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Saturdays | 2 – 4 pm

Community Workshops in Clay

Stop by any Saturday at The Clay Studio and make your own creation in clay — FREE! These fun and relaxing workshops will be guided by experienced ceramic artists, including our own Resident Artists. Your creation will be glazed and fired by our studio and ready for pick-up in a few weeks. December 2022 dates: 12/10 & 12/17 (No event on 12/24 or 12/31)

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Ongoing

Hands On Clay

People of all ages are welcome to use their imaginations as clay and creativity come together in The Clay Studio's Hands on Clay series sponsored by PNC Arts Alive. Free and open to the public, these events encourage all to participate and play with clay!

Learn more about upcoming events

Past Events

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Saturday, November 5 | 12 - 5pm

Holiday Sale featuring In-House Artists

Get into the holiday spirit with our In-House Artist Sale in the first-floor pavilion. See the amazing work being created in the studios and get a jump on your holiday shopping! Participating artists include Len Barag, Jay Bilinsky, Diana Chamberlain, Chuck Morris, Margo Schreiber, Jillian Schley, Celia Feldberg, JoAnne Sutkin, Sandrine Shoen, Brenda Levin, Josephine Mette Larsen, Cheryl Hendershott, Maria Albornoz, Paul Serena, Ivan Krevolin, Duc Tang, Corey Weiser-Vahey, Maria Gwynn-Samblas, Vicky Gold, Frankie Reyes, and Corrine Kula. See them in the slideshow below!

GET THE FLYER
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Every Saturday through Oct. 1 | 11am - 1pm

FREE Drop-In workshops in the Maker Place

Free workshops every Saturday from 11am - 1pm in our new Maker Place are led by a teaching artist with activities related to our exhibition Making Place Matter. Just Drop In! (No workshop 6/4, 7/2 & 8/20)

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Saturday, June 4, 2022 | 9am - 6pm

Making Place Matter Symposium

Join us as curators, scholars, art educators, and Council members discuss the process of collaborative and community centered exhibition design, as well as creative place making. Come in person or join on zoom!

Register Here
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Saturday, April 23 | 2-4pm

Making Place Matter Opening Celebration

Community celebration for our first exhibition in our new facility. Join us to share this marvelous moment. There will be tours of the exhibitions and hands on art project for everyone. The event is free and open to the public.

Learn More About the Exhibition
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Saturday, April 9 | 11 am - 3pm

Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting — You're Invited!

Mark your calendars for the opening celebrations of our new location at 1425 N. American Street. The whole facility will be open for all to see and enjoy. The Clay Studio has been a leader in the national and international ceramic world for nearly 50 years. Our new state-of-the-art ceramic facility increases our ability to serve the local community and highlight the power of clay as a force for good. Please join us on this special day as we take the first steps in the next chapter of our history - we look forward to writing it with you. The day includes 11 am - Ribbon Cutting and Open House from 11 am - 3 pm. The event is free and open to the public and includes artist demos and clay projects. Join us for a special Hands on Clay project with George Rodriguez. Leave your mark on the new building by making a tile that will be installed in the stairwell!

Learn More about the project
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september 18 | 12 - 6 pm

6th Annual Clay Fest

Celebrate clay and community with a fun day of festivities outside of The Clay Studio’s new home in South Kensington! Join us for hands-on activities for all ages & then visit Art for the Cash Poor hosted by InLiquid!

Learn more
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Friday | Oct 1 | noon - dark

Fall Pottery Sale 2021

Join us for the last Pottery Sale at our Old City location! Get yourself armloads of ceramic treasures -- artist donations and student work -- at rock bottom prices. You won't believe the enormous selection! Be sure to come early for the best picks. And while you're here, you can tour our galleries and Shop. Outdoors next to the building. Social distancing and masks required.

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August 26, September 30, & October 28 | 5 pm - 6:30 pm

Community Clay Workshops at Iglesias Garden

Free monthly workshops for adults and families at Cesar Andreu Iglasias Community Garden (427 Arlington St). No ceramics experience necessary!

View the Flyer
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Friday | May 7 | noon - 8 pm

Spring Pottery Sale 2021

We are thrilled to announce the return of the Annual Pottery Sale (and it is the last in our current building!) Get yourself armloads of ceramic treasures -- artist donations and student work -- at rock bottom prices. You won't believe the enormous selection! Be sure to come early for the best picks. And while you're here, you can tour our galleries and Shop. Outdoors next to the building. Social distancing and masks required.

