Learn techniques or sharpen your skills with classes available for beginning and experienced potters. Classes take place in our robust pottery studio and 577 offers three kilns – wood, raku, and electric. Independent studio time is available for students who have successfully completed the adult six-week pottery course and with permission. Classes are taught by the 577 Pottery Studio Manager/Ceramic Artist and teaching fellows.
Upcoming Classes
Adult Pottery 6-Week Course
Wednesdays, October 19, 26; November 2, 9, 16, 30 ~ 2pm to 4pm
Thursdays, October 13, 20, 27; November 3, 10, 17 ~ 9:30am to 11:30am
Tuesdays, November 8, 15, 22, 29; December 6, 13 ~ 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.
The class instructor is Julie Beutler, Pottery Studio Manager and Ceramic Artist
Spoooooky Pottery Fun!
Thursday, October 6 ~ 5:30pm to 7:30pm
*This class is open to adults 18 and over, no prior clay experience is needed.
BOOOO! Time to deck the house out in fun and unique Halloween-themed decorations!
Join your instructors, Julie and Emily, for this hands-on class making a sugar skull-inspired wall hanging that is cute on your door, foyer, or porch! You will make 2 small lantern/candle holders using an extruded shape. Then you will be shown how to attach/decorate your holders with spooky-inspired pieces like bats, pumpkins, skeletons, Frankenstein, and witches!
We will walk you through the basics of slab construction and attaching/decorating your extruded pieces. Need ideas? We will have several options for you to view before you start your creative process.
This class is fun for first-timers or experienced potters!
Pinch Pot Snowmen
Friday, October 21 ~ 9am to 11am
*This class is open to adults 18 and over, no prior clay experience is needed.
Join your instructor, Julie, for this hands-on class to make adorable pinch pot-style snowmen. This is the perfect class for gift giving or your own decorations. We will walk through the basics of the snowman bodies, and then Julie will demonstrate different ways to accent them with several styles of scarves, hats, mittens, and other cute ideas.
Each student has the opportunity to make two snowmen, but if you prefer to make a highly detailed one, you are welcome to make just one! In addition, if you add snowman accessories you will get the opportunity to paint with underglazes and keep the clay body itself white like snow. Once finished, your snowmen will be fired, glazed in clear, and fired again by 577 with a pick-up scheduled about 14 to 16 days later.
This class is perfect for all levels, come play in the clay!
Clay Thumbprint Tree
Monday, October 24 ~ 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Wednesday, November 30 ~ 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 beautiful thumbprint tree using easy-to-learn slab and hand-building techniques! No clay experience is needed. Julie will walk you through each of the steps and our staff will glaze your tree green (or you can choose another color).
A beloved class, it is fun to make one for your holiday villages and displays. Choose green or white (other colors are available) for a cute evergreen-style tree that can be displayed all year long. Our staff will glaze your tree, and pick up will be around 14 to 18 days later just in time for your holiday decorating.
This class is perfect for all levels, come play in the clay!
Holiday Cookie Plates
Monday, November 7 ~ 5:30pm to 7:30pm
*This class is open to adults 18 and over, no prior clay experience is needed.
Join us for the fun class as you start your prep for the holiday season! In this class, we will make 2 round cookie plates, one for you and one to give as a gift ~ if you can part with it! We will show you how to roll your slabs, create the basic plate, and then how to make several different styles of decorations to get your creativity rolling.
Our staff will glaze the two plates in the colors you choose that night from a lovely selection of glazes. Pick-up will be around 14 to 18 days later just in time for cookies and gift giving.
This class is perfect for all levels, come play in the clay!
Clay Gingerbread House
Wednesday, November 9 ~ 5pm to 8pm
*This class is open to adults 18 and over, no prior clay experience is needed.
One of our most popular classes is back just in time for the holiday season. In this class, students will make a darling gingerbread house out of clay. No experience in clay work is necessary, as we will walk you through each step.
Students will be shown several techniques to create their own gingerbread house decorations, including how to make clay candies, shrubs, wreaths, windows, doors, snowmen, how to top it with “snow” and tips on how to make it light up.
Our staff will clear glaze your gingerbread house and pick-up will be around 14 to 18 days later.
This class is perfect for all levels, come play in the clay!
