Got my hands back in the mud
I just got home just a little bit ago from my first pottery wheel-throwing class at www.wichitapottery.com, home of The Secret Gallery, at Meridian and 2nd. It was really nice.
They're conveniently less than five minutes from my house, which is a nice bonus. But the big deal for me is that they're very affordable. $40 for a four-week class, and current students get access to the studio on Friday from 1-9 at no additional charge.
I see that City Arts' fees have come down from the last time I looked a few years ago... $110 for a 10-week class, plus firing fees. So they're not much more expensive, but that ten weeks is a bigger commitment and, last I looked, studio time outside of class was extra. With a new class starting every month, it's easy to drop into the schedule.
I had emailed ahead of time to ask about availability and was told I could just show up a little early the first night; no reserving a spot or paying in advance. When I got there, Jill (the owner) had already labeled a shelf with my name and gave me a tour of the studio. It's kind of funny, but that little touch made me feel special.
I liked that the class was fairly small and informal, with only six students. Everyone in the class was at a different level, and only one of us had never thrown before. The instructor had to feel around for just how much instruction people needed, and he worked with that pretty well. (I hate to admit, but I can't remember my instructor's name.)
I haven't thrown for a few years, and only have a 10-week class under my belt. But it came back pretty quickly, and throwing pots is basically the only mechanical art form requiring dexterity that I took to naturally. I can't draw a straight line, but throwing pots just works for me. And it's a very functional art form that I enjoy owning and using.
The studio was clean, the owner, instructor and students were all friendly and fun.
I'm looking forward to Friday... I just happen to be off work, and I expect to spend some of it down at Wichita Pottery.