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Saturday | May 8 | 11 am - 5 pm

In-House Artists Sale

Join us for a wonderful opportunity to see and buy incredible work being made in house by Associates and Resident Artists of the Clay Studio. This one day sale celebrates clay in all its forms, including functional wares, sculptural work, jewelry, planters, games and lots more. Find something for everyone on your list and budget. The event is outside and socially distanced.

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Friday, Dec 6 5-9pm

First Friday Studio Sale

Friday, December 6 | 5 - 9 pm: We're having a special Holiday Sale and Open House! Come to the second floor studios to see what's on sale by our in-house artists — works by our amazing Associate, Work Exchange, and Staff Artists. Free food and drinks, plus the chance to make your own ceramic ornament!

details
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Saturday, Dec 7 | 11am - 6pm

Hand Crafted Holidays Open House

Free and open to the public. Join us for our fifth annual Hand Crafted Holidays — a festive day of tastings, demonstrations, shop discounts, and hands-on activities intended to spark creative ideas for holiday decorating, gifting, and entertaining. Drop-in activities this year include clay ornament making, a Gong Fu Tea Ceremony with The Random Tea Room, gallery talks, handmade donuts, and signature cocktails.

See the full schedule
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Every Saturday | November 23 - December 21 | 2-4 pm

Holiday Ornament Crafternoons

Join us for a free hands on event series from 2 - 4pm every Saturday from November 23 to December 21st to make your own ornaments. Bring the kids and they can make and decorate winter themed ornaments while you shop!

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Friday, Aug 6, 5 - 8 pm

FREE First Friday Pop-in Workshop: "Wheel Throwing 101"

Try your hand at throwing on the potter's wheel with the expert guidance of our teaching artists. Create a cup or bowl, or push yourself to the limit and make something as big as you can! All ages are welcome, no experience required, and it's FREE (thanks to PNC Arts Alive).

view album on facebook
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Friday, July 5, 5 - 8 pm

FREE First Friday Pop-in Workshop: Tile Making

Express yourself! Make and decorate your own ceramic tile, using colored slips and the sgraffito method. It's easy to do, and our teaching artists will be on hand to help. Whether you keep it simple or go all-out fancy, your design is completely up to you. We'll fire and glaze the tiles and you can get them later. This is a popular event, so come early! FREE — thanks to PNC Arts Alive.

view photo album
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Friday, June 7, 5 - 8 pm

FREE First Friday Pop-in Workshop: "Wheel Throwing 101"

Try your hand at throwing on the potter's wheel with the expert guidance of our teaching artists. Create a cup or bowl, or push yourself to the limit and make something as big as you can! All ages are welcome, no experience required, and it's FREE (thanks to PNC Arts Alive). To keep up your strength, we'll also have a food truck called "Foolish Waffles."

view photo album !
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Friday | May 3 | noon - 8 pm

Spring Pottery Sale 2019

Get yourself armloads of ceramic treasures -- artist donations and student work -- at rock bottom prices. You won't believe the enormous selection! Be sure to come early for the best picks. And while you're here, you can tour our galleries and Shop.

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1 | 11:00 am – 6:00 pm

Hand Crafted Holidays Open House

Free and open to the public. Join us for our fourth annual Hand Crafted Holidays — a festive day of tastings, demonstrations, shop discounts, and hands-on activities intended to spark creative ideas for holiday decorating, gifting, and entertaining. Drop-in activities this year includes clay ornament making, a pastry decorating demo, gallery talks, and signature cocktails.

see full schedule
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Weekends | November 24 to December 24 | 11 am-6 pm

Old City Holiday Market

The Clay Studio parking lot will be transformed into a Winter Wonderland on the weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas. There will be trees, wreaths, garlands, handmade gifts, and delicious food from a variety of Old City venues: The Clay Studio, 36 Craven, Petit Jardin, Fezziwig's Sweet Shoppe, The Center for Art in Wood, Philly Socks, Terme di Aroma Spa, Elfreth's Alley, Betsy Ross House, Royal Boucherie, and High Street on Market. Sponsored by Fezziwig's Sweet Shop and Old City District.

more info
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Saturday, November 17 | 12 pm - 5pm

Terrain Christmas Marketplace

The Clay Studio will have a selection of handmade ornaments at the Terrain Christmas Marketplace. The event features other vendors and makers including: Lavido, Barspoon Beverages, Curious Clay, Whim Jewelry, Chris Lytle, Fat Toad Farm, Runamock Maple Syrup, The Farm at Doe run and more! This event is free and open to the public.

