Red Star Studios

We went for date night and it was fun to try something new! A lot harder than it looks. I will say that I felt like our group as a whole needed more instruction or one on one help. Also, there wasn’t really a warm welcome, just, ok let’s get started. (no introduction or anything). Maybe playing some music would be fun, too. :)

Love this place. Especially because it was so unexpected. Sweetie surprised me with a Groupon for Red Star, knowing that I always enjoy trying something new and outside my comfort zone. (He is the same way, thank the stars.) The Groupon was this: $ 10 for two people ($ 5 each) for an introductory pottery class. I was expecting one of those paint your own pottery piece type of places. I was wrong. While such places can be fun, RS was so much better.
The class consisted of this. For the first hour, we received instruction about how to use a pottery wheel. For the second hour, we received instruction on hand-​forming a piece of pottery using several methods. Two hours, for two people, for $ 10. The regular price is $ 20 for two people– an incredible bargain!!! Go there. Now. You will have great fun.
I’ve always wanted to try using a pottery wheel, getting my hands all mucky and gunky with clay as the wheel spins. Let me tell you, it is soooo much fun. It was hands on, for the entire hour. I discovered that I have zero talent for such things, but I had a blast. Sweetie did too. I was wearing a dress, and ended up inadvertently plastering it with clay (the parts not covered by the provided apron, that is). Felt like a very happy four-​year-​old by the time I was done.
I also have no talent, it appears, for hand-​forming pottery. But, again, sooooo much fun. There was a great freedom and pleasure in expecting absolutely nothing of myself, quality-​wise. Just a kid mucking about with no cares or worries.
The instructor was excellent. Pleasant, patient, no hint of condescension (yay!). Never felt as if I were being judged for my breathtaking lack of ability. Can’t wait to go back and give the place another try.

I scored a Groupon for a ceramics class here. If you want to learn to throw on a pottery wheel, I can’t think of a better place to learn! The building is now housed in a warehouse by the train tracks right underneath the «Western Auto» sign downtown — but I’ve heard that they’re moving to a new building soon, somewhere further East in the Crossroads, I believe?
Tommy, the guy who runs the studio, is an excellent teacher. If you find yourself missing the wheel’s meditative spin (or, if you’re simply inspired by ‘Ghost,’ ha), sign up. You won’t regret it.

My sister in law lives in KC and I visit the Red Star Studio on a regular basis when we go down to visit. It is a very cool building that was converted from its original use of Red Star Yeast factory to a ceramic studio for ceramic artists. People can take classes and artists can rent space to make their ceramic work. They have a nice little gallery of ceramics and rotating shows and events on ceramics.
The neighborhood is very interesting as well. Over the years it has been transforming from a very run down area into a booming modern architectural experiment. Dozens of new state of the art contemporary houses have been built while many of the historic homes have been renovated. You can tell it is an artists haven as you drive around with lots of houses having sculpture and art all over the lawns and in the windows of the houses. If I ever moved to KC I would move to this area.