Morean Center for Clay

a wonderful place! If it weren’t for the extremely ill-​mannered manager, Valerie Scott Knaust, I would give it five stars.

I went here for Meet the Chefs St Pete. We got to the event early so we were able to walk around the clay shop/​school. The area is pretty large. I hope to take a pottery class there soon.
There was a wide open area for the event. The event space also had an outside patio. There’s seating below on a grassy area with picnic tables as well. The event itself was really fun. We had meals from different restaurants all with beer pairings.

Things must have changed since the first review. The whole front half of the building is packed with finished clay items. Great place to go whether to buy of just admire.
The first time I went only a couple of artists were working. The second time there were perhaps six.
All were willing to talk a bit about their work, some a lot more than a bit. I previously thought of clay in terms of bowls and cups. So statues and such were a surprise to me.
Some days the center offers a beginner class. I thing the term is spinning. Anyway, people end up with something simple they made themselves.
I have visited twice now and will visit again.
Five stars because I can’t imagine a better combo museum art sales place and artists workshop. Places that just do one can beat it in a single category.

Located at 22^nd Street South in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Morean Arts Center for Clay is housed in the Historic Seaboard Train Station along with St. Petersburg Clay Company and Highwater Clays. Also onsite at the Train Station are a variety of kilns including the legendary Anagama kiln built by master potter Don Reitz.
Since our brochure for the Chihuly included this address, we decided to check it out. It’s a pretty cool location, and the first thing you will see are all the outdoor kilns. Very cool. The center is toward the back of the complex, and when we walked in, we saw no one. We looked at a very limited number of pieces on the wall. We saw numerous potter’s wheels through a door… But we saw not a living soul. We ducked through a door to Highwater Clays (
), which is an supply store for those who work in clay. We later learned this location is more about teaching, not retailing. If you are in the area, you should visit the St. Petersburg Clay Company (
), which houses numerous artists and has many many many items for sale.
If you are doing the Morean tour (St. Petersburg Arts Experience*), your ticket will include entry to the Morean Center for Clay. The cool thing about the tour ticket, is that you have 30 days to visit the four locations (however you can only visit each location once).
There is the Chihuly Collection (
), there is the «Morean Arts Center» (
), there is the «Morean Glass Studio & Hotshop» (
), and there is the «Morean Center for Clay» (
).
* We found a $ 2 off coupon for the St. Petersburg Arts Experience in one of the local Welcome Guide-​Map brochures.