Welcome to the May Carter Pottery Studio!

Join us for our excellent instruction in the new May Carter Pottery Studio. This is the Academy's first studio actually built for clay, jewelry, and warm glass fusing. Our new facility continues crafts instruction that was housed for years at the Fine Arts Center, and for the past several years at an offsite location. Pottery and other fine crafts now have a home at the Academy!

We offer classes for all ages with an excellent staff of instructors. Our Outreach Program for young people continues, and we have plans to expand this aspect of our programming in the new studio. Our Academy Studio Potters, a group of potters associated with the Pottery Studio over a long period will continue to offer a Holiday and a Mother's Day Pottery Sale in the spring and fall.

For Information about our program and/or any questions, please contact May Carter - (434) 528-3256, ext. 316 or email pottery@academyfinearts.com

Classes for all ages and levels (for full description and registration see Classes). Any student may apply for scholarship financial help.

Pottery Studio School

ALL AGES-Our pottery/fine crafts studio program has students from age 6 to students in their 80's! So whatever your age and whatever you think you can or can't do, join us to learn a new skill or refresh your old skills from our excellent instructors in the new May Carter Pottery Studio. This is the Academy's first studio actually built for clay, jewelry, and glass fusing. Our new facility continues crafts instruction that was housed for years at the Fine Arts Center. Come try us out!

*** CHILDREN'S POTTERY STUDIO CLASSES **** Instruction is available for ages 6 to 14. Teens 15 and up can attend adult classes. All supplies and firing are included in the class fee. Kids Clayworks: 1122 Session A-Wild Things Class Date Register By Time Age Instructor Fee Registration Notes Mons, Jan 12-Feb 2 4-5:15pm 6-9 Jill Campbell $60 REGISTER NOW It is hard to find a child who doesn't enjoy working with clay! You will learn hand-building with clay as well as decorating with colorful glazes and slips in this fun class. You will make sculptures and imaginative projects. Kids Clayworks: 1123 Session B-Castles & Dragons Class Date Register By Time Age Instructor Fee Registration Notes Mons, Feb. 23-Mar 16 4-5:15pm 6-9 Jill Campbell $60 REGISTER NOW It is hard to find a child who doesn't enjoy working with clay! You will learn hand-building with clay as well as decorating with colorful glazes and slips in this fun class. You will make sculptures and imaginative projects. Young Potters: 1124 Session A-Goblets, Valentine tiles to decorate Class Date Register By Time Age Instructor Fee Registration Notes Weds, Jan 14-Feb 4 4-6pm 10-13 Donna Headley, Jane Garrett $95 REGISTER NOW Prepare to be challenged in a good way in this class for older kids! Throwing on the potter's wheel will be introduced as well as handbuilding projects. You will learn to decorate and glaze your own work. Both sessions will make a bowl to donate to the Empty Bowls Project. Young Potters: 1125 Session B-Weave clay into a bread basket, make BOWLS and more. Class Date Register By Time Age Instructor Fee Registration Notes Weds, Feb 18-Mar 11 4-6pm 10-13 Donna Headley, Jane Garrett $95 REGISTER NOW Prepare to be challenged in a good way in this class for older kids! Throwing on the potter's wheel will be introduced as well as handbuilding projects. You will learn to decorate and glaze your own work. Both sessions will make a bowl to donate to the Empty Bowls Project.

Special Event

Empty Bowls Project Class Date Register By Time Age Instructor Fee Registration Notes Sat, Mar 7 12-2 suggested donation of $15 REGISTER NOW The basic idea for Empty Bowls is simple. Participants create ceramic bowls, then serve a simple meal of soup and bread. Guests choose a bowl to use that day and to keep as a reminder that there are always Empty Bowls in the world. In exchange for a meal and the bowl, the guest gives a suggested donation of 15 dollars. All proceeds beyond our expenses will go to a local hunger organization. All our clay classes will have a class session dedicated to making bowls for this event, plus we will be having community groups in for bowl making sessions. If your church, school, or other community group is interested in participating by having a bowl making session, please contact May Carter (434-528-3256 ext. 316) Making Empty Bowls: #1126 Session A Class Date Register By Time Age Instructor Fee Registration Notes Sat, Jan 10 10-11:30am 5+ $7.50 REGISTER NOW Making Empty Bowls: #1127 Session B Class Date Register By Time Age Instructor Fee Registration Notes Sat, Jan 24 10-11:30am 5+ $7.50 REGISTER NOW Making Empty Bowls: #1128 Session C Class Date Register By Time Age Instructor Fee Registration Notes Sat, Feb 14 10-11:30am 5+ $7.50 REGISTER NOW Participants of all ages can make a handmade bowl to donate to the Academy's Empty Bowl Project. You will learn basic clay forming techniques, decorate your bowl, and feel good about donating your time and talents to a worthy cause! Experienced throwers can come prepared to work on the potter's wheel. Come to the Empty Bowls event to see your finished work on display. The fine print: you must preregister, and the $7.50 charge helps cover our materials and firing expenses. Children under 9 should come with a parent or other adult.

