MEMBER NEWS

Important news and announcements regarding your membership.

This page is updated on the 1st and 10th of each month.

CLASS NEWS

Lesson Guide + Instructor Specialties

We've added a great list of possible class topics and which instructors excel at those topics. Take a look in the lesson guide! These are topics that we can cover in any regular class.

TOPIC CLASSES

Handbuilding: Topic classes with Jade

2 - 4 pm & 7 - 9 pm • Mondays

Join us for slip transfers, Nerikomi, cakes, and tea light houses! See Portal schedule for specific topic schedule.

Handbuilding: Slab-built classes with Iphis & Lindsey

2 - 4 pm • Saturdays

Join us for slab related projects! We will cover making and using slabs. Feel free to request slab related projects in each class!

Handbuilding: Alternative Techniques with Amanda

6 - 8 pm • Tuesdays & 2 - 4 pm • Mondays

Join us for alternative techniques with a range of materials while fully utilizing all of the stages of clay.

Adding Color to Glaze & Slip with Sean

6 - 8 pm • Wednesday 3/4

7 - 9 pm • Wednesday 2/18, 3/18

Join us in learning how to follow a glaze recipe while learning how to add color to glaze and slip!

SERIES CLASSES

Teapots with Sean

7 - 9 pm • Thursdays 3/5, 3/19, 4/2, and 4/16.

We will cover the details of teapots! We will focus on Taiwanese and gong fu cha style teaware.

*If you're not comfortable with jars, I suggest starting with Henry's series instead.

Jars with Henry

7 - 9 pm • Mondays 3/9, 3/23, 4/6, and 4/20.

Join us to learn about jars and how to make a great fitting lid.

Slip Decorating with Sean

7 - 9 pm • Wednesdays 2/11, 2/25, 3/11, 3/25

Join us for this menagerie of slip techniques. (No slip-casting)

Open Forms with Amanda

6 - 8 pm • Wednesdays 2/11, 2/25, 3/11, 3/25

Join us for this deep dive into bowls, plates, and platters!

Plaster Forms for Making Multiples with Jade

6 - 8 pm • Thursdays 1/15, 1/29, 2/5, 2/19; 3/5, 3/19, 4/2, 4/16

Join us in learning how to make and use plaster for press molds, two-part molds, and slip-casting!

We ask that you take a few minutes to read through the following guides.

If you have any questions, send us an email or ask in class.

WELCOME TO THE STUDIO

If you haven't logged into the portal before - Do NOT "sign-up". Use "forgot password?" to create a login password using the email that you enrolled with.

FAQ

I need to take a glazing class but I don't see any on the schedule?

Your glaze class can happen during any Basic-Skill Level or All-Skill Level classes! (See note below about skill level categories.) When signing up for this class just add “Glazing” to the notes.

I'd like to pause/ cancel my membership, how do I do that?

Memberships can be edited/paused/canceled up to three weeks before the start of that month using the member portal. If you'd like to pause for December, for example, you need to use the portal to hold by November 10th or earlier. Cancellations work the same way.

Cancelations will always be accompanied by a confirmation email. You'll see holds added to your membership in red text on your main portal page.

A class is full, do I have options?

Yes! Standard wheel and hand-building classes are drop-in friendly. Even if it's your first time to the studio, come to class anyway! It's helpful to arrive ~5 minutes early if you're dropping in.

IMPORTANT
UPDATES

Updated March 1

Reminder that it is your responsibility to stay up to date on studio news, policies, and changes that affect your studio participation.

Studio Signs and Cleaning Messes
- Since this is a shared community space, please be sure to keep an eye out for signs indicating the proper ways to use the space and most importantly, clean up after yourself. We've noticed an increased rate of left over messes. Leave a space just as clean or cleaner than you found it please! Thank you!

Upcoming Staff Day / Studio Closure
- Tuesday, March 10
  - We are open a minimum of 29 days per month. Most months contain one staff day in which the studio is closed to members. We use these days for cleaning, studio improvements, staff trainings, holidays, and events. These days vary month to month, but are almost never on a weekend.

Group Trip to Taiwan!
- Informational Zoom call on Tuesday, March 10th @ 6pm!
- If you're interested in learning more about visiting Taiwan in November, head over to the "Events" tab.

Glaze Mixing
- If you've taken a "Glaze Mixing" or "Adding Color to Glaze" class and need access to our glaze mixing Google Doc - please email so that we can share it.

Monthly Pot Toss: 3/15
- Fired works (bisqueware, glaze in-progress, glazeware) are routinely sorted and eventually placed on the discard shelf. The discard shelf is emptied once a month. Please double check for your work!

Kiln/Firing Reminders and News
- We don't provide furniture/supports. You'll need to provide your own jewelry stands and stilts if you'd like them. (Still subject to safe firing practice).
- Pots cannot be larger than 22" in any dimension. Large pots less than 22" may still take longer to get into a kiln.

