BMCA Clay Studio
Summer Classes July - August (2012)
The Black
Mountain Center
for the Arts Clay Studio is beginning a new set of six-week classes on Monday,
July 23. This session will end the week
of August 31. Classes for Adults are
offered on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, along with Drop-In Clay Days
for school ages through adults on certain Wednesdays.
For the true clay novice the class offered is Absolute
Beginner Adult clay class. It will meet
for six weeks on Friday mornings from 10 to noon, July 27 – August 31. Students will be guided through all the steps
of learning about the possibilities of clay, then hand building lessons and
finally approaching the wheel. At the
end of the class, these students will be prepared to join another Adult Clay
class with the basics learned. Charles
Freeland, BMCA Clay Studio Manager, will conduct this class for a minimum of
three students and a maximum of ten.
For those wanting an evening class they can attend after
work but be home before it’s late, local potter Cathy Babula teaches
beginner-to-experienced students on Mondays from 6-8 pm, July 23 – August
27. Other class times available are on
Tuesdays from 10 to noon, July 24 – August 28, with Freeland teaching for experienced
students, and an ongoing class on Thursdays from 4-6 pm with local potter Geoff
Bird of Morning Sky Pottery teaching beginner to advanced students. The classes with Babula and Freeland are date
specific; Bird’s class can be joined at any time for six sessions. As in all
Adult Clay classes, the tuition is $170 that includes 12 hours of lessons, lab
fee for clay, glazes and firing, and a schedule of Open Studio practice times
each week.
Babula is new to teaching at the BMCA Clay Studio. From a dream in high school to taking classes
at the BMCA Clay Studio beginning in 2008 to recently completing the 2-year
Associates Degree in the Professional Crafts-Clay program at Haywood Community College,
she has journeyed on a path to becoming a professional potter and clay
teacher. Her work is currently on
display at the Folk Art Center on the Blue
Ridge Parkway as part of the graduate exhibit from
HCC through September 2. By using her
horticulture degree from SUNY to inspire her surface designs on clay pots, and
using her experience as a corporate trainer in her teaching style, she has
learned to combine her creative talents and her love of teaching in the clay
classroom.
For experienced potters who are not looking for instruction
or a production studio, another option
is an Independent Study class. Students
are on their own, so must be approved by the Studio Manager. Their tuition of $100 covers six weeks of
studio time during Open Studio hours, plus glazing and firing. Clay is an additional cost.
On Wednesdays, July 11 and 25 and August 1, the Studio will
be open from 10 am – 4 pm for Drop-In Clay Day.
For a 2-hour minimum, anyone school age and up can enjoy getting their
hands in clay for hand building and underglazing. Cost is $30.
Elise Reed and Charles Freeland will lead the Clay Day classes. Register in the BMCA Office.
To register or for more information, come by the Center,
located at 225 W. State Street,
or call 828/669-0930. The BMCA Clay
Studio is located adjacent to the Center at the Dougherty St. parking lot.
