Pottery Olympics

Description

This class is for students with prior clay experience. This class DOES NOT include glazing or firings. If you would like to glaze and fire your projects, feel free to check out our open studio and kiln rental options. 

Pottery Olympics: The Ultimate Clay Challenge! 🏅

Get ready to throw down! Do you have the mettle, the mastery, and the nerve to triumph under pressure? Welcome to the Pottery Olympics, a thrilling five-part workshop series where your skill, speed, and precision will be tested to the absolute limit. This isn't your average pottery class—it's a high-stakes, high-energy competition inspired by the best of British crafting contests!

This class is for students with prior clay experience. This class DOES NOT include glazing or firings. 

The Challenge Awaits

Across five exhilarating monthly sessions, you’ll face a Blind Challenge designed to separate the masterful makers from the merely muddling.

• The Element of Surprise: At the start of each workshop, the challenge—whether it’s a demanding task on the potter's wheel or a meticulous hand-building brief—will be randomly selected, ensuring a level playing field and maximum drama!
• The Materials: Each participant will be supplied with 5 lbs of clay and a strict timeframe.
• The Goal: Consistency is key! Your finished piece will be rigorously measured and weighed by our judges. We're looking for uniformity, technical excellence, and the ability to execute under intense pressure.

Will You Take the Crown?

The potter who achieves the highest score in each session will be duly celebrated, receiving:

• A prestigious Certificate of Achievement
• A small, coveted non-monetary prize
• The ultimate reward: Bragging Rights until the next throw-down!

Come on, have a go! Sign up for one session or test your skills in all five. It’s time to find out if you have what it takes to be the next Pottery Olympian!

🗓️ Workshop Schedule (Final Thursday of Each Month)

Separate registration required for each date.

Round 1: January 29th

Round 2: February 26th

Round 3: March 26th

Round 4: April 23rd

Round 5: May 28^th

MATERIALS LIST:

Participants may bring their own tools for use in workshop, including bats and stools. Participants are responsible for the care and keeping of their own tools and may not leave them between workshops. All clay will be provided

INSTRUCTOR BIO:

Olivia first discovered the transformative joy of pottery in 2024, and it quickly blossomed from a casual interest into a profound passion. The immediate connection she felt to the earth-based medium and the process of creation was captivating, leading her to fall deeply in love with the art form. This passion now drives her studio practice, where she spends countless hours refining her skills.

Her primary focus is on throwing functional pottery, creating pieces like mugs, bowls, and plates designed to be used and cherished every day. While the wheel is her main tool, Olivia also greatly enjoys the tactile freedom of hand building and occasionally crafts a unique, decorative piece that serves purely as art. She is fortunate to be able to share her creations with others by selling her finished work both through her online store and at various local markets.

One of the most rewarding parts of this journey has been teaching several pottery classes at the Bower Center, an experience she truly enjoys. What makes pottery so special to Olivia is the deep connection it gives us to the people who came before us, linking her to a craft thousands of years old, as well as its inherent sustainability. Working with simple, natural materials like clay allows her to create beautiful, lasting objects that celebrate both history and our environment.