Garden Art: Owl/Fish Hanger

Saturday, March 7 ~ 9am to 11am

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

Bring a bit of whimsy to your space in this playful pottery class, where you’ll create a fish or owl wall or fence hanger—perfect for a garden fence, shed, side of your house, or even indoors. Learn simple and approachable hand building techniques using slabs, coils, and thumbprint details with your instructor as you bring your piece to life. This class is designed for all skill levels and is especially welcoming to beginners.

You’ll also have time to personalize your hanger using underglaze (liquid colored clay)—paint just a few details or the entire piece. After class, your work will be fired and glazed by staff (clear glaze or colored glaze, depending on your design).

This class is perfect for beginners looking to learn basic pottery skills while making something both functional and whimsical. Finished pieces will be fired and glazed by staff for later pickup, and participants will be notified when pieces are ready, typically two weeks later.

577 Staff Instructor: Julie Beutler

Fairy Garden

Saturday, March 7 ~ 1pm to 3pm

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

Join us for a magical, hands-on class where you’ll create charming miniature fairy garden pieces for indoor or outdoor use. Learn the basics of hand building using slabs, coils, and pinch pots with your instructor as you design tiny chairs, benches, campfires, picnic spaces, and other whimsical miniatures. These pieces are perfect for creating a fairy garden in your yard or for building inside a flower pot you can expand on in the future.

This class is all about imagination and play, with plenty of room to personalize your mini world and add to it over time. No prior clay experience is needed—just bring your creativity and curiosity. 

Pieces may be glazed or finished with stains; Julie will spend time with everyone to help select the best options, and this finishing step will be completed by staff. Pick-up will take place a couple of weeks later, and participants will be notified via email.

577 Staff Instructor: Julie Beutler

Greenman/Garden Face

Friday, March 13 ~ 9am to 11:30am

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

Celebrate the return of spring with a hands-on pottery class inspired by gardens and folklore. Your instructor will guide you step-by-step through sculpting your own Greenman or garden face to hang on a house, tree, fence, or garden wall. You’ll learn how to build the main face and add personality using clay leaves, simple bugs, textures, and decorative elements. This class is beginner-friendly and encourages creativity; each piece will be uniquely yours.

Once completed, your sculpture will be fired and glazed in a color of your choice, selected from several options Julie will recommend during class. After a second firing, your finished piece will be ready for pickup in approximately 14–16 days. Participants will be notified via email when pieces are ready.

Perfect for gardeners, nature lovers, and anyone ready to welcome the coming season with a handmade touch.

577 Staff Instructor: Julie Beutler

Adult Pottery 6-Week Course

Tuesdays, January 13, 20, 27; February 3, 10, 17 ~ 9:30am to 11:30am

Thursdays, January 15, 22, 29; February 5, 12, 19 ~ 5:30pm to 7:30pm

Tuesdays, March 10, 17, 24, 31; April 7, 14 ~ 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 

Youth Pottery: Make Your Own Monster (Ages: 7-17)

Monday, February 16 ~ 10am to 11:30am

Get ready for some monstrously fun creativity! In this playful youth pottery class, kids will learn how to make their own pinch pot clay monster using simple handbuilding techniques. Your instructor will guide kiddos through a step-by-step demonstration on forming the monster’s body and sculpting fun features like eyes, teeth, tongues, horns, and more. Once their creatures are complete, kids can choose to paint their monsters with colorful underglazes or select a studio glaze for a shiny finish.

This class is a wonderful way for young artists to explore imagination and self-expression while learning basic pottery skills. Finished monsters will be glazed and fired by staff, and families will receive an email when pieces are ready for pickup, typically two to three weeks after class.

Class Notes: This class is open to children ages 7 to 17. No prior pottery experience is required. Youth Pottery Classes are designed to be drop-off classes to support the creative process. Adult guardians will be asked to drop students off at the beginning of class and return at the scheduled end time for pickup. This allows young artists to fully engage, explore, and create independently. Please remember to arrive on time for both drop-off and pick-up.

577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan

Youth Pottery: Door Décor Name Plaques (Ages: 7-17)

Monday, February 16 ~ 2pm to 4pm

In this creative and personalized pottery class, kids will design and build their own name plaque—perfect for decorating a bedroom door or wall! Your instructor will guide kiddos through a demonstration on how to form their plaque using pre-rolled clay slabs. Kids will have the chance to add texture, sculpt fun decorative elements, and stamp their names using letter stamps. Once the plaques are complete, they can paint them with colorful underglazes to make each piece truly one-of-a-kind.