Terrain Website
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October 26 | 6 - 7 pm

Wheel Throwing at the Art Museum

Get prepped for All Hallow’s Eve with a hair-raising night of ghoulish fun at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Artists from The Clay Studio will do live demos at the potter's wheel in the Museum's Great Stair Hall Balcony. $5 off at the door when you come in costume. All programs are included with Museum admission.

see full schedule
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Saturday, October 13, 1pm-4pm

Open Studio Tours

To celebrate National Clay Week & Philadelphia Open Studio Tours (POST) 2018, The Clay Studio will offer tours of our Associate, Work Exchange, and Resident Studios on the afternoon of Saturday, October 13th from 1-4pm.

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September 29 | 11am - 3pm at 1425 N. American Street

4th Annual Clay Fest sponsored by PNC Arts Alive

Celebrate clay and community with a fun day of muddy festivities near our soon-to-be new home in South Kensington! Join us for hands-on activities for all ages, wheel throwing, a group sculpture extravaganza, artist demonstrations, an ice cream social, t-shirt making & more! LOCATION: 1425 N. American St, Phila 19122 across from the Crane Arts Building.

learn more
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September 7 | 5pm - 8pm | FREE

First Friday Hands On Clay: Wheel Throwing 101

Try your hand at throwing on the potter’s wheel with the expert guidance of our teaching artists. Make your very own mug or bowl at this fun and casual event sponsored by PNC Arts Alive!

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May - September

Hands on Clay

The Clay Studio invites people of all ages to use their imaginations as clay and creativity come together in The Clay Studio’s series Hands On Clay, funded by PNC Arts Alive. Free and open to the public, this series uses clay to break the barriers of who is creative by welcoming all to participate.

learn more
maker days

May - September

Community Maker Days

The Community Maker Days consist of free artist led workshops where participants create one of a kind dinner plates made to used at a community dinner in September 2018. These events are a way to connect through food and hands on art making experiences with to the communities near The Clay Studio’s new facility in South Kensington that is planned to open in 2020. All ages welcome and no experience necessary. This programming is generously supported by the William Penn Foundation.

learn more
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Wheels and Deals | August 3, 5-8pm

August First Friday

There is so much good stuff happening at The Clay Studio this First Friday, August 3rd from 5-8pm! Check out our Resident Artists Pop-Up Sale with work by Ahrong Kim, Roberta Massuch, and Joshua Paul Hebbert! Then try your hand at throwing on the wheel at our FREE Hands On Clay event sponsored by PNC Arts Alive. AND, check out our brand new exhibition, "Wild Collaborations" — elegant works made by Hitomi and Takuro Shibata, using local "wild" clay from North Carolina. Finally, enjoy the evening with a taste of the new Guava Lava by Dock Street Brewery — a collaboration with Brian Giniewski (former Resident Artist and current Board Member.)

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Sunday | June 3

Free Trolley Tours to Our New Neighborhood

We’re going places — want to come along? Take a free trolley ride with us to visit the vibrant, artsy South Kensington neighborhood where our future home will be. We’ll have 4 afternoon departures from The Clay Studio at 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30. RSVP chuck@theclaystudio.org with the time slot you’d like.

Learn more about our new home
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Saturday, June 2

Spring Market

Join us on June 2 from 12-5 for an outdoor Spring Market to celebrate Elfreth's Alley's Fete Day. The Clay Studio welcomes you to enjoy a special shopping pop up with 36 Craven, The Center for Art in Wood, Momo's Treehouse, Meadowsweet, and Millisime.

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Friday | May 4 | noon - 8 pm

Spring Pottery Sale 2018

Get yourself armloads of ceramic treasures -- artist donations and student work -- at rock bottom prices. You won't believe the enormous selection! Be sure to come early for the best picks. And while you're here, you can tour our galleries and Shop.

view more events
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Thursday | April 26 | 10am - 2pm

Hands on Clay: Claymation at Science in the National Park

Join Claymobile teaching artists to learn how to make claymation just like you've seen in the movies as part of the Philadelphia Science Festival's Science in the Nation Park event! Work on a collaborative animated short film and see it on YouTube soon after the event. Sponsored by PNC Arts Alive.

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SAT | April 28 | 3 - 8pm

Our Community Cookout

Join The Clay Studio's great big family to celebrate all that we do and all that we dream! See the Our Community Exhibition that has inspired work made by Members, Resident Artists, Associate Artists, Teachers, Students, Work Exchange, and Staff, learn more about our future plans, and share a meal together.

