Pottery

Clay Thumbprint Tree

Monday, December 1 ~ 5:30pm to 7:30pm

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

Dive into the fun of crafting your own cone-shaped tree using slab and ball techniques in this festive evening class. You’ll be amazed at how easy it is to master this technique, bringing your tree to life. No clay experience is needed. Your instructor will walk you through each step and discuss your options for finishing, as these can be used during the holiday season or left green for year-round enjoyment.

Once finished, your tree will be fired and glazed in green or white (your choice) and fired again by 577 staff. You will receive an email when they are ready for pick up, estimated 14 to 18 days later. This class is perfect for all levels, no prior clay experience is required.

577 Staff Instructor: Julie Beutler

Clay Snowpeople

Thursday, December 4 ~ 5:30pm to 7pm

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

Celebrate the season in this fun and hands-on class as you create your very own adorable snowperson using classic pinch pot techniques. This charming winter character is perfect for gifting or adding a touch of personality to your seasonal décor.

Your instructor will guide you through the basics of building the body and demonstrate a variety of ways to add scarves, hats, mittens, and other whimsical details. Participants will have the opportunity to paint their accessories (hat, scarf, nose, etc.) using underglazes. After the first firing, staff will glaze each piece in clear to preserve the snowy white clay body, then fire them again. You’ll receive an email when your pieces are ready for pickup—estimated 14 to 18 days later—just in time to show off your cool creation.

This class is perfect for all levels—no prior clay experience needed. Come play in the clay and enjoy a little holiday magic.

577 Staff Instructor: Julie Beutler

Collab Class: Pottery & Weaving

Two-Part Class:

Wednesday, January 14 ~ 12pm to 1pm

Wednesday, January 28 ~ 1pm to 4pm

*This class is open to adults 18 and over; no prior clay 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 Instructors: Julie Beutler & Samantha Day

Unique Clay Address Plaque

Friday, January 23 ~ 10am to 12pm

*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.

This class is open to adults ages 18 and up. No prior pottery experience is needed—just bring your creativity and enjoy the process!

577 Staff Instructor: Julie Beutler

Winter Warm-Up Mug Set

Saturday, January 31 ~ 9am to 11am

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

Get into the cozy spirit of the season with this special winter pottery class! Participants will create their own hot beverage mug set, complete with a matching plate and spoon — perfect for enjoying cocoa, tea, or coffee on a cold day. 

Your instructor will guide you step-by-step as you work with a pre-extruded clay cylinder to build your piece, demonstrating how to attach a handle, form coordinating pieces, and add texture and winter-inspired decorative details. After assembling your pieces, you’ll choose underglazes or a studio glaze to finish it. Then, you’ll leave your piece to be fired and glazed, and you’ll receive an email when it’s ready for pickup—typically 14 to 16 days later.

This class is a wonderful way to unwind, explore your creativity, and make something functional and festive to enjoy all winter long. Open to adults ages 18 and older, no prior pottery experience is needed.

577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan

Adult Pottery 6-Week Course

Wednesdays, November 12, 19, 26; December 3, 10, 17 ~ 9:30am to 11:30am

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

*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 

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

Youth Pottery: Winter Seal Sculpture (Ages 7-17)

Tuesday, December 2 ~ 4:30pm to 6pm

Make a splash this winter as your kiddo creates their very own adorable seal! In this fun, hands-on pottery class, they’ll shape and decorate their seal using simple techniques—no experience needed. Each child will learn step-by-step how to form their seal and bring it to life with fun details and personality. Add a hat, scarf, or bow tie to give your seal a festive touch!

Once sculpted, everyone will paint their creation with colorful underglazes. After class, our staff will apply a clear glaze and fire it, so your shiny new seal will be ready to take home and display—a perfect winter keepsake or cheerful seasonal decoration. Pottery will be ready for pick-up in about two to three weeks, and you’ll receive an email notification when it’s 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: Penguin Snack Bowl (Ages 5-6/Adult 18+)

Friday, December 5 ~ 9:30am to 11am

Waddle into winter fun with this adorable family pottery workshop! Designed for children ages 5 to 6 and their accompanying adult (18+), this class is a perfect introduction to working with clay, creating a keepsake you’ll treasure.