This class is a fun way for young artists to express their creativity while learning basic clay techniques. Finished plaques will be glazed and fired by staff, and families will receive an email when pieces are ready for pickup, typically two to three weeks after class.

Class Notes: This class is open to children ages 7 to 17. No prior pottery experience is required. Youth Pottery Classes are designed to be drop-off classes to support the creative process. Adult guardians will be asked to drop students off at the beginning of class and return at the scheduled end time for pickup. This allows young artists to fully engage, explore, and create independently. Please remember to arrive on time for both drop-off and pick-up.

577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan

Family Pottery: Coil-Built Planters (Ages 5-6/Adults 18+)

Thursday, February 26 ~ 9:30am to 11:30am

Create, plant, and grow together in this fun and engaging family pottery class! Designed especially for children ages 5–6 and their accompanying adult (18+), this hands-on experience invites families to work side-by-side to build a small coil-built planter—perfect for bringing a little green life into your home. 
Your instructor will guide families step-by-step through coiling techniques, demonstrating how to shape the planter and add texture, patterns, and playful embellishments. Kids will also have the chance to paint their planters with colorful underglazes, making each piece truly one-of-a-kind.

Finished planters will be bisque-fired only to ensure they are perfect to keep healthy plants. Families will receive an email when items are ready for pickup, typically two to three weeks after class. When you return to pick up your creations, each child will receive a small plant to pot in their handmade planter—adding an extra touch of joy as they watch it grow. This class is a wonderful way for families to explore pottery together while creating a functional piece of living art.

Class Notes: Each registration is for one (1) youth between the ages of 5 to 6, with an accompanying adult 18 years old and older. Due to the small class size, only one adult may accompany the youth registered. If an adult would like to accompany multiple youth participants, please sign up each youth participant individually and list the adult’s name for each registration.

577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan

Family Pottery: Snack Set (Ages 7-17/Adults 18+)

Saturday, February 28 ~ 2pm to 4pm

Have fun creating side by side in this playful, family-friendly pottery class! Designed for a child ages 7-17 and their accompanying adult (18+), this session invites each participant to make their own “No Double Dippers” snack set — a plate paired with two small push-pot–style dipping bowls.

Your instructor will begin with a demonstration on how to roll and cut slabs and will introduce families to a variety of textures, letter stamps, and design tools to personalize their pieces. Kids and adults can add stamped words, patterns, or simple decorative details to make their snack sets uniquely their own.

After building, you’ll select your glaze colors, and staff will glaze and fire the finished pieces. Families will receive an email when items are ready for pickup, typically two to three weeks after class. These snack sets are perfect for chips and dip, veggies and hummus, fruit and yogurt — or any snack that deserves its own dipping space! This class is a delightful way for families to learn basic pottery techniques while making something fun, functional, and ready to enjoy at home.

Class Notes: Each registration is for one (1) youth between the ages of 7 to 17, with an accompanying adult 18 years old and older. Due to the small class size, only one adult may accompany the youth registered. If an adult would like to accompany multiple youth participants, please sign up each youth participant individually and list the adult’s name for each registration.

577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan

Youth Pottery: Bunny Pinch Pots (Ages: 7-17)

Wednesday, March 4 ~ 4:30pm to 6pm

Hop into spring with this fun and festive pottery class! Kids will create their own bunny pinch pot, choosing between two different bunny styles to make their piece uniquely their own. Your instructor will guide participants step-by-step through the process, demonstrating how to form a pinch pot, shape the bunny, and properly attach details like ears, faces, and tails. Once the clay work is complete, participants will paint their bunnies using colorful underglazes, adding personality and springtime charm to each creation.

After class, staff will take care of the finishing process. All pieces will be fired in the kiln and finished with a clear glaze. Participants will be notified via email when projects are ready for pickup, typically within 14–16 days. This class is a joyful introduction to hand-building with clay and a great way for kids to explore creativity while making an adorable keepsake to celebrate the season. No prior pottery experience is needed.

Class Notes: This class is open to children ages 7 to 17. No prior pottery experience is required. Youth Pottery Classes are designed to be drop-off classes to support the creative process. Adult guardians will be asked to drop students off at the beginning of class and return at the scheduled end time for pickup. This allows young artists to fully engage, explore, and create independently. Please remember to arrive on time for both drop-off and pick-up.

