Pre-registration is required for classes & workshops - please register online below or call  508-693-1850.
Minimum age requirement for all adult classes is 13 years old.
Classes are being added back to the schedule - please check back for updates!

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REGISTER

Beginner Wheel Throwing with Debbie Hale
Days: Mondays
Dates: Session 1: January 13, 27, February 3, 10 // Session 2: February 24, (no 3/2), March 9, 16, 23 // Session 3: March 30, April 6, 13, 20 // Session 4: April 27, May 4, 11, 18 // Session 5: June 1, 8, 15, 22 // Session 6: June 29, July 6, 13, 20 // Session 7: July 27, August 3, 10, 17 // Session 8: August 24, 31, (no Labor Day), September 14, 21 // Session 9: September 28, October 5, 12, 19
Time: 4:00PM - 6:00PM
​Location: Pottery Studio
Fee: $165 per session (includes 25 lb bag of clay)

In this beginners ceramics class, students will learn techniques to create forms on the potter’s wheel - cups, bowls, vessels, etc. You will learn the basics of the pottery studio, wheel throwing, glazing and firing. 

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Register

Open Pottery Studio 
Supervised by Frank Creney
Location: Pottery Studio

This is a non-instructional time for those familiar with ceramics to work on their own in the Pottery Studio. Adults only, 18 years or older.

Attendees must have basic knowledge and be familiar with a pottery studio - there is no instruction during open hours.

*NEW*
Please note that our Open Studio protocols have changed due to Covid-19. Each Studio session is 2 hours and limited to 4 people. Registration is required in advance to reserve your 2 hour studio time. Addition glazing and firing fees apply (please bring cash or check to purchase reclaimed clay / for firing fees).
​Attendees must wear masks for the duration, bring their own aprons and clean up towels. Attendees may bring their own tools, otherwise Featherstone has sanitized tool kits for use. 

NEW schedule (advance registration required)
Tuesdays: 2-4PM
Wednesdays: 2-4PM
Thursdays: 5-7PM
Fridays: 12-2PM

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Previous 2020

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(POSTPONED until 2021) Visiting Artist Workshop: Splendid Ceramic Surface Design with Molly Hatch
​Dates: Saturday & Sunday August 29, 30
Friday: Optional, August 28
Time: 9:00 am-5:00 pm
Location: Pottery Studio
Fee: $350 + $25 materials

​Skill Level
: Beginner to Advanced
This two-day in-person hands-on workshop is for folks with some clay experience looking for new and exciting ways to approach surface decoration.  We will explore ways to approach surface decoration and its relationship to form in your ceramic object making. We will begin by walking through basic surface design concepts and discuss inspiration and ways to find your muse. Learn how to source and translate 2-D patterns and images into surface decoration. This workshop focus is on learning a wide range of surface techniques from using Molly’s favorite pressure transfers to block printing on clay, rubber stamping, resists, carving and painting on the surface of clay for both greenware and bisqueware.
 $25.00 materials fee will be charged at start of the workshop

Techniques covered:
Mishima (Japanese slip inlay)
Sgraffito (slip carving)
Rubber stamping on clay
Block printing on clay
Paper resist
Contact paper resist
Nature resist
Pressure transfer

Techniques covered do apply to all types of kiln firings and temperature ranges.
Participants go home with a goody bag of tools, pattern templates, work in process and a whole heap of new ideas! 

Friday Night Meet Up:
We invite you to join us for an (optional) informal gathering with Molly on Friday evening the 28th from 6:30-8pm at Featherstone.  Relax with wine, enjoy some appetizers and get to know Molly and some of your fellow workshop attendees before the workshop begins!