View Exhibition
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Thursday | April 26 | 6pm - 8:30pm

Urban Potters Exhibition Reception & Artist Talks

Join us for a kick of event as we open our group exhibition at The Clay Studio. Get to know us through short artist talks and enjoy refreshments provided by Crime & Punishment Brewing Co. and 12th St. Catering.

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Tuesday | April 24 | 7-9pm

Claymation at The Independence Seaport Museum

Presented by the Independence Seaport Museum, 211 South Christopher Columbus Blvd. For tickets visit www.phillyseaport.org. As the Independence Seaport Museum prepares to exhibit a 240-year-old artifact — a cheval-defrise from the Revolutionary War fortifications of the Delaware River — learn the story behind this incredible piece of history and meet the conservator working on its preservation. The Science History Institute and The Clay Studio will engage guests in interactive demonstrations to explain how the fate of the artifact was impacted by sitting for hundreds of years in clay and mud, and how the science of conservation

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thursday | April 5 | 6 - 8 pm

Artist Talk: Brad Johnson

Join us for an evening with Brad Johnson, who will talk about his work and what inspires him, along with sharing memories of his time as a Resident Artist at The Clay Studio. Enjoy light refreshments, a Q and A, and seeing his latest works in our gallery.

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Saturday | February 24 | 1:30 - 3:30 pm

Digital Demonstration in the Gallery

Tyler Schradnt, ceramic graduate student at Tyler School of Art, will demonstrate his 3D printer (which "prints out" clay in thin coils) as part of the Reinventing Clay exhibition. Join us and watch a clay vessel grow before your eyes!

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Saturday | November 11 • Kimmel Center

CraftNOW Create 2017

Join us at the Kimmel Center for CraftNOW and create your own clay animations using the art of stop motion. You and your friends and family can invent a story, supply voices and sound effects, and share your video creation with the world! Philadelphia's annual CraftNOW celebrates our city's love of craft with a complete lineup of family-friendly, hands-on activities. Join us and our friends The Center for Art in Wood, Fabric Workshop + Museum, Philadelphia Museum of Art, University of the Arts, Wayne Art Center, and others.

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Saturday + Sunday | September 16 - 17

Clay Fest 2017

Celebrate clay and community with a fun day of muddy festivities! Join us for hands-on activities for all ages, a group sculpture extravaganza, Hand Crafted flower arranging, artist demonstrations, an ice cream social, t-shirt making, an interactive art installation & more!

CLAY FEST 2017

Schedule of Events

11AM-4PM: Group Sculpting
Help turn a 1,000 pounds of clay into a playful, collaborative work of art inspired by our guest Forrest Sincoff Gard.

11AM-4PM: Artist Demonstrations
See our Resident and Teaching Artists in action as they do demonstrations of their making process throughout the day.

11AM-4PM: Waffle Toss: A Game for the Kitchen by Forrest Sincoff Gard
Get interactive with an art installation by guest artist, Forrest Sincoff Gard. Win the ceramic waffle toss and get a special prize! $2 per toss or $5 for 3 chances to win.

11AM-2PM: Drop-In Community Workshops

  • Wheel Throwing 101- Try your hand at throwing on the potter’s wheel under the expert guidance of our teaching artists. Decorate your creation and The Clay Studio will have it ready for you to pick up in a few weeks.
  • Clay Animation- Create and animate clay characters using the art of stop motion. One person or a group can create characters, a story line, and bring your creations to life.
  • Silk Screening with Little Chair Printing- Work with guest artist and owner of Little Chair Printing, Hope Rovelto, to make your own silk-screened t-shirt.

2PM-3PM: Hand Crafted Flower Arranging Demonstration
Get a glimpse into The Clay Studio’s Hand Crafted program, which celebrates the functionality of one-of-a-kind ceramic objects with a flower arranging demonstration by local florist and Associate Artist, Ron Mulray. Flowers provided by xxx xxx.

2PM-4PM: A Hands On Ice Cream Social
Decorate an artist made bowl with ceramic decals provided by guest artist Hope Rovelto. Learn how to decorate and apply decals to ceramics, and The Clay Studio glaze, fire, and have your bowl ready for you to pick up in a few weeks. Then enjoy an ice cream sundae with ice cream provided by xxx xxx. Bowl quantities are limited.

Higlights from Clay Fest 2017

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bowl decorating

so easy -- with fun Philly decals with guest artist Hope Rovelto of Little Chair Printing!

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Ceramic Waffle Toss with guest artist Forrest Gard

Yum!

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Sponsored by PNC Arts Alive

Thanks PNC Arts Alive for making this event possible!