LEARN handbuilding & OTHER TECHNIQUES

open pottery with mary mertes

EVErY Tuesday & Wednesday | 3-5p or 5:30-7:30p (unless noted above)

COST $15 / hour per person includes:
  • Instructor guidance
  • Clay for the first 2 sessions. After the first 2 sessions, 25-pound bags of clay may be purchased for $25. Purchased clay should be clearly labeled and stored in the studio. Pay when you arrive, cash or check.
  • Use of studio tools and equipment
  • Bisque firing in kiln
  • Assortment of glazes
  • Glaze firing in kiln
INSTRUCTOR Mary Mertes
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED First come/first served. Reservations must be made by 10a day of and indicate pottery wheel, hand-building with clay, trimming or glazing. If needed, please call in as far in advance as possible to cancel the reservation. An individual from the waiting list will be moved into the Open Studio.
​PARKING After 5p, park behind the building and ring door bell at back door for the entrance.
  • Activities in the pottery studio include using the pottery wheel (Intro to the Pottery Wheel course required*), hand building with clay, and glazing pottery.
  • ​Children age 15 and younger need to be accompanied by an adult or receive prior approval.
  • Only clay purchased at CWCC or clay having prior instructor approval may be used. This will protect the kiln and others’ artwork during kiln firing.
  • Attendees are required to clean up their space after each use.
*Current Intro to the Pottery Wheel courses available on our Classes page

intro to the

pottery wheel with mary mertes

first & third Monday of the month | 3-5p or 5:30-7:30p

COST $35/person includes 2 hours of instruction, clay, and tools needed. Does not include Open Pottery costs to trim & glaze.
Join instructor Mary Mertes to throw a bowl on the pottery wheel. Mary will guide you on how to arrange your pottery wheel workspace, clay, water, and tools. Then you will center your clay on the wheel, shape the walls, and finish the rim of your bowl. You will then learn to cut your bowl free from the pottery wheel. To finish your project, you will return approximately one week after (during Open Pottery times) to trim your bowl and then approximately three weeks later to glaze your bowl. (More info about Open Pottery can be found above.) If you have further questions on when to return, due to firing, please ask Mary during your intro course.
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Once you complete this introductory pottery wheel course, you will be able to reserve the pottery wheel during Open Pottery sessions.
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​SKILL LEVEL Beginner
SUPPLIES All supplies provided. Aprons will be provided as this can be a messy process.
CLASS SIZE Limit of 3 students per session.
​ROOM LOCATION Pottery Studio​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​​REGISTRATION ONLY AVAILABLE HERE

DAY STUDIO (ON YOUR OWN)

To be eligible to attend Day Studio students must first attend at least one 2-hour open studio with Mary and her approval to work independently “on your own” in the Day Studio.

Day Studio hours are Tuesday/Wednesday 10:30a-3p and Thursday 10:30a-4:30p, unless there are other scheduled pottery classes during that time. Attendees are encouraged to call ahead to check the schedule and make a reservation in the Day Studio. 
COST $15 / hour per person includes:​
  • Use of studio tools and equipment
  • Bisque firing in the kiln
  • Assortment of glazes
  • Glaze firing in kiln
REMINDER Attendees must use CWCC clay or clay with prior instructor approval. This is to protect the kiln and others’ artwork during the kiln firing. 25-pound bags of clay may be purchased for $25. Purchased clay should be clearly labeled and stored in the studio.