Spring at last . . .

Studio member Cindy Fink works on a vessel

. . . when the world is clay luscious and slip wonderful, and our Early Bird Discount for spring 2019 classes is available through March 8 . (With sincere apologies to e.e. cummings.)

Here's what's on tap for our spring term: Advanced / Intermediate Independent Study Tues, Apr 16-Jun 18, 6:30-9:00 pm, with Kay Yourist. Introductory and Continuing Wheel Mon, Apr 8-May 6, 7:00-9:00 pm, with Kevan O. Wilson Thurs, Apr 11-May 16, 12:30- 2:30 pm, with Nancy Bulkley Thurs, Apr 11-May 16, 6:30-8:30 pm, with Kay Yourist Introductory and Continuing Wheel Sundays Sun, Apr 7-May 12, 1:30-3:30 pm, with David Timm. Coffee and Clay Sat, Apr 6-May 11, 9:30-11:30 am, with Nancy Bulkley Wed, Apr 24-May 28, 10:00 am-12:00 pm, with Nancy Bulkley Try It Once on the Wheel Sat, Mar 9, 1:00-2:30 pm, with Nancy Bulkley Enroll here. 

At the studio

Make way for the new! Got bisqueware from February on our shelves? Please glaze it or collect it and take it home by March 31 . To make room on our shelves for new work, we must discard any unclaimed February bisqueware remaining after this date.

Studio housekeeping Let's keep it rolling! The slab roller, that is. Please do not put anything on the top shelf of the shelving units beneath the slab roller. Items left there can interfere with the operation of the slab roller and even break it. Oh, dear.

Ready, load, fire It's time to get your work ready for the March gas kiln firing. Here's our tentative schedule for the firing: Loading : Monday, March 11 Firing : Wednesday, March 13 Unloading : Friday, March 15 Keep in mind that this schedule could change depending on the supply of pieces available for firing. Check with the studio for the latest schedule.

Tool Time is moving . . . . . . to Saturdays! On Saturday, March 23, at 3:30 pm , Kay will conduct a demonstration on how to use the bump tool and the slingshot facet tool effectively to shape and decorate your pots. Drop by the studio to see this demonstration, which is free and open to the public . Meanwhile, if you have topics you'd like Kay to cover in her free Tool Time demonstrations, please let us know . We're interested in hearing from you. 

Potter's quick tip

Q. It's my dream to make a 6-place dinner service as a gift for my parents' anniversary, but s-cracks in my plates are my nightmare. How can I avoid them?  A . Compression, compression, compression, advises potter Adam Field in this video from Ceramics Art Daily. Field demonstrates how he centers his clay and throws plates to avoid the dreaded s-crack on the bottom. See examples of Field's porcelain works here . We hope your parents love their new dinnerware! 

Clay lover's events calendar

Plate by Rezgar Mamandi Gifts of Art Exhibition

Exhibitions Elena Weissman: Steeped in Whimsey: Ceramic Teapots . Now-March 8, 2019. Gifts of Art Gallery, Taubman Health Center. More... Annabeth Rosen: Fired, Broken, Gathered, Heaped . Now-March 10, 2019. Cranbrook Art Museum. More... Ian McDonald: In No Particular Order . Now-March 10, 2019. Cranbrook Art Museum. More... Peter Pincus and Adam Welch: On Differentiation and Affinity . Now-May 6, 2019. Pewabic. More... Rezgar Mamandi: Manna Pottery . March 18-June 7 , 2019. Gifts of Art Gallery, Taubman Health Center. 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... 

Resources for potters

Creative condiment caddies

Want to tackle an interesting new hand building project? Check out these attractive condiment caddies by potter Jamie Meador . In this video, Meador leads you through the project, with plenty of useful clay handling tips along the way. Learn more about Jamie Meador and her work here .

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