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Mission: The Community Clay Center  (CCC) is a ceramic teaching facility that aims to educate the community at large in the art of ceramics and the craft of pottery.  The CCC provides studio space and facilities for students, emerging ceramic artists and community members.  Through one on one, group classes, workshops and camp sessions the CCC offers opportunities for creative expression and experiences.

 

Community Studio Etiquette:

The CCC is a teaching studio. In this shared space, it is important to be courteous so everyone can work efficiently and peacefully. Please be respectful of those working and learning around you by:

• Keeping voice and music volume so that it doesn’t distract people who are trying to focus on their work nor the business upstairs.  Headphones are encouraged.

• Treating people, the studio, and equipment with care, respect and kindness.

• Helping one another out; please do not offer criticism unless it is asked for.

• Cellphones: If you need to have a phone conversation, please step outside so as not to disturb your fellow artists. Please be considerate and be aware of phone volume (text alerts, etc.).

• There is no smoking in the CCC. If you must smoke, we ask you to go outside away from the building and to take your butts with you when you leave (please don’t leave them in CCC trash). 

• Try to eat before your studio time. If you must eat during your time at the CCC, please eat outside when possible and take all odiferous packing or left over food with you as we do not have regular trash removal.

 

The following guidelines are subject to change. We will keep you updated and informed through e-mail and paper postings in the studio.

 

Please contact Penny/Tamara/Michelle with any questions or concerns. 

 

General Guidelines:

Only clay purchased from the CCC is allowed in our kilns.

Commercial glazes purchased outside of CCC must be approved by Penny/Tamara/Michelle.

Do not handle other people’s work without their permission.

Do not touch, open, or unload kilns. Nothing should be put on top of closed kilns. 

Be aware that we load the kilns as efficiently as possible, and that the size of a piece determines whether it can be included. A long, flat, or very tall piece may not get fired right away because of space limitations. 

Be sure to clean all of the glaze off of the bottom of your piece. Even if you wax the bottom, you still need to wipe off any glaze that remains on the bottom. 

Label your work before placing it on the bisque cart. All work must be labeled with initials or a stamp.

Place only clay work on the bisque cart; no ware boards, plastic, newspaper. 

Remove bisqued pieces promptly from the shelf next to the kilns and store them on your shelf if you do not plan to glaze them immediately. This will leave more room for the next kiln load. 

Remember to check the chalkboard for special events, etc. 

We reserve the right to close the studio for events or classes. 

You must sign in and out EVERY TIME you come to the studio. This is an absolute requirement. 

No foreign objects objects should be fired in clay. 

No glazes, slips, tools or studio equipment of any kind should be removed from the studio. 

We do not have the facilities to accommodate production work (in this case the definition of production is high-volume work).

Please take your finished work within 10 days. 

Abandoned, dried out or not labeled pieces will be discarded after 30 days.

The CCC is not responsible for pieces that break during the firing process or get thrown out if abandoned for more than 30 days. 

We fire our Skutt electric kiln to cone 10 oxidation for glazing. 

Please keep your shelves clean and organized. Please wipe down with a sponge at least once a month to control dust buildup. 

 

Safety:

Any accidents/broken items need to be reported ASAP.

Keep dust down - this is imperative for everyone’s safety.

No sweeping/sanding in the studio, it raises silica dust which can stay airborne for days.

If you wish to do any sanding do so outside with a mask on.

Any questions, concerns, ideas, clarifications, etc. should be taken directly to Penny/Tamara/Michelle.

Please wear appropriate footwear at all times. If using kick wheels, you must have close-toed shoes. No flip-flops.

 

Cleaning:

It is everyone’s responsibility to keep this studio clean and safe for all to use. 

After use, everything needs to be cleaned and returned to its correct place.

Place clay scraps & slip/slop in the recycle bucket. 

No clay EVER down the sink.

Anything with clay, including your hands, should first be rinsed in the bug white barrel. Please be advised that there is trace amounts of bleach in the barrel to impede mold. Then use clean water for final rinse.

Do not leave containers, paint brushes, bats, etc., in or on sinks. Once cleaned, please return them to their designated locations. 

Clean as you go, always make sure your last wipe is with a clean wrung-out sponge.

Rinse out any sponges you’ve used in the big white barrel before a clean rinse in the sink and put them away clean.  

If you are done in one area, do not move to another without cleaning up first. 

After you are done on the wheel, clean wheel, splash pan, table, chair, making sure to rinse and wash splash pan in big white barrel and then mop around the area. 

Make sure to label all of your personal tools with a permanent marker. 

Give yourself at least 20 minutes to clean up, especially if the studio is closing at a certain time. 

Scrape off extra clay on work tables with canvas surfaces and wedging board. Then wipe down thoroughly with a large sponge so that no clay remains on the canvas. 

 

Cleaning glaze area:

Full buckets can be very heavy. Ask for help.

Please use the glaze rinse bucket when rinsing any spatulas, pouring cups, brushes, lids etc. that have glaze on them. Once rinsed in the glaze rinse bucket, they can be thoroughly cleaned in the sink.

When finished glazing, scrape the inside of the glaze bucket with a spatula and wipe down the outside of the bucket with a clean sponge. Rinse glaze sponge in glaze rinse bucket only. Keep lips with the same buckets to prevent contamination. Wash the entire lid if unsure, in the glaze rinse bucket only.

When finished glazing, wipe down the glaze table and counter and mop excess glaze you’ve spilled on the floor.

Push glaze buckets back under the counter when you are through, with the labels clearly visible for the next person.

Glazes contain chemicals that are not good for us to absorb  through our skin and dry glaze is like dry clay which creates dangerous silica dust, so please make sure you are cleaning glaze off buckets, surfaces and tools appropriately.

 

Production of work:

• We are a community studio therefore we do not have the facilities to accommodate production work (in this case the definition of production is high volume work).  More than 25 mug sized pieces per month is considered production and is not allowed.

• For students using more than 75 pounds (3 bags) of clay in a six week period there is an additional $10 added to the cost of a bag of purchased clay.

  

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