Come experience the rewarding process of working with clay and creating unique pieces! Beginner students will learn the fundamentals like handbuilding techniques of pinch, coil, and slab. Advanced students explore more complex forms, both functional and sculptural. Applied textures, colored slips, and glazing applications will be demonstrated as well.

Instructor M, Tu: Pedro Centeno
Instructor Sat: Paola Evangelista
Experience Level: All Levels
Materials fee for 25 lbs clay, glaze and firing payable to instructor: $35.
Tuition includes the use of the ceramic room during open studio hours as long as a student is enrolled in a clay class.

6 Mondays, September 24 - October 29, 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM



6 Tuesdays, September 25 - October 30, 6:00 – 8:30 PM



6 Saturdays, September 29 - November 3, 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Looking for something new and fun to do on a Friday night with friends or a significant other? Always wanted to try your hand at clay, but without the commitment of an 8-week class? Then our Friday night clay session is for you. Come play with clay for two hours, learning basic handbuilding techniques in a fun and supportive environment. Bring a bottle of wine, some snacks, and get creative!

Instructors: Pedro Centeno
Tuition: $39 per person includes materials and firing of one piece
Time: 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Become a Member of the FVAC Clay Co-op!
The goal of the Farmington Valley Arts Center Ceramics Studio Cooperative (the Co-op) is to give local residents the opportunity to work in a communal studio environment that is both well-equipped and stimulating. FVAC offers its functional ceramic studio to those who do not normally have access to ceramic facilities or home studios. Beyond offering the space and equipment, the Co-op supports an important need in our community. It is designed to bring ceramic makers together so that they can share ideas, techniques and experiences within a supportive and creative environment.

The FVAC Ceramics Studio Cooperative is available to potters of all levels of experience and commitment and will benefit from the broad range of skill sets its members bring to the studio. With your support and participation we expect the ceramics studio to continue developing as a dynamic place for students and Co-op Members to pursue their personal growth, while continuing to inspire and promote excellence in our Ceramics Program. We encourage artists to work and learn together and what better way than through a cooperative environment!

How do I join the Clay Co-op?
To join the Co-op you can register for a 1- month or 3-month block. Co-op members must register and pay in advance of all studio use. Once studio use has been scheduled, members will be given a brief mandatory orientation by the Ceramics Studio Manager regarding equipment use, guidelines, and liability, etc. The Ceramics Cooperative is available for beginners to experienced potters. Your membership gives you access to the studio, tools, equipment, glazes and limited firings.

Equipment
The FVAC Ceramics Studio houses several worktables, a wedging table, storage shelves, a slab roller, plenty of ware-boards and bats, plaster forms, an extruder and a plethora of tools for all stages of working. We have 2 electric kilns (only to be used by Studio Manager). The Ceramics Studio also offers a wide assortment of high-fire glazes and stains. Wheels be added soon!

Open hours of ceramic room, STUDIO 2A
Current students and Clay Co-op members may use the ceramic room during open studio hours. Students may ONLY use the studio during their current semester.

Studio hours* are
Mondays - 1:00pm to 4:30pm
Tuesdays - 10:00am to 5:30pm
Wednesdays - 10:00am to 5:30pm
Thursdays - 10:00am to 5:30pm
Fridays - 10:00am to 5:30pm
Saturdays - 2:30pm to 9:00pm
Sundays - 12:00pm to 9:00pm

*Hours are subject to change. Please check with the FVAC Google events calendar on our website to make sure no events are being held in Studio 2A.

There will be a sign-up sheet for all current students and Clay Co-op participants that use the studio. This will allow for the center to keep track of use and security purposes.

Clay Co-op Costs for not enrolled clay class students
$100 1 month membership
$200 3 month membership
$35 Clay fee for 25 lbs. clay, glazes and firing, only FVAC clay may be used. Fee includes a mandatory orientation regarding equipment use, guidelines, liability etc.

Rules
Use of studio is for clay work only. No other materials should be used as it could contaminate glazes, clay and or cause damage to equipment. Clay and glazes supplied by the FVAC are only to be used. No other clay body will be allowed to be fired in our kiln. Commercial glazes will be allowed with instructor’s approval. We fire to cone ^6, so please ensure that any commercial glazes are rated to cone ^6.

Firings will be scheduled throughout the semester. We will do our best to hold weekly firings. To ensure everyone gets their work in on time for firings there will be cut-off dates for wet work and glazing. Dates for those deadlines will be posted and announced by your instructor. Projects ready to be fired should be placed on dedicated shelving unit. Those units will be clearly labeled.

Scrap pieces of clay are to be disposed of properly. Dump scrap clay into the recycled clay bucket. Please reframe from pouring anything but water into the sink.

Students are to keep the classroom neat and organized. Please wipe down tables, extruder and any other pieces of equipment after use. Wash buckets, brushes, sponges and tools when done.