Holiday Show and Sale 2019

 Friday, December 13, 5-8 pm Festive Preview Sale and Artists' Reception The sale continues on Saturday, December 14, 10 am-6 pm Sunday, December 15, 11 am-5 pm

See Nancy Bulkley's captivating cat vases and more exceptional ceramic art at our 2019 Holiday Show and Sale, where we're featuring the best work from our resident artists and selected students. And, as is our custom, we're presenting it all in a festive atmosphere with great company, tasty food and drink, and lots of seasonal conviviality Participating artists include Darcy Bowden, Laura Bower, Nancy Bulkley, Jeanine Center, Laila Chalati, Patty Clark, Michael Donnely, Cindy Fink, Erica Fink, Rose E. Gomez, Mike Krivan, Debbie Omari, Deb Renner, Cara Rosaen, Anusree Sattaluri, Keith Shoultz, Josette Steele, Elisha Talley, David Timm, Caron Valentine-Marsh, Kevan Wilson, and Kay Yourist. So mark your calendar and come make merry with us next month.

Making pottery . . .

Laila Chalati glazing her beautiful carved bowls

. . . is a feast for the senses . It incorporates all four classical elements: earth, air, fire, and water. It integrates art into daily life in a way that no other creative endeavor can. That's why potters give thanks for clay. Feel the gratitude for yourself in one of our winter 2020 pottery classes.  Here is our class lineup for winter semester, 2020. To receive the Early Bird Discount for our 6 and 14-week classes, enroll by December 1. Advanced and Intermediate Clay Tue, Jan 7-Apr 7, 6:30-9:00 pm, with Alex Pratt Advanced / Intermediate Independent Study Wed, Jan 8-Apr 8, 6:30-9:00 pm, with Kay Yourist   Introductory and Continuing Wheel Mon, Jan 6-Feb 10, 7:00-9:00 pm, with Kevan O. Wilson Thurs, Jan 9-Feb 13, 12:30-2:30 pm, with Nancy Bulkley Thurs, Jan 9-Feb 13, 6:30-8:30 pm, with Kay Yourist Introductory and Continuing Wheel Sundays Sun, Jan 5-Feb 9, 1:30-3:30 pm, with David Timm Coffee and Clay Wed, Jan 8-Feb 12, 10:00 am-12:00 pm, with Nancy Bulkley Sat, Jan 11-Feb 15, 9:30-11:30 am, with Nancy Bulkley Or get a taste of pottery making in our upcoming Try It Once class:  Try It Once on the Wheel Sat, Nov 23, 1:00-2:30 pm, with Kay Yourist

Q. Am I ready to take Advanced and Intermediate Clay with master potter Alex Pratt? A. If you have taken 3 or more introductory/continuing class semesters at our or any other pottery studio, consider enrolling in our Advanced and Intermediate Clay class. Our next Advanced and Intermediate Clay class starts on Tuesday, January 7, and runs from 6:30-9:00 PM every Tuesday through April 7. If you are interested in taking this class, please talk to Kay about eligibility. This 14-week class features fun, challenging projects for intermediate and advanced students who have some experience working with clay. Each class presents a different skill-building project that offers unique challenges to students, whether throwers or a hand builders. Students focus on mastering complex forms and developing their distinctive personal style. The class includes 75 pounds of clay, glazes, and 50 hours of open studio practice. A monitor will be present each week to help with your basic studio needs. The Early Bird Discount for this class is available through December 1.

Sign up for classes at our web site today.

In the gallery

Sgraffito grouping by Alex Pratt

Yourist Studio Gallery is excited to announce that we are featuring the works of master potter and Yourist instructor Alex Pratt this month. Alex's sumptuous pots are beautifully thrown and always inspiring.

Alex is a ceramic artist from Dearborn, Michigan. He uses sgraffito, carving, and slip inlay on porcelain vessels, placing stylized natural forms in a geometric framework. He received his BFA from the University of Michigan, has taught throughout southeastern Michigan, and exhibits his work widely.

Sgrafitto teapot by Alex Pratt Alex is inspired by the freely-applied linear decoration of Oribe pottery, and the tightly interlocking compositional style of Cubist painting and sculpture.

Be sure to visit our gallery in November to see Alex’s work and take one of his pots home with you.

Studio life

Hand building class group exercise

Hand building students participate in a group warm-up exercise in which they must make something with their eyes closed, with their right hand only, and with their left hand only; add to a piece started by the student sitting next to them; build the tallest object they can; and more, all without talking to each other (or themselves) and without judging the outcome of their efforts.

Come and get 'em Our kilns are working overtime, churning out the bisqueware. If you have bisqueware on our shelves fired before October 15 , we want to remind you to glaze it or to pick it up and take it home by November 15 . Sadly, we must discard any unclaimed bisqueware remaining after this date.

Ready, load, fire! Here's our tentative schedule for the November gas kiln firing:  Loading : Tuesday, November 5 Firing : Wednesday, November 6 Unloading: Friday, November 8 The usual warning applies: firing will occur when we have accumulated enough pieces to fill the kiln. Be sure to check with the studio for firing schedule updates.

Tool Time: still on hiatus  We want to know what demonstrations you would like to see in our free Tool Time presentations. If you have topics you'd like Kay to cover, please get in touch . We're interested in hearing from you.

Potter's quick tip

Q. I found last month's video of Simon Leach showing the seven steps for throwing a cylinder so helpful. He wouldn't by any chance have a similar video for throwing bowls, would he?  A . Indeed he would. In this video, potter Simon Leach demonstrates how to throw a general purpose (or "GP") bowl. Again, he breaks the process down into seven distinct steps, which he illustrates and repeats as he goes. Visit Leach's web site here . And remember, keep practicing! We'll cover more basics for beginners in upcoming Potter's Quick Tips.

Clay lover's events calendar

Waning Moon by Linda Heckencamp The Artists' Eye

Exhibitions and sales Alex Pratt Ceramics Exhibition . Now-November 30, Yourist Studio Gallery. More . . . Double Take . Now-February 23, Flint Institute of Arts. Trompe l'oeil ceramics and glass. More . . . Useful and Beautiful: Decorative Arts Highlights . November 16-July 26, Flint Institute of Arts. More . . . The Artists' Eye . December 5-January 13. Kerrytown Concert House. Opening reception December 5 from 7:00-9:00 pm. Linda Heckencamp will show her large wall platters. She will be joined in the show by artists Valerie Mann, Laura Seligman, and Angie George. Ann Arbor Potters Guild Sale . Potters Guild. Saturday-Sunday, December 7-8, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. More . . . Yourist Studio Gallery Holiday Show and Sale . Will be here before you know it. Save these dates: Friday-Sunday, December 13-15. In the Vanguard: Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, 1950-1969 . December 14-March 8 , Cranbrook Art Museum. More . . .

Resources for potters

Need a platter for the holidays?

The holidays are fast approaching, a time when platters aplenty come in handy. Watch as potter Bill van Gilder demonstrates his meticulous technique for making a large, textured slab platter, then make a few for yourself. Visit van Gilder's web site here .

Studio and Gallery hours

Gallery/Tool Shop hours: Tues 12-6 PM Wed-Sat 10 AM-6 PM Sun 4-8 PM Open Studio hours: Tues, Wed, Sat 12-6 PM Thurs 10 AM-12 PM, 3-6 PM Fri 10 AM-6 PM Sun 4-8 PM

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