Adult Pottery

Note: All adult class fees include clay, studio glazes, firing and some open studio access to the pottery studio (studio will be open most Sats when no other classes are scheduled). #1129 Beginning/Intermediate Potteryam Class Date Register By Time Age Instructor Fee Registration Notes Tues, Jan 13-Mar 3 9:30am-12pm adult Kat Antis $175 REGISTER NOW Beginners as well as those with some experience in clay will enjoy this class. Assignments will cover handbuilding and wheel throwing projects geared to the skill levels of the class. There will be an emphasis on building new skills for returning students. 25# clay, glazes, and firing included. #1130 Beginning/Intermediate Potterypm Class Date Register By Time Age Instructor Fee Registration Notes Tuesdays, Jan 13 - Mar. 3 6:30-9pm 15+ Kat Antis $175 REGISTER NOW Beginners as well as those with some experience in clay will enjoy this class. Assignments will cover handbuilding and wheel throwing projects geared to the skill levels of the class. There will be an emphasis on building new skills for returning students. 25# clay, glazes, and firing included. #1131 Independent Project Pottery Class Date Register By Time Age Instructor Fee Registration Notes Weds, Jan 7-Mar 4 9:30am- 12:30pm adult May Carter $185 REGISTER NOW Students work independently on projects of their own choosing with help and guidance from instructor. There will be an emphasis on bowl making and on improving handles. Both wheel and handbuilding potters are welcome. Cone 10 clay and glazes are used, but majolica and cone 6 glazes are also available. Note that you may enroll in one meeting of this class and the class below "Onesies"-see under Short Takes for more information. #1132 Intermediate/ Advanced Pottery Class Date Register By Time Age Instructor Fee Registration Notes Weds, Jan 7 - Mar 4 6:30-9:30pm 14+ May Carter $185 REGISTER NOW Come to class with your project ideas! There will be class demonstrations and projects based on student requests plus an emphasis on improving handles and feet on both thrown and handbuilt pots, as well as a special bowl making session. This class is about building your skills: both learning new techniques as well as refining skills. 25# clay, glazes, and firing included. #1133 New! Tiles and Mosaics Class Date Register By Time Age Instructor Fee Registration Notes Mons, Jan 12-Feb 23 (skips Feb.16) 9:30am-12pm 15+ Jane Garrett, Karen Langseth $145 REGISTER NOW You will be learning tile decorating techniques using bisqued tiles and tiles that you make. Using both these tiles and commercial tiles you will learn basic mosaic techniques. Mirror frames, trivets, flower pots and bird baths are possible projects. Supplies for tile glazing and firing included in fee. Frames and/or concrete items for mosaic projects will be purchased by students

Jewelry

#1134 Jewelry Making Projects Class Date Register By Time Age Instructor Fee Registration Notes Thus, Jan. 15-Feb. 19 7-9pm 15+ Liz McCormack $165 REGISTER NOW Jewelry making skills covered in this intermediate level class include basic soldering, stone setting and wire wrapping. Finished projects can include pendants, earrings, bracelets and rings. All tools and silver provided. #1135 Precious Metal Clay Introduction Class Date Register By Time Age Instructor Fee Registration Notes Sat, Jan 31 and Sun, Feb. 1 Sat: 12-4pm. Sun: 1-3pm 15+ Ariel Parker $125 REGISTER NOW This is a refresher/introduction topmC with a variety of standard and NEW projects: stone setpmC ring, link bracelet using stamps, hollow beads and more. There will be both torch firing and kiln firing techniques covered-the Sun meeting will allow time to finish the kiln fired pieces. What ispmC? - Precious Metal Clay is similar to child's clay or ceramics clay except it consists of finely pulverized particles of fine silver suspended in an organic binder to create a pliable material that can be worked. When heated to a high temperature the metal particles fuse, forming a solid fine silver object. Fee includes use of tools in class-fee forpmC materials is included.

