ABOUT CLASSES
We have two 14-week class sessions at the Potters Guild, one in the fall and the other in the winter months. They are scheduled for one evening per week for three hours (7-10 PM). There are two separate class groups, each with up to 12 students. Classes include 21 lab hours when students may choose to work at the Guild outside of the class hours.
SPECIAL NOTE If you register for a class, you will be asked to show proof that you have received COVID vaccinations plus at least one booster prior to the first class. Currently masks are required when the transmission rate in Washtenaw County is HIGH.
QUESTIONS? Send an email to pgregistrar@gmail.com If you would like to see the facilities, this can be arranged by sending an email to the Registrar, Mary Avrakotos.
STUDENT EMAIL LIST If you are interested in taking a class, please complete the form on our Student Email List to receive a notification when registration for our classes begins. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.
FEES The class fee is $475 and includes clay, glaze materials, kiln firing and lab hours. If you need to cancel your registration, we make every effort to provide a full refund minus a $25 handling fee, provided we are able to fill the vacant spot. Should the space remain unfilled we apologize, but we will be unable to provide a refund.
SCHOLARSHIP A $200 scholarship is available for each class session. To apply, send a short statement of financial need and your artistic goals to pgregistrar@gmail.com. The scholarship deadline for fall classes is June 1, 2023.
THE ORIGIN OF IDEAS
with Debbie Thompson
Tuesdays, January 16 to April 16, 2024 7:00 to 10:00
Student Show: Friday, April 19
$475 includes materials, firing and studio time
Class is currently full. Please check back next semester.
This class is a continuation of the Fall 2023 session. Personal artistic growth is encouraged as well as a vigorous exploration of ideas. We will continue to examine where ideas originate; how to document and implement them. The fundamentals of design will be reviewed throughout the class to guide our decision making in creating pieces while combining form and function. Techniques in hand building and wheel throwing will be covered. We will explore construction techniques, fine-tune technical skills and work on glazing proficiency. Students may produce functional work, sculptural work, or both. The class is designed for students at all levels.
About the Artist
Debbie took classes at Cranbrook Academy of Art while in high school and followed her passion for the visual arts by receiving a BFA from the University of Michigan and a MFA from Eastern Michigan University. She has participated in post-graduate studio classes at the Chicago Art Institute, Maryland Art Institute and Arrowmont School of Art and Design. She taught visual arts in the Ann Arbor Public Schools and at the University of Michigan and Washtenaw Community College. Currently she works full time focusing on her own work exhibiting locally as well as nationally. Her inspiration often comes from the natural world, a source she describes as magical.
THROWING & HAND BUILDING
with Elliott Kayser
Tuesdays, January 18 to April 18, 2024 6:30 to 9:30
Student Show: Friday, April 19
$475 includes materials, firing and studio time
Class is currently full. Please check back next semester.
In this class students work with sculptor and functional potter, Elliott Kayser. The class starts with exploring intermediate and advanced throwing techniques including: throwing and altering, assembling multiple parts, handles, and surface design. Students are expected to know the fundamentals of throwing and trimming for this class. The second half of the class focuses on basic hand building techniques, and is geared towards those new to hand building, or for those looking to pick up a few new tricks to refine their studio practice. The hand building portion of the class covers slab building, modeling, and an introduction to making and using press molds.
About the Artist
Elliott is a sculptor and most recently a Production Manager for Sarah Kersten Studios in Oakland, CA. He received a BFA from Alfred University in 2007 and MFA in Ceramics from Arizona State University in 2017. Elliott has worked in the ceramic industry and academia in addition to pursuing his own sculpting career. Over the past decade, his art has been about the values learned from volunteering on family farms, taking care of both the animals and the people within the agricultural community.
QUESTIONS? Send an email to pgregistrar@gmail.com
If you would like to see the facilities, this can be arranged by sending an email to the Registrar, Mary Avrakotos.
A testimonial from one of our students:
My experience as a first time student at the Guild was such a wonderful and fulfilling experience. The community welcomed me with open arms, warm hellos, and invaluable sharing of knowledge. I was so excited to enroll in the class, and due to my current financial state, the scholarship allowed me the ability to do so! I am deeply grateful for the generosity of the Guild and its granting me of the scholarship. Thank you to all those involved, I cannot describe how I've valued connecting with these incredible individuals, the resources, and this creative environment.
Alyse G. Ann Arbor