Workshop Itinerary:
-Friday, August 28:
Come to Featherstone to meet Molly and other workshop attendees.
-Saturday, August 29:
9:00am-9:30am Orientation and intro, ice breaker exercise
9:30-10:30am Demonstration of technique
10:30am-12:30pm Hands-on
12:30-1:30 Lunch
1:30-3:00 Demonstration of technique
3:00-4:45 Hands-on
4:45-5pm Clean up
-Sunday, August 30:
9:00am-9:30am Demonstration of technique
10:30am-12:30pm Hands-on
12:30-1:30 Lunch
1:30-3:00 Demonstration of technique
3:00-4:45 Hands-on
4:45-5pm Clean up

Materials List
What we provide:
A wide selection of Amaco and Mayco underglazes to try
T-3 stylus tool from Amaco you get to keep!
1-2 pieces of bisque to practice on
1-2 pieces of greenware to practice on
Pencils
Paper
Some basic brushes
Pen-style x-acto knife
Palettes
Tracing paper
Packing tape

Materials to bring:
Some bisque and greenware items you want to practice on
Your favorite tools
Natural elephant ear sponge
Inspiration patterns and images, photo copies are great
Notebook/sketchbook
Scissors
Spear-tipped sgraffito tool
Ruler
Small brushes range from size 0-3, watercolor brushes are best
Rubber stamps—various, whatever you have

To learn more about Molly and her work, visit her website: www.mollyhatchstudio.com/work

POSTPONED: Wood-Fired Kiln Workshop with Frank Creney
Dates & Times: 
Saturdays, April 4th, 11th:  3:30-5:30PM (two classes)
Friday, April 17th:  9AM on (firing the kiln) 
Location: 
April 4th, 11th: Pottery Studio
April 17th: Outdoor Wood-Fired Kiln
Fee: 
$125 for the 4-day workshop. Includes 2 classes, 25 lbs of special wood-firing clay, glazes, bisque firing and up to 5 small-medium sized pieces for the outdoor kiln. (Additional firing fees: 5 addl. pieces for $30, large vessels will be measured and priced accordingly). 

This April, Featherstone will be firing our outdoor wood kiln. This one-of-a-kind hand-built kiln allows us a special opportunity to delve into the chaotic and unpredictable world of atmospheric firings. The ash of the wood used to fuel and heat the kiln naturally creates a glaze-like layer on all surfaces it touches. The wild and ever changing fluidity of the fire itself causes the natural glaze to flash and blush in unique ways.

Saturdays, April 4th, 11th:  3:30-5:30PM
Students will have two classes in which they will be instructed on the properties of the firing, the specific clay required for the firing, and the best strategies for glazing in an atmospheric firing.​
Friday, April 17th: 9AM on
The process of raising the wood kiln to temperature will take up to 24 hours and plenty of wood, requiring at times near constant tending. Once the temperature has been reached and the fires have gone out, we must wait until the kiln is cool enough to open which will take several days. Pieces will be available later in the week.
We are looking for volunteers all day on Saturday, April 17th to tend to the kiln.

Clay Sculpture Course with Frank Creney
Day: Tuesdays
Dates: Session 1: January 28, February 4, 11, 18
Time: 6:30PM - 8:30PM
Location: Pottery Studio
Fee: $165 per 4-week session (all materials included).

For students with some experience with hand building with clay. This 4-week course will concentrate on building animal figures, including surface techniques and glazing opportunities. At the conclusion of the 4 weeks, students will have created 1-2 sculptures. Please come with an animal in mind!

(Cancelled) Workshop: ​Alternative Firing - A Unique Firing Experience 
with Lois Hirshberg
Dates: Friday, Saturday & Sunday, May 15, 16, 17
Fall dates: October 23, 24, 25
Time: Friday, 5:00PM-7:00PM // Saturday & Sunday, 10:00AM - 4:00PM
Location: Pottery Studio
Fee: $200 for the two and half day workshop
Come spend the weekend at Featherstone with Lois Hirshberg exploring the magic of several fast-firing techniques. Western Raku, Horse Hair Raku, and Saggar will be some of the spectacular techniques that we will be exploring.  These firing techniques never get boring. It is the unpredictability of the process that makes this weekend so exciting. This workshop is open to all levels of expertise. Bring 8 to 10 bisqued pieces. Glazing Friday night and two days of different firing on Saturday and Sunday. For more information contact Lois at: potterybyLois@comcast.net.

