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The Clay Place

The Clay Place is a community ceramic studio located in Douglas County that offers students and artists a high-quality, professional ceramic studio environment. Providing open studio opportunities as well as group classes and workshops, the studio is a great place to learn about all things clay. To learn about Classes and Workshops, please read more below. To learn about our Open Studio, please scroll passed Classes and Workshops to read more. You can also contact us at ashley@uvarts.com with any questions. If you would like to partner with UVA to offer a clay workshop or class, or workshop, please reach out to us here.

CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS

Suggested for students ages 15 and up, no experience is necessary. Cost of class includes instruction and materials.

LOTS OF POTS

A Two-Day Ceramic Workshop
Tues & Thurs, March 26th & 28th
5:30pm – 7:30pm

In this two-day workshop, students will learn basic slab building skills with clay. On day one, instructor Ashley C will guide students through the basics of attaching together slabs to build taller forms. During this process, students can carve or stamp patterns or textures into their clay to explore design elements within their work. The work will then be covered lightly to dry a little and prepare for day two, where the students will finish building their forms and add additional embellishments. Students will then choose an underglaze wash to be applied to the piece, and UVA Staff will apply the wash and fire it for them.

 

This class is a great skill building opportunity for beginning artists, but is great fun for students of all skill levels. Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced ceramic artist, you’ll love exploring textures and creating your very own planter or vase.

 

ABOUT THE OPEN STUDIO

CURRENT OPEN STUDIO TERM HOURS

Monday: 10am-8pm
Tuesday: 10am-4pm
Wednesday: 2-8pm 
Thursday: 10am-4pm
Friday: 10am-8pm
Saturday: 10am-4pm

 The Clay Place Open Studio operates through four 8-week terms throughout the year. Each studio term offers instruction and studio time for artists of all abilities (ages 16+) as well as facilities and equipment to give experienced artists a place to work, share ideas, and expand their skills. If you are an artist or student who wants to dedicate 

Our studio has everything needed to create a masterpiece, including kick and electric wheels, a slab roller, a pugmill, glazes, and several kilns. Professional ceramicists lead weekly classes and are available to students for personalized instruction and support.

SPRING TERM 2024

April 3rd – June 1st

Registration for the 2024 Spring Term Open Studio at The Clay Place is now open! You can find a full list of benefits that are included with your registration on the digital sign-up form.

In The Clay Place’s Open Studio, students have access to different studio amenities, and can pick one of two enrollment options; Full-Packs and Mini-Packs. In both options, students have access to studio amenities including studio tools and equipment, regular kiln firings to fire their work, glazes made in-house, a locker to store their personal items, as well as instruction and project-led lessons from two professional art instructors twice a week.

Please thoroughly read all information in the registration form before signing up. If you are interested in participating in The Clay Place but have not experienced clay before, please note that you must have signed up for at least one Full-Pack before you can register for a Mini-Pack.

 

The Clay Place Spring Term is SOLD OUT! Thank you to all students who registered.

2024 CLAY PLACE SCHEDULE

Summer Term

July 3rd – Aug 31st

UVA Member Registration: May 14th
Non-Member Registration: May 21st

Fall Term

Sept 11th – Nov 9th

UVA Member Registration: August 13th
Non-Member Registration: August 20th

Bonus Term

Nov 18th – Dec 20th

UVA Member Registration: October 22nd
Non-Member Registration: October 29th

Payment and Refund Policy: Full payment at time of registration is required. Up until two weeks prior to the start of the class, workshop or term, you will receive a full refund (minus a $10 service charge) should you need to cancel your registration. However, cancellations made after this two-week time frame are nonrefundable​. Should UVA cancel or reschedule the event, participants will receive a full refund or credit toward future classes.

The Clay Pod

The Clay Pod is the Clay Place’s very own podcast, focused on ceramics in the Umpqua Valley Region and the Pacific Northwest more broadly.

Episode 1: Ash Glazes with Clay Place Instructor Ted Isto

Episode 2: Ceramics and Bonsai with Artist Sam Rogers

Episode 3: Water and Vinegar in Clay and Glazes with Clay Place Instructor Ted Isto

UVA would like to warmly thank the following organizations and individuals for their contributions to our newly renovated space: the Dr. John Wm. and Betty Long Unruh Fund, Centerpointe Home Improvement, Manfre Design Source, Triple Oak Winery, the UVA Building Committee (with special thanks to Betty Tamm, Board Treasurer & Building Committee Chair, and Betti Manfre, Board Member & Building Committee Member), as well as the Clay Place Volunteers (with a special thanks to Sam Reitenbaugh for leading the volunteer clean-up and painting team, and to Bruce Gravens, for shelving).

To learn more about current and future opportunities for young artists, please engage with the links below or contact our director of youth arts education at artsed@uvarts.com. If you would like to partner with UVA to offer a youth camp, class, or workshop, please reach out to us here.