577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan

Family Pottery: Keepsake Platters (Ages 5-6/Adults 18+)

Friday, March 6 ~ 10am to 11:30am

Create something special together in this family pottery class designed for children ages 5–6 and an accompanying adult. Working side by side, families will design and decorate a handmade clay platter—a special keepsake that can be enjoyed for years to come and brought out for holidays, family dinners, birthdays, and other celebrations.

Your instructor will guide participants step-by-step, demonstrating how to cut and clean clay slabs and how to properly place the slab into a platter mold. Children and accompanying adults will then have time to add textures and decorative elements, using tools and found objects to personalize their designs. Once the clay work is complete, families will paint their platters using colorful underglazes, with creative freedom over patterns, colors, and style.

After class, staff will take care of the finishing process. All pieces will be fired in the kiln and glazed, and families will be notified via email when their platters are ready for pickup, typically 14 to 16 days later.

Class Notes: Each registration is for one (1) youth between the ages of 5 to 6, with an accompanying adult 18 years old and older. Due to the small class size, only one adult may accompany the youth registered. If an adult would like to accompany multiple youth participants, please sign up each youth participant individually and list the adult’s name for each registration.

577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan

Family Pottery: Aquarium/Terrarium (Ages 7-17/Adults 18+)

Monday, March 30 ~ 9:30am to 11:30am

Dive into creativity together in this special family pottery class. Youth participants and an accompanying adult will work side by side to create either one per person or one per family (family choice at time of class) wall-hanging inspired by an aquarium or terrarium, filled with plants, animals, and imaginative details.

Your instructor will guide families through the process with a hands-on demonstration, showing how to cut and clean clay slabs and how to plan a balanced wall piece. Along the way, Alison will share inspiration and examples of different plants, sea creatures, reptiles, and environments families can draw from as they design their projects.

Once the clay work is complete, participants will paint their wall hanging using colorful underglazes, bringing their underwater world or leafy habitat to life. After class, staff will take care of the finishing touches. All pieces will be fired in the kiln, finished with a clear glaze, and fitted with wire for easy hanging. Families will be notified via email when projects are ready for pickup, typically 14 to 16 days later.

This class is a wonderful way to spend creative time together and create a collaborative keepsake that’s ready to display at home. No prior pottery experience is needed.

Class Notes: Each registration is for one (1) youth between the ages of 7 to 17, with an accompanying adult 18 years old and older. Due to the small class size, only one adult may accompany the youth registered. If an adult would like to accompany multiple youth participants, please sign up each youth participant individually and list the adult’s name for each registration.

577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan

Youth Pottery: Blooming Tulip Pot (Ages: 7-17)

Monday, March 30 ~ 1pm to 2:30pm

Celebrate spring with this cheerful pottery class. Participants will create their own tulip-inspired pinch pot cup, perfect for holding small treasures or treats while adding a pop of handmade color to any space. Your instructor will guide the class step-by-step, demonstrating how to form a pinch pot and how to shape and attach clay leaves to transform their piece into a blooming tulip. Once the clay work is complete, everyone will paint their cups using bright underglazes, bringing their tulips to life with color and personality.

After class, staff will handle the finishing process. All pieces will be fired in the kiln and finished with a clear glaze, and participants will be notified via email when projects are ready for pickup, typically 14 to 16 days later. This class is a fun and approachable introduction to hand-building with clay and a wonderful way for kids to explore creativity while celebrating the season. No prior pottery experience is needed.

Class Notes: This class is open to children ages 7 to 17. No prior pottery experience is required. Youth Pottery Classes are designed to be drop-off classes to support the creative process. Adult guardians will be asked to drop students off at the beginning of class and return at the scheduled end time for pickup. This allows young artists to fully engage, explore, and create independently. Please remember to arrive on time for both drop-off and pick-up.

577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan

Slip/Underglaze and Transfers

Saturday, February 7 ~ 9am to 12pm

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

Expand your creativity in this inspiring and informative class focused on decorating on wet and leather-hard clay with colorful slips, underglazes, and slip transfers. Discover the fun and expressive techniques of Sgraffito, slip transfers, and Mishima as you explore new ways to bring pattern, depth, and personality to your pottery.

In this hands-on session, you’ll experiment with carving, layering, and wax-on-wet-clay methods using both our underglazes and handmade slips. Whether you’re a recent graduate of the 6-week class or an experienced potter looking to grow your skills, this class offers a perfect opportunity to learn, play, and create in the studio.