Kiln Fired Glass

#1136 Introduction to Kiln Fired Glass Class Date Register By Time Age Instructor Fee Registration Notes Mons, Jan 12-Feb. 2 6:30-9pm 14+ Lib Elder $125 REGISTER NOW You will be introduced to the colorful world of kiln fired glass in this class. Starting with basic fusing techniques, your projects which will include a choice of jewelry pendants, sun catchers, and coasters. You will learn about glass for fusing, how to load the kiln, and firing schedules. Fee includes most materials including specialty glass, and firing costs. If large projects are done an extra fee will be charged. #1137 Intermediate Kiln Fired Glass Class Date Register By Time Age Instructor Fee Registration Notes Mons, Feb. 9-Mar 9 (skips Feb 16) 6:30-9pm 14+ Lib Elder $125 REGISTER NOW if you have taken the introductory class or one of our sampler classes, join us to progress to multistep projects which will involve both fusing and slumping (multiple firings) making possible projects such as vases, bowls and plates. Fee includes most materials including specialty glass, and firing costs. Larger projects will require an additional fee. Intermediate to Advanced Kiln Fired Glass Prerequisite: you must have taken a beginning glass class. Note for both classes: Fee includes a part of the total glass cost: students will be charged based on additional glass used. #1138 Session A Class Date Register By Time Age Instructor Fee Registration Notes Thus, Jan 8-29 10am-12:30pm 14+ Lib Elder $125 REGISTER NOW In this session the focus will be on creating a series of pieces based on a common theme. The emphasis will be on exploring different techniques and combination of techniques to communicate the theme in different ways. Your theme can be anything: it can be a series of similar items, or a series of similarly decorated diverse items, or a series with common colors applied to similar or diverse items; your only limit is your imagination. Students will be asked to provide a description of their theme in the first class along with a broad plan for execution in order for the instructor to efficiently plan kiln usage. #1139 Session B Class Date Register By Time Age Instructor Fee Registration Notes Thursdays, Feb 5 -26 10am-12:30pm 14+ Lib Elder $125 REGISTER NOW This session will focus on creating a small number of larger fused and slumped projects by first making different individual art elements to be incorporated into the final pieces. Returning students may wish to do "Grand Finale" pieces to compliment the theme pursued in the first session; multiple panels to display as a unit, or larger slumped pieces

Short Takes

Are sampler classes that let you try out a new medium or complete a project in one meeting (sometimes two). "Onesie" Clay Sessions Want to keep your hands in clay, but don't have time for a weekly class? Sign up for single class sessions of our Independent Projects class or Intermediate/Advanced Pottery (see above). It's recommended to sign upmre than one to allow time for finishing and glazing. Pre-registration required. Clay purchase is a separate fee. #1140 Onesie Evenings Class Date Register By Time Age Instructor Fee Registration Notes Wed, Jan 6-Mar 3 6:30-9:30pm adult May Carter $25 REGISTER NOW #1141 Onesie Day Class Date Register By Time Age Instructor Fee Registration Notes Wed, Jan 7-Mar 4 adult May Carter $25 REGISTER NOW #1142 Jewelry Sampler Class Date Register By Time Age Instructor Fee Registration Notes Sat, Feb 7 9:30am-12pm 10+ Liz McCormack $55 REGISTER NOW Bring your daughter, granddaughter or friend and learn cold forming techniques to make beautiful handmade jewelry. These weekend workshops are perfect for beginners. Tools and silver provided. #1143 Fused Glass Sampler Class Date Register By Time Age Instructor Fee Registration Notes Sat, Jan 31 10am-12:30pm 10+ Lib Elder $35 or bring a friend $30 each REGISTER NOW ("Friends" must sign up at the same time) Try out glass fusing in this quick and easy class, and pick up your beautiful completed projects the next week. You will learn a little about the fusing process, choose from several projects including both ornaments and/or small fused pieces appropriate for making into pins or pendants. Bring a friend or child ten or older and receive a class discount! All materials included. Valentine Suncatchers and pendents Special Clay Workshop Class Date Register By Time Age Instructor Fee Registration Notes Feb 21, 22 10am-4pm Cynthia Bringle $400 REGISTER NOW ("Friends" must sign up at the same time) Cynthia Bringle is the "potter's potter" who maintains a studio and gallery next to the Penland School of Crafts. Her forms have changed over the years but her philosophy of what makes a pot a pot remains steadfast: "What is a pot/a pot is not/just any gray bowl/a pot is a mood/of many hues/but most of all/a pot is to use." Her former students, describe Bringle's work at the wheel as "making the clay sing in a rhythm that is a dance between her hands and the clay." This workshop will focus on improving skills and design. A session on covered vessels and making lids fit will also be included.