Please review us on Google! It would be a huge help -
- REVIEW HERE

Membership Cancellation/ Hold policy reminder:
- When canceling your membership you'll receive an email from Gymmaster confirming.
- When holding your membership you'll see an "Upcoming Hold" note in red on your main member portal page.
- Please confirm that these exist when setting either up. We cannot honor "I know I canceled!" messages when we have no way of verifying the situation.

Sliding Scale Pricing Available
- We offer a discounted rate for members who've had at least 6 months of membership and need a bit of financial assistance.
- Prices are: $300/m for a recurring membership | $270/m for an 8-month commitment
- If you're interested and qualify, please email.

Bringing Friends!
- If you'd like to bring a friend, you're welcome to do so any time. We just have a couple of honor-based requests:
  - One friend at a time.
  - They shouldn't come when the studio is particularly busy/ they shouldn't take a wheel from a member when all of the other wheels are full.
  - The purpose is to show your friend a bit about what clay is about! One or two times per friend max.

Big Tax News:
- Seattle enacted law ESSB 5814 which means that memberships are now subject to sales tax. We sincerely apologize for this new price increase.
- We understand that this may be a burden for many of you and we are working with our accountant and the Dept of Revenue to see how we may be able to reduce that burden. For now, you'll see a 10.55% tax added to all future membership charges.
- If you're as disappointed as we are, I suggest raising your concern with your local representative.

Don't forget that standard wheel and hand-building classes are drop-in friendly! It's helpful to arrive ~5 min early if you're dropping in.

This is a community studio. Please be conscious and respectful of your fellow studio mates.

Please be careful and caution around other people's work in the studio. When navigating around shelfs and the greenware area please be extra cautious not to bump other people's work. And if you do, please leave a note! Accidents happen, just say sorry. :)

Remember that class times are specifically set up for you. If you need help with anything please sign up for a class. We love sharing our knowledge.

The Center For Community Ceramics (501(c)3)

Donations graciously accepted here
Volunteers needed! Sign-Up Form Here

EVENTS

MARCH

A Journey Shaped by Earth and Fire - TAIWAN

Informative Zoom meeting Tuesday, March 10th @ 6pm

LINK TO JOIN (WILL BE ACTIVE THE DAY OF THE ZOOM)

Planters and Vases Making Party

6 pm • Thursday 3/12 • N Studio

Join us the 2nd Thursday of March for an event similar to our Empty Bowls parties from the past. Clay and instruction will be provided for throwing/handbuilding planters and vases for our upcoming fundraiser in May!

APRIL

Artist Talk: Sean Forest Roberts

7 pm • Thursday 4/9 • S Studio

Reception to follow with Forest Ceramic Co. owner & manager!

South Studio Gallery: The Banana Show

April 9 - May 6 • S Studio

Throughout February and March, members are invited to create work inspired by the most divine fruit of them all: the banana! The studio is currently equipped with a few banana shaped press molds, ask Jade about borrowing one to press your own banana! Banana themed functional ware and other banana inspired projects are welcome too. To participate in the show, please sign up here.

November

A Journey Shaped by Earth and Fire -

November 8th - November 21st: TAIWAN

(Dates approx.)

Through connections made on Sean's recent trip to Taiwan, we will be returning with a group for an amazing ~2 week excursion.

The trip will be primarily in Tainan and hosted by Chin Chin Pottery.

Take a look at the brochure!

We are still looking into arrangements to add a couple of days in Taipei -- but the trip in Tainan will include:

A multi-day teapot workshop (hand-building and/or wheel-throwing) with world renowned potter, Prof Ching Yuan Chang.
- The pots will be fired in a gas kiln ready to take home by the end of the trip.
An overnight trip up the mountains to Alishan on an old train to visit tea farms and understand indigenous culture.
And experience the charm and food of Tainan, a popular tourist destination for Japanese and Australian tourists!
And more -

Price TBD

Informative Zoom meeting on March 10th @ 6pm to discuss interest and preferences.

STUDIO
ACCESS GUIDE

Reminder that it is your responsibility to stay up to date on studio news, policies, and changes that affect your studio participation.

Door/ Access Information
- Access to the studio requires a code. That code will be emailed to you in our bi-monthly emails on the 1st and the 10th. Please do not share that code with anyone.

Hours
- The studio is accessible from 8 am until 11 pm 7 days a week. (The doors will not permit access after 10:45pm).
  - There is a studio security alarm. It's very important to vacate the building no later than 11 pm.
  - Failure to leave the building by 11 pm may result in a $100 fine.
- The studio is staffed between 12 pm - 9 pm on weekdays and 10 am - 6 pm on weekends.
- If you'd like to purchase clay/materials outside of our staffed hours, just email or text with your name and what you're buying.

Notes
- Please do not leave written notes for staff at the studio*. If you have a message then please text or email.
- *Notes on the firing shelf are okay but please leave your full name.

Studio Lights
- In the morning, feel free to turn on any lights that you’d like. Light switches are pretty easy to find.
- The large overhead lights in the North studio take a few minutes to turn on. Once you flip the switch, just wait.
- In the evening, as staff leave at 9 pm we will check in with remaining members and turn off unused lights. If you’re the last one to leave please close door and turn off the lights!

MEMBER PORTAL - class sign up