Guided by your instructor, families will follow a step-by-step demonstration to form an adorable little penguin using simple pinch pot techniques. Each family will receive a pre-made medium-sized thrown bowl, crafted by our pottery staff, ready for you to decorate or choose a glaze to have it dipped in.

Your penguin will be placed inside to create a charming snack bowl. Once your sculpture is complete, you’ll bring it to life with colorful underglazes. After the workshop, our staff will apply a final glaze to finish your creation. 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 5-6 with an accompanying adult (18+).

577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan

Family Pottery: Clay Tic Tac Toe (Ages 7-17/Adult 18+)

Thursday, December 11 ~ 4:30pm to 6pm

Play and creativity come together in this fun family pottery workshop! In this family class, children ages 7–17 and their accompanying adult (18+) will design and build their very own tic tac toe game set—perfect for playtime and display. Families can choose to each make their own smaller boards or collaborate on one larger board together.

Guided by your instructor, participants will begin with a quick demonstration on how to form their boards using pre-rolled clay slabs, along with examples for inspiration. From there, you’ll shape your board and game pieces, adding your own creative twist to the design. Once complete, you’ll have the opportunity to decorate your tic-tac-toe set with colorful underglazes or select a single glaze color for our staff to dip and finish after firing. The result—a one-of-a-kind handmade game you’ll enjoy for years to come!

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

Youth Pottery: Story-Themed Bookends (Ages: 7-17)

Tuesday, January 6 ~ 5pm to 7pm

Spark creativity and celebrate the magic of storytelling in this hands-on clay class for youth ages 7–17! Students will design and build their own set of bookends inspired by a favorite book or story. Your instructor will guide students step-by-step as they work with pre-rolled clay slabs to cut out and assemble the base forms for their bookends.

Once the structure is built, students will learn to sculpt simple shapes and figures from clay and securely attach them to their pieces. They’ll have the chance to bring their story to life through creative details and colorful underglaze painting. This project encourages imagination, problem-solving, and hands-on skill building—combining a love of stories with the joy of clay. Finished bookends will be glazed and fired by staff. Families will receive an email when the artwork is ready for pickup, typically 14 to 16 days 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. 

577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan

Family Pottery: Valentine Heart Fun (Ages 5-6/Adults 18+)

Friday, January 16 ~ 10am to 11:30am

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a sweet and creative family pottery class! Designed especially for children ages 5–6 and their accompanying adult (18+), this class invites families to work together to make a heart-decorated or heart-shaped dish—perfect for holding snacks, candy, or as a special keepsake—along with a few sweetheart-inspired ornaments.

Your instructor will guide families step-by-step as they form and shape their dish using pre-rolled clay slabs. Participants will have the chance to add texture, stamps, or meaningful words to their creations before painting them with colorful underglazes. This class is a wonderful way to celebrate love and creativity while learning simple pottery techniques together.Finished pieces will be glazed and fired by staff, and families will receive an email when items are ready for pickup, typically two to three weeks after class.

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

Youth Pottery: Valentine Hearts (Ages: 7-17)

Monday, January 19 ~ 10am to 11:30am

Your kiddo will love getting into the Valentine’s spirit with this hands-on pottery class, giving them the perfect opportunity to spend their day off school creating something sweet and special.

Your instructor will guide everyone step-by-step as they craft their own custom heart-shaped dish—perfect for holding little snacks, candy, jewelry, earbuds, change, and other small treasures. Next, students will create a coiled heart pot to stash their secret finds. These adorable pieces will be cherished all year long! Once completed, your child’s creations will be bisque-fired, dipped in their favorite glaze chosen during class, and fired again. Families will receive an email when the artwork is ready for pickup, typically 14 to 16 days 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. 

577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan

Youth Pottery: Hot Cocoa Mug Set (Ages: 7-17)

Monday, January 19 ~ 2pm to 4pm

Kids can turn their day off school into a hands-on clay adventure as they create their very own hot cocoa mug set—perfect for chilly winter days! Your instructor will guide participants step-by-step as they use a pre-extruded clay cylinder to build their mug, attach a handle, and form a small coordinating dish to complete their set.

Once their pieces are built, kids can let their imagination shine by adding sculpted details—marshmallows, peppermints, candy canes, or any fun winter elements. They’ll also paint their creations with colorful underglazes to make each mug set uniquely their own. This class is a fun, hands-on way for young artists to learn basic pottery techniques while making something they can enjoy all season long. Families will receive an email when the artwork is ready for pickup, typically 14 to 16 days 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. 