Julie will guide you through applying slips and underglazes, using wax on wet clay, carving approaches and tools, layering techniques, glazing tips and considerations, and how to use and make slip transfers. Each participant will receive a couple of professionally made slip transfers to use in class or save for a future project. This class is ideal for anyone eager to try new techniques, refine their surface decoration skills, and create expressive, beautiful pottery.

Class Note: Participants must bring at least one leather-hard premade piece in red clay and one in white clay—either wheel-thrown or handbuilt. Glazing is not included in this class and will need to be completed during your own independent studio time.

577 Staff Instructor: Julie Beutler

Extruded Butter Dishes

Saturday, February 28 ~ 9:30am to 11:30am

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

In this functional pottery class, you’ll create your own butter dish using a combination of extruded forms and slab building. The base and lid will be made from a pre-extruded form, and you’ll learn how to roll, cut, and attach slabs to build the sides.

Alison will demonstrate several texturing techniques along with a variety of handle styles, offering plenty of ways to customize your piece. You’re encouraged to explore patterns, stamps, and embellishments to give your butter dish a personal, creative touch. Glazing will be completed on your own during independent studio time, allowing for flexibility and artistic choices once your piece has been bisque-fired.

This class is a great opportunity for anyone looking to build useful handbuilding skills while creating a beautiful and functional piece for the table.

577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan

Extruder Extravaganza!

Monday, March 30 ~ 5:30pm to 7:30pm

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

Spend an evening getting to know the extruder and what it can do. The extruder is always better with a buddy, and working together makes it easier to use and clean, so this class is designed as a shared studio experience.

Class will begin with a review of proper setup, use, and cleanup, followed by an overview of the fun dies available in the studio. From there, you’ll move into creating basic forms and talking through ways to expand your repertoire of what this amazing tool can do—from approachable projects like vases and mugs to more advanced pieces such as butter dishes, small serving dishes, and beyond.

Class Note: Glazing will be on your own during indie time.

577 Staff Instructor: Julie Beutler

Half Day Throwing

Friday, February 20 ~ 1pm to 4pm

Tuesday, February 24 ~ 5:30pm to 8:30pm

Monday, March 2 ~ 5:30pm to 8:30pm

Monday, March 16 ~ 1:30pm to 4:30pm

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

Practice your pottery skills in this intensive wheel-focused class! Designed around your personal goals, the class aims to build your confidence and refine your technique on the potter’s wheel.

Each session begins with a couple of quick demonstrations from Alison, providing inspiration and guidance to get you started. Afterward, you’ll have plenty of time to practice and work on your projects. Don’t worry if you’re feeling a bit out of practice—your instructor will rotate between everyone in the class, offering personalized tips and support. To help you prepare, you’ll also receive an email before class with links to helpful throwing videos, so you can refresh your memory and hit the ground running.

577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan

Supervised Indie Time

Friday, February 6 ~ 1pm to 3pm

Friday, March 20 ~ 9am to 11am

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 those who have recently completed the 6-week adult class and want a little extra time with instructors, or for anyone needing a refresher after a short break from the studio. It’s also a great opportunity if you’re looking to challenge yourself with new projects or are feeling low on inspiration. Many participants find these sessions helpful for fresh ideas and extra guidance.

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, the wheel, and glazing advice. If you need some tips on projects or ideas you are working on, Alison or 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.

577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan or Julie Beutler

Supervised Indie Time • What does this thing do?

Friday, February 13 ~ 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 those who have recently completed the 6-week adult class and want a little extra time with instructors, or for anyone needing a refresher after a short break from the studio. It’s also a great opportunity if you’re looking to challenge yourself with new projects or are feeling low on inspiration. Many participants find these sessions helpful for fresh ideas and extra guidance.

This class will also include a special focus on exploring tools and equipment — a fun “What does this thing do?” segment where Julie will show you helpful, lesser-known features, new ways to use familiar tools, and some of the hidden gems around the studio that you may not have discovered yet.

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, the wheel and glazing advice. 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.

577 Staff Instructor: Julie Beutler

Hybrid Pottery to Go – Raku

Sessions Available Each Month

February Firing: Pick-up: Jan. 9; Drop-off: Jan. 28; Raku Fire: Feb. 9

March Firing: Pick-up: Feb. 3; Drop-off: Feb. 24; Raku Fire: Mar. 11

April Firing: Pick-up: Mar. 3; Drop-off: Mar. 30; Raku Fire: Apr. 9

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.  

January ~ Pick up: Januay 9; Return: January 28

February ~ Pick up: February 3; Return: February 24