Lois Hirshberg began working in clay in 1975 at Mudflat Studios in Cambridge where she fell in love with clay.  Lois holds an M.Ed in Community Counseling and a M.A. in Art Therapy. She has studies ceramics in Jerusalem at the Bezalel School of Design and in Japan through Parsons School of Design.   
To learn more about Lois: www.potterybylois.com

Hand Building with Sabrina Kuchta
Day: Wednesdays
Dates: beginning January 22, 2020 - weekly class themes listed below.
Time: 6:00PM - 8:00PM
Location: Pottery Studio
Fee: $35 per class
All students must purchase clay for the class.  If you will be taking multiple classes in the Pottery Studio, a 25 lb. bag of clay is an additional cost of $25, otherwise clay can be purchased in the studio for $1 per lb.
*Please Note: Ceramics is a multi-stage process. What you make in class will need to first dry, then be fired twice. This process can take around two weeks to produce a finished piece.

​​In this adults only class we will discuss and experiment with hand building techniques. No prior experience in ceramics is necessary; this class can be taken as a beginner class or as a supplementary to your already existing knowledge. Each class can be taken on its own or taken as a series.

January 22: Coil Pots: We will explore the coil building technique as it can be applied to both functional ware and sculpture
January 29: Creatures: Using pinch pot and coil techniques we will be able to make creature real and imaginary, from frogs to dragons to unicorns and more.
February 5: Hollow form Boxes: Using pinch pot technique we will make fanciful boxes. Create a secret hiding place in a treasure chest, a strawberry, or even a slice of cake.
February 12: Glazing: Have questions about glazing? Bring your bisque ware and your questions, and we will go over a variety of techniques and need to know info for that last, but ever important, step in finishing your pieces!
Open to all ceramic students at any level. This class will cover the basic properties and characteristics of glaze and how to apply it.  **** NOTE: Bisque ware is not required but encouraged!
February 19: Fairy Houses/Luminaries: Create your own garden dwelling with simple slab and coil techniques.
February 26: Dishes & Bowls: Using supporting molds we will learn how to easily make beautiful dishes and bowls with intricate coil detailing on the outside and a smooth functional interior.
March 4: Vases: We will use slab, and various slab altering techniques to construct vases.
March 11: Slab Built Mugs: We will learn how to make slab, how to use templates, and how to make simple and easy mugs.
March 18: Planters: Get ready for spring! We will make fun and whimsical hanging planters.
March 25: Glazing: Have questions about glazing? Bring your bisque ware and your questions, and we will go over a variety of techniques and need to know info for that last, but ever important, step in finishing your pieces!
Open to all ceramic students at any level. This class will cover the basic properties and characteristics of glaze and how to apply it.  **** NOTE: Bisque ware is not required but encouraged!

Throwing Better Pots (Intermediate/Advanced) with Frank Creney
Day: Mondays
Dates: January 27 // February 3, 10, (no 17), 24 // March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 // April 6, 13, 20, 27 // May 4, 11, 18
Time: 6:30PM - 8:30PM
Location: Pottery Studio
Fee: $35 per class. All students must purchase clay for the class - a bag of clay is an additional cost of $25. 

Each class is a separate instruction period. Advance registration is not necessary, drop-ins welcome.

​In this ongoing weekly class for intermediate to advanced students (you must be able to center and throw a cylinder and bowl shape), you will learn how to create different shapes and how to throw bigger and with better results. Students will have the opportunity to decide what projects to work on and Frank will teach the specific techniques to complete. Covers and lids will also be covered in this class. This is a chance to make what you really want to make!