We're counting down . . .

. . . to the start of fall classes. But there's still time for you to register. Here's our class lineup:

Advanced / Intermediate Clay Tue, Sep 11-Dec 11, 6:30-9:30 pm, with Alex Pratt  Advanced / Intermediate Independent Study Wed, Sep 12-Dec 12, 6:30-9:00 pm, with Kay Yourist

Am I ready? How do I know if I'm ready to take an advanced or intermediate class? Wheel throwers, have you taken at least three introductory semesters of wheel? Are you comfortable throwing bowls and cylinders? Hand builders, have you taken at least three semesters of hand building. Are you comfortable with slabs and other hand building methods? Are you interested in learning new creative techniques for making pots, surface treatment, and glazing? Then you might be more ready than you think to take our Advanced/Intermediate Clay class with Alex Pratt.

Introductory and Continuing Wheel Mon, Sep 10-Oct 15, 7:00-9:00 pm, with Kevan O. Wilson Thurs, Sep 6-Oct 11, 12:30- 2:30 pm, with Nancy Bulkley Thurs, Sep 6-Oct 11, 6:30-8:30 pm, with Kay Yourist Introductory and Continuing Wheel Sundays Sun, Sep 16-Oct 21, 1:30-3:30 pm, with David Timm Coffee and Clay Sat, Sep 8-Oct 13, 9:30-11:30 am, with Nancy Bulkley Try It Once on the Wheel Sat, Sep 15, 1:00-2:30 pm, with Nancy Bulkley Register today. 

Encore! Encore!

Our students enjoyed Darcy Bowden's silkscreening on clay enrichment workshop so much that we've decided to offer it again. Add a new dimension to your pottery surfaces by learning how to make your own silkscreens and use them to print on slabs. This workshop is scheduled for October 28, 9:30 am to 2:30 pm Sign up today and receive our Early Bird Discount through September 15 . 

In the gallery

Now-September 30 Yourist students show off

Sculpture by Joe Cialdella

We're featuring the work of Yourist students in Alex Pratt's Advanced/Intermediate Clay class and other advanced students during September. Our students are producing a wide variety of impressive work. Come see what we mean.

October 16-November 16 Clay Gallery pops up

Plate by Debbie Thompson

From October 16 to November 16, we're hosting a pop-up exhibit by Clay Gallery artists 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. Watch for an upcoming announcement with all the details. Opening reception Friday October 19, 5-8 pm

At the studio

Let's clear the decks . . . . . . in preparation for fall classes. If you have bisque ware on our shelves, please come glaze it for firing or collect it and take it home by September 12 . 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 : Monday , September 17 Firing : Wednesday , September 19 Unloading : Saturday , September 22 Reminder : These gas kiln firings dates are based on having enough pieces to fill the kiln and could change. Check with the studio for the latest schedule.

Where's Tool Time? Tool Time is still on vacation and will return, tanned, rested, and ready to go, in October. Until then, why not let Kay know what topics you'd like her to cover in our free Tool Time demonstrations? 

Potter's quick tip

Q. How do I throw a set of cups that are all the same size?  A . Try using a dragonfly . No, not the insect. A dragonfly, or tombo, is a Japanese tool that allows you to set the height and width of your cups, then measure each cup as you throw it. In this video, Corvallis High School ceramics teacher Christa Schmeder shows how to make a dragonfly with pencils, a hair tie, and a marker. She then demonstrates how to use this simple tool. For details about a more sophisticated version of the tombo, check out this blog post by potter Marian Williams. 

Ceramics events calendar

Pink Piglet by Marcia Polenberg Taubman Gifts of Art exhibit

Exhibitions Yourist Student Exhibit. Now-September 30. Yourist Studio Gallery. Ann Arbor. 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 . . . Collected Surface: Functional Ceramics . Huron Valley Ceramics Collective, Now-September 9, Taubman Health Center. 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 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

Making intricately patterned tiles

In this video from Amaco-Brent, potter Paula Diaz-Sylvester gives step-by-step directions for using automobile striping tape and a little measuring to make intricate star patterns on tiles. See more of Diaz-Sylvester's geometrically inspired pottery here and here .

Bonus video! How do they do that?

What if you could record your voice on the surface of a ceramic plate? Well, Liat Segal and Roy Maayan have found a way to do it. Watch this video to see how they use voices and other sounds to decorate plates. And learn more about the process here . Fantastic! Thanks to Kay Yourist for this great find.

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