577 Staff Instructor: Alison Buchanan

Family Pottery: Chia Pets (Ages 7-17/Adults 18+)

Saturday, January 31 ~ 2pm to 4pm

Chia Pets have outlasted the ’70s—and now you can create one of your very own! Originating in Mexico, these quirky, charming housewares make a delightful project to create together and a fun piece to take home and watch grow.Your instructor will guide families step-by-step through using pinch-pot techniques to build a pet of your choice. Create a hedgehog, turtle, sheep, cat, or dog, and craft a small tray for your pet to sit on and catch any extra water.

Each youth/adult pair may choose to work together on a single Chia Pet or each create their own, taking home a pair of pets if they’d like. Projects will remain unglazed so the ceramic walls stay permeable—an essential feature for sprouting real chia. Once your creations are fired and ready (usually two to three weeks after class), we’ll send an email letting you know they’re ready for pickup—complete with chia seeds from 577 so you can bring your new pet friends to life 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

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

Totally Teapots!

Saturday, January 10 ~ 9am to 2pm

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

The teapot is one of the most classic and iconic forms in pottery—an elegant blend of shape, style, and functionality. In this immersive one-day workshop, Julie will guide you through the process of designing and building a teapot using foundational hand-building techniques.

Together, you’ll explore how to construct a well-fitting lid, what makes an effective pouring spout, how to design and position handles, and why proportions, attachments, and placement matter. Julie will also demonstrate different construction methods and how each one impacts the final form. In addition, she will share inspiration and history by highlighting traditional teapot styles from various cultures.

While this class focuses on hand-building, experienced wheel potters are welcome to form their teapot on the wheel or combine wheel work with hand-building. If choosing a wheel-based approach, participants must already be comfortable creating tight-fitting lids and rounded, bulbous forms.

We’ll take a 30-minute lunch break together in the Green Door Studio, and bring a pack lunch for the day. Glazing will be completed on your own during open studio or a later session. Julie will offer guidance and helpful tips for glazing forms with spouts and lids. This workshop is designed to be enriching, creative, and community-focused. Join your fellow 577 potters for a fun and inspiring day of teapot making!

577 Staff Instructor: Julie Beutler

Wood Firing Fun!

Wednesday, January 21 ~ 5:30pm to 8pm

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

Discover the beauty, science, and excitement of wood firing in this inspiring and informative workshop! We are thrilled to welcome a wood-fired kiln back to the 577 grounds, scheduled for completion in early summer!. This class is the perfect way to share in the anticipation and prepare for this incredible firing opportunity.

Your instructor brings 15 years of wood-firing experience and more than 100 wood kilns fired. Her passion for this ancient firing method—dating back over 2,000 years—is contagious, and she’ll guide you through the essential knowledge you need to make the most of a wood kiln.

Together, you’ll explore the differences between red and white clay, which textures, forms, and styles work best for wood firing, how a wood kiln operates and what makes it unique, how to prepare your pieces for firing, and which glazes are most suitable for wood-fired results. Throughout the class, you’ll enjoy an evening of creativity and hands-on exploration as you make two to four pots that you’ll later place in the wood kiln once it’s ready for firing.

This workshop is open to both beginners and advanced 577 potters—anyone excited to learn, experiment, and fuel their creativity. Come share in this special moment and help celebrate a brand-new chapter of wood firing at 577!

577 Staff Instructor: Julie Beutler

Half Day Throwing

Friday, December 12 ~ 9am to 12pm

Wednesday, January 7 ~ 1:30pm to 4:30pm

Wednesday, January 14 ~ 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 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

Tuesday, December 16 ~ 9:30am to 11:30am

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

Friday, January 30 ~ 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.

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

Hybrid Pottery to Go – Raku

Sessions Available Each Month

December Firing: Pick-up: Nov. 3; Drop-off: Nov. 19; Raku Fire: Dec. 8

January Firing: Pick-up: Dec. 1; Drop-off: Dec. 17; Raku Fire: Jan. 8

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

November ~ Pick up: November 3; Return: November 19

December ~ Pick up: December 1; Return: December 17

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