Clay Art Center is Reopening for In-Person Youth & Family Classes starting September 12th!

Have some fun this Fall with clay virtual lessons, artist talks & parties via Zoom for adults & youth. Although we have recently announced our reopening for in-person classes starting September 8 we also have a large selection of adult & youth virtual classes, parties and artist talks to enjoy from the comfort of your home. 

Registration is available on our website at www.clayartcenter.org

(New additions will be added regularly) 

Guest Ceramic Artist Talks & Demos

Learn from some of the top ceramic artists practicing today as they guide you through demos, studio tours and informative lectures. These adult ceramic sessions will cover a variety of topics to keep your clay interests fulfilled. 

Artist Talk with Kukuli Velarde: 30 Years of Clay -September 3, 7 – 8pm

Kukuli’s imaginative sculptures are vehicles of expression that frequently feature the artists own face, and are adorned with lively and intricate decorative details and motifs. Kukuli will discuss her work, her influences and her practice as a ceramicist and painter.

Emerging Artist Talk with Earlene Cox: America’s Enduring Burden – September 10, 7 – 8pm
In this event, Earlene will share some of her pieces of art and the inspiration behind them with the hope of enlightening others on the enduring impact slavery has had on the African American experience and how it has shaped the culture of America.

Artist Talk with Wesley Brown: Life into Work - September 17, 7 – 8pm
Brown will speak to how he uses the momentum of personal experiences to drive his work, the ways he has thought about creating, and how he approaches the studio today. His work over the years has ranged from functional to sculptural, and his most recent work has pushed the boundaries of form and materials to develop a body of large scale sculptural works.

Artist Talk with Kyle & Kelly Phelps: Race, Class & the Blue Collar – September 21, 7 – 8pm
These twin brothers grew up in Industrial Indiana and the sculptures they make are evocative of the people, trades and industries that are part of the story of the Rust Belt, and of the daily struggles of the communities within. The relationships between the workers and the jobs they do tell stories that cover the struggles of race, class and identity in the American MidWest.

Artist Talk with Doug Herren: Vessels and Structures – October 1, 7 – 8pm

Join Doug Herren as he talks about the development of his work from his start as a functional potter to his current body of sculptural work. Doug will show examples of his work over the years, along with process shots to describe how he approaches his work now. 

Artist Talk with Donte Hayes: Welcome to Afro City – October 27, 7 – 8pm

Donte's artworks suggest the past, discuss the present, and explores possible futures interconnected to the African Diaspora, while also examining deeper social issues that broaden the conversation between all of humanity. 

Virtual Adult Classes

You can continue your love of clay at home with our clay virtual classes for adults. Learn new skills to make a variety of beautiful objects for the home in our 5 week class – Pottery for Beginners or learn a special clay topic with our one-time classes Underglaze Techniques and Nichrome Wiring Your Ceramics. And new this Fall, our Handmade from Home series, designed for you to learn a new craft.  Finished work can be glazed and fired. Clay & tools curbside pick-up available in Port Chester, NY. Beginner’s Welcome. 

Intermediate Wheel Throwing, Wednesdays, 10 - 12pm, 7 weeks (Sept. 9 – Oct. 21) 

In this virtual class, students will explore a variety of techniques to achieve pots that are balanced technically and visually. Students must have access to a potters wheel. 

Pottery for Beginners, Wednesdays, 5 – 7pm, 5 weeks (Sept. 16 – Oct. 14) 

5 session virtual introductory course is your way to get started working with clay, even while at home. Explore a wide range of hand building techniques such as coil building, pinching, soft and hard slab construction along with basic surface decoration approaches. Using these skills, each student will make a variety of useful and beautiful objects for the home and kitchen. Trivets, vases & colanders are a few examples of projects that will be introduced during this course. 

Underglaze Techniques, Saturday, 10 – 12pm, September 26 

Use underglaze as a way to add another layer of dimension to your ceramic surfaces. Different applications and techniques will be gone over such as Mishima, Sgraffito & underglaze as watercolor. 

Nichrome Wiring Your Ceramics, Saturday, 10 – 12pm, October 17 

Nichrome wire is a wonderful way to add additional elements to your ceramic work, from handles, to hanging mechanisms, to fun appendages that come out into space. It is a great way to introduce another material to both your functional and sculptural work.

Handmade Home is a new series of classes and workshops designed for you to learn a new craft and enrich your home with a hand-made, personal ceramic object that is beautiful and functional. They make great gifts too! No experience necessary. Handmade Home this Fall includes lunch plate set, colander and bento box. 

Virtual Parties for Adults & Youth

Let Clay Art Center host your next virtual get together via Zoom. For adults ages 18+ - plan an upcoming birthday party, team building exercise or creative check-in with your friends. For kids ages 7 – teen - plan a fun and creative birthday party, scout meeting, school friends get together or weekly playdate. Clay kit curbside pickup available in Port Chester, NY. 

Virtual Youth Classes (Ages 7 to Teen) 

Looking for something creative for your kids to do from the comfort of your home. Sign up for one of our one-hour youth classes for ages 7 to teen. Our instructors will guide your child through a fun instructional clay project. Check our website in September for upcoming classes. Curbside clay pickup available at Clay Art Center or through Amazon or Michael’s curbside pickup. Beginner’s Welcome! 

In-Person Classes for Adults & Youth starting September 8 

We are looking forward to welcoming students back into the studio for a selection of adult & youth multi-week handbuilding and wheel classes for all skill levels from beginner to advanced. We are excited to bring back many of the same classes our students have come to love along with some new programs designed to expand your studio practice. Class sizes will be reduced to allow for social distancing along with strict studio protocols to ensure everyone’s safety. Registration is open on our website. www.clayartcenter.org 

Clay Art Center is a nationally recognized non-profit center for the advancement and practice of ceramic arts offering exhibitions, clay classes for adults and children, studio spaces for clay artists and outreach programs in the community.  It is located in the heart of Port Chester at 40 Beech Street, Port Chester, NY 10573. Join Clay Art Center for virtual classes or shop online at www.clayartcenter.org.