Pottery to Go – Hand Built Bowls
Multiple Dates – See below
Mandatory: MUST have successfully completed the 577 Adult Pottery 6 Week Class to participate.
In this “work from your home” class, we will supply you with all the tools and resources you need to make two to four bowls. The number of bowls is dependent on the style/size that you choose to make your pots.
You will be supplied with your choice of red or white clay, pottery tool kit, drywall and ware board, step-by-step instructions, and email support from Julie. You will also receive an email with “how to” videos on making a slab bowl, using a bowl mold, pinch pot bowl, or a coil pot bowl.
Pick-up Materials: Wednesday, October 5 ~ 8:30am to 4pm
Return Project: Thursday, October 20 ~ 8:30am to 4pm
Pottery to Go – Penguin & Baby Polar Bear
Multiple Dates – See below
Mandatory: MUST have successfully completed the 577 Adult Pottery 6 Week Class to participate.
Celebrate winter with adorable penguins and baby polar bears perfect for your home or give one (or all) as a gift.
In this “work from your home” class, we will supply you with all the tools and resources you need to make at least two of each animal using pinch pot or slab techniques. You will be supplied with clay, pottery tool kit, drywall and ware board, step-by-step instructions, and email support from Julie. You will also receive an email with “how to” videos.
Polar bears will be glazed clear or white and penguins in clear. Optional underglazes would be a great add-on if you plan to add things like scarves, hats, etc. to your pieces.
Pick-up Materials: Tuesday, November 1 ~ 8:30am to 4:30pm
Return Project: Thursday, November 17 ~ 8:30am to 4:30pm
Hybrid Pottery to Go – Raku
Multiple Dates – See below
Mandatory: MUST have successfully completed the 577 Adult Pottery 6 Week Class to participate.
Join us for the last raku of 2022! This class will be a hybrid of our popular “work from home” classes where you will make all the pieces at home (four to six pieces) and then join us for an in-person outdoor firing of the raku kiln.*
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 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. Important: After completing your projects you will receive an email about signing up for your raku firing day shift ~ you will be able to choose between early afternoon or evening on December 5.
Pick-up Materials: Tuesday, November 1 ~ 8:30am to 4pm
Return Project: Thursday, November 17 ~ 8:30am to 4pm
Raku Firing: Monday, December 5 ~ 2pm to 8pm
Mugs!
Monday, October 17 ~ 5:30pm to 8pm
Mandatory: MUST have successfully completed the 577 Adult Pottery 6 Week Class to participate.
New class! Join Julie and Emily for this new class all about mugs! With so many fun options and varieties of mugs to try, they will walk you through either one hand-built and one thrown mug or two hand-built mugs.
You will receive demos and tips on making hand-built mugs by either extruder or slab. Students will share time on the wheel to give each participant who would like a chance to make a thrown mug the opportunity if they would like to make one of each style. Don’t worry! Even if you are new to the wheel, you will do just fine because we will be there to help. We will also discuss how to make a good handle, placement, lips, and basic construction.
Supervised Indie Time
Tuesday, October 11 ~ 1pm to 3pm
Wednesday, November 16 ~ 10am to 12pm
Mandatory: MUST have successfully completed the 577 Adult Pottery 6 Week Class to participate.
Join Julie or Emily for these casual supervised classes perfect for you to work independently on your projects where you can use the table, extruder, slab roller, and practice your skills on the potter’s wheel. We will be in the studio to help answer questions, remind you of techniques or where things are, and help give you inspiration/guidance on a project.
Supervised Indie Time with Emily
Wednesday, September 28 ~ 9am to 11am
Thursday, October 6 ~ 1pm to 3pm
Mandatory: MUST have successfully completed the 577 Adult Pottery 6 Week Class to participate.
Join Emily, our new Pottery Fellow, 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. We 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.
Half Day Throwing
Tuesday, October 4 ~ 1pm to 4pm
Wednesday, October 26 ~ 5:30pm to 8:30pm
Friday, October 28 ~ 9am to 12pm
Thursday, November 10 ~ 1pm to 4pm
Monday, November 14 ~ 5:30pm to 8:30pm
Mandatory: MUST have successfully completed the 577 Adult Pottery 6 Week Class to participate.
Practice your skills on the wheel in this intensive study class with Julie & Emily. 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 or Emily, 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.
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.