Seward Park Clay Studio

What a great find with a fantastic location and all local artists! They only have the pottery sale twice a year I believe (right before Christmas and in the spring) but definitely worth checking out when they do!

This is an amazing ceramic studio with the BEST teachers in town. Ive been a fan of this gem for over 10 years, and I’m only 26. If you are looking for a place to create art — look no further. When you sign up for a quarter long class, you can come and work during open studio, which is every day! Its awesome. Fun people, making art — in my mind, it doesn’t get better than that. Check their website for upcoming classes, and don’t miss their AMAZING holiday sale — usually runs dec 1 – 24, the best deals on fine art! The opening party is a blast!

Hobbyists need not apply.
I meet several folks here and everyone was friendly until I finally got to met the director. What a pompous ass. He stood me up for our first interview. The lack of professionalism should have warned me off right there. When he did show up for the second interview he dismissed me out of hand. My «interview» lasted less than five minutes and I was asked exactly zero questions. None. Zip. Nada. Instead I was lectured about my lack of ability to contribute to the studio.
Somehow this self important wind bag had decided without the aid of anything more than lecturing me that I am not capable of contributing. What he based his opinion on I couldn’t tell you — but it wasn’t actually speaking to me, he didn’t speak with me. He did talk at me. It wasn’t from looking at my work — he didn’t see any of my work.
Now keep in mind I having been a potter for years. Granted a weekend potter but a potter nonetheless. I have developed an affinity for glaze development and correspond regularly with some of the top potters in the nation on the subject. John Britt, Richard Aerni, Steven Hill. My work is good enough to discuss with these folks — but not Seward Park Clay. Their loss.
I was told I needed to develop a body of work and create a portfolio before I would be considered. Now that sounds reasonable to me. For a professional artist. I am a weekend potter. I am not creating a body of work. I am having fun. I am not building a portfolio. I am potting to forget my day job. The moment that clay becomes a second job — exactly what this place demands — I stop working in clay and take up a different hobby.
If you’re not a professional artist look elsewhere. They do not welcome weekend potters. Of course if you are a professional you probably want somewhere with more room anyway. Either way find a friendly place — the little Napoleon running this place is really a piece of work.

Sitting on the lake is a fantastic ceramics workshop. We went to their «Beer Stein» auction last night. Bluegrass music, incredible pizza cooked in the kilns, and buckets of beer, this clay studio knows how to throw down.
The historic building seems to have a good amount of space for classes. Their was a really relaxed positive air about the attendees.
The night ended with the bluegrass band playing Sweet Child of Mine, Seward Park Clay Studio rock on!