Bewitched by clay

Let clay cast its spell over you in our classes starting in October/November. These classes welcome both new and continuing students. If you are a prospective student, enroll now to experience the irresistible allure of clay. If you are a continuing student, keep your momentum rolling in our upcoming classes. And if we haven't seen you in a while, now is a great time to take a class and rekindle your interest in clay. To get into the class (or classes!) you want, sign up on line and reserve your spot today . Here is our schedule of upcoming classes: Introductory and Continuing Wheel Mon, Oct 29-Dec 3, 7:00-9:00 pm, with Kevan O. Wilson Thurs, Oct 18-Nov 29, 12:30- 2:30 pm, with Nancy Bulkley Thurs, Oct 18-Nov 29, 6:30-8:30 pm, with Kay Yourist Introductory and Continuing Wheel Sundays Sun, Nov 4-Dec 16, 1:30-3:30 pm, with David Timm. Date change. Coffee and Clay Sat, Oct 20-Nov 24, 9:30-11:30 am, with Nancy Bulkley Try It Once on the Wheel Sat, Oct 13, 1:00-2:30 pm, with Nancy Bulkley Enroll here. 

Enrich your pottery surfaces Darcy Bowden's silk screening on clay enrichment workshop will teach you how to add a new dimension to your pottery surfaces by making your own silkscreens and using them to print on slabs. This workshop is scheduled for Sunday, October 28 9:30 am-2:30 pm Register today.

In the gallery

October 16-November 16 Clay Gallery on Exhibit

Wall hanging by Joe Szutz

The Clay Gallery returns in a special Clay Gallery on Exhibit pop-up show beginning October 16 at Yourist Studio Gallery. Opening Reception Friday, October 19 5:00-8:00 pm The exhibit runs from October 16-November 16 Browse an outstanding selection of the latest works by Clay Gallery artists, from beautiful functional ware like plates, bowls, cups, and teapots to stunning decorative works like animal figures, tiles, sculptures, and wall pieces. " We are excited to share the many pathways each of us has been exploring in clay since the closing of our 30 year cooperative gallery in Downtown Ann Arbor. " Participating Clay Gallery artists include Royce Disbrow, Craig Hinshaw, Shirley Knudsvig, Yiu-Keung Lee, Brigit Macomber, Susanne Stephenson, Kris Stewart, Joe Szutz, Debbie Thompson, Shirley White-Black, and Donna Williams. 

December 7-9 Holiday Sale ahead Now that it's October, the Yourist Studio Gallery Holiday Show and Sale will be here before you know it! 2018 will, appropriately, mark the 18th year Kay has thrown this celebration of pottery and the season. It's become a real holiday tradition.  Friday, December 7, 5-8 pm Festive Preview Sale and Artists' Reception The sale continues on Saturday, December 8, 10 am-6 pm Sunday, December 9, 11 am-5 pm Mark your calendars now and watch for details in upcoming newsletters.

At the studio

Come and get 'em If you have bisque ware on our shelves, please come glaze it for firing or collect it and take it home by October 31 . To free our shelves for new bisque ware, we must discard any unclaimed bisque ware remaining after that day.

Ready, load, fire Here's the tentative schedule for our next gas kiln firing: Loading : Tuesday , October 16 Firing : Thursday , October 18 Unloading : Saturday , October 20 Reminder : We could fire the gas kiln earlier or later than these dates depending on how soon we have enough pieces to fill the kiln. Check with the studio for the latest schedule.

Nifty new wire tools We just got some nifty new Xiem wire tools with replaceable tips. Drop by the studio on Sunday, October 21, at 4:30 p.m. for a free demonstration of all the uses to which these tools can be put. They're great for sculpture and more! If you have topics you'd like Kay to cover in her free Tool Time demonstrations, please let her know . 

Potter's quick tip

Q. I love making pinch pots, but mine usually end up stretched out and shapeless. What can I do to improve them?  A . How about trying this alternative method of making pinch pots from potter Didem Mert ? As a bonus, it will save wear and tear on your wrists. You can see a gallery of Didem Mert's pieces here (and get a recipe for gluten-free ginger snaps as well). 

Clay lover's events calendar

Sculpture by Craig Hinshaw Clay Gallery on Exhibit

Exhibitions Pewabic Through Time & Space Exhibition. Now-November 4, Pewabic. Detroit. More . . . Breaking With Tradition: Contemporary Ceramics . Now-January 27, 2019. Harris–Burger Gallery, Flint Institute of Arts. More . . . Creating With Clay: Clay-Art Friends. September 1-October 13, Ann Arbor District Library, Downtown Ann Arbor. Features Yourist artists! More . . . Animal Friends: Ceramic Sculpture by Marcia Polenberg. September 17- December 7, Taubman Health Center. More . . . Michigan Ceramics 2018 . October 5–31, Padnos Art Gallery, Calder Art Center, Grand Valley State University. More . . . The Clay Gallery Returns . October 16–November 16, pop-up show at Yourist Studio Gallery. Artist reception Friday, October 19, 5-8 pm. More . . . Annabeth Rosen: Fired, Broken, Gathered, Heaped . November 16, 2018– March 10, 2019. Cranbrook Art Museum. More . . . Butter . April 6–August 25, 2019. Third Biennial National Juried Exhibition presented by the International Museum of Dinnerware Design. Museum on Main Street. More . . .

Workshops, speakers, and more Gail Kendall Workshop . October 6. In conjunction with Michigan Ceramics 2018. Ceramics studio, Calder Art Center, Grand Valley State University. More . . . 

Resources for potters

Clever surface design idea

Looking for a new idea for surface design? Then check out this video from Old Forge Creations showing how to create a nautilus design using black slip and a rubber rib. Impressive.

Bonus pottery news! Mystery of the 3,000-year-old bones

Greek Pithoi

When archaeologists on Crete discovered the 3,000-year-old skeleton of a woman who had powerful muscles on the right side of her body but whose knee and hip joint cartilage was worn away, they scratched their heads. How could this have happened? See the amazing answer and its relationship to pottery at Smithsonian.com . Kudos to Joanne Daniels and Kay Yourist for this gem.

Yourist Studio Gallery 1133 Broadway Ann Arbor, MI 48105 734-662-4914 | www.youristpottery.com •Classes and workshops •Community studio workspace •Pottery tools for sale •Exhibit gallery