Beyond Keeping the Doors Open in 2021,
DCC Created a Safe Space for Creativity to Thrive
We hope District Clay has been a haven for teachers, students and artists during these challenging times.
Thanks to all our students, artists, work/study colleagues and our teachers for a fantastic year.
Here are just some of the highlights.....
From January 1 - December 19, 2021 we tracked 16,653 visits to DCC.
Workshops returned - and included Shino glazing, mastering decorating techniques, Science of Ceramics 101, making coffee pour-overs, carving and texturing clay, throwing perfect planters, creating oval serving dishes, building whimsical character busts, paperclay and the the fundamentals of glazing. Plus a full roster of roster of beginner and advanced raku workshops.
Jon Kerr was promoted DCC Studio Director and Connor Czora became our first Creative Director.
Chad Gunderson redid our Cone 10 glaze palette, soliciting student input along the way.
Long time teacher Carol Herwig retired (congratulations!) and we said good-bye to Resident Artist Chad Gunderson & former Resident Artist and DCC teacher Sam Briegel.
We welcomed four new teachers: Ray Bogle (Raku), Hadrian Mendoza (Advanced Wheel), Amy Minish (Kids & Family) and Jenny Beech (Wheel).
We increased our class offerings to 32 per week and expanded our artist program to 84 community and associate artist spaces.
We offered 5 holiday open studio sessions at no cost.
We increased our drop in times for current students, including open studio, to 55 hours a week!
We turned an artist studio into a temporary gallery so that we could showcase student work in juried shows such as Vase to Vase and Tempest in a Teapot.
The District Clay Gallery re-opened with a Resident Artist exhibition City Upon A Hill, featuring Connor Czora.
We created a new wheel room & added 5 new wheels - and re-opened our lounge.
We added a new large oval kiln, bringing us up to 3 electric kilns.
Our students and artists had record breaking Spring and Holiday Sales, selling over $40K for the first time.
Under Ara Koh's direction, our Community Clay created new programs with the Phillips Collection and the Wounded Warrior Project and continued to offer virtual classes to underserved kids at THEARC in Southeast DC.
DCC artists created ornaments for Vice President Kamala Harris' Christmas Tree.
We successfully instituted a Vaccination Only policy for entrance to District Clay.
We received an award from Local First Awards in the category of DC Makers.
DCC Created a Safe Space for Creativity to Thrive
We hope District Clay has been a haven for teachers, students and artists during these challenging times.
Thanks to all our students, artists, work/study colleagues and our teachers for a fantastic year.
Here are just some of the highlights.....
From January 1 - December 19, 2021 we tracked 16,653 visits to DCC.
Workshops returned - and included Shino glazing, mastering decorating techniques, Science of Ceramics 101, making coffee pour-overs, carving and texturing clay, throwing perfect planters, creating oval serving dishes, building whimsical character busts, paperclay and the the fundamentals of glazing. Plus a full roster of roster of beginner and advanced raku workshops.
Jon Kerr was promoted DCC Studio Director and Connor Czora became our first Creative Director.
Chad Gunderson redid our Cone 10 glaze palette, soliciting student input along the way.
Long time teacher Carol Herwig retired (congratulations!) and we said good-bye to Resident Artist Chad Gunderson & former Resident Artist and DCC teacher Sam Briegel.
We welcomed four new teachers: Ray Bogle (Raku), Hadrian Mendoza (Advanced Wheel), Amy Minish (Kids & Family) and Jenny Beech (Wheel).
We increased our class offerings to 32 per week and expanded our artist program to 84 community and associate artist spaces.
We offered 5 holiday open studio sessions at no cost.
We increased our drop in times for current students, including open studio, to 55 hours a week!
We turned an artist studio into a temporary gallery so that we could showcase student work in juried shows such as Vase to Vase and Tempest in a Teapot.
The District Clay Gallery re-opened with a Resident Artist exhibition City Upon A Hill, featuring Connor Czora.
We created a new wheel room & added 5 new wheels - and re-opened our lounge.
We added a new large oval kiln, bringing us up to 3 electric kilns.
Our students and artists had record breaking Spring and Holiday Sales, selling over $40K for the first time.
Under Ara Koh's direction, our Community Clay created new programs with the Phillips Collection and the Wounded Warrior Project and continued to offer virtual classes to underserved kids at THEARC in Southeast DC.
DCC artists created ornaments for Vice President Kamala Harris' Christmas Tree.
We successfully instituted a Vaccination Only policy for entrance to District Clay.
We received an award from Local First Awards in the category of DC Makers.
What's on the Horizon for 2022?
Over the next four months:
In order to help fund a 6 percent raise for our teachers in 2022, class fees will be raised by $5 per 10 week session (1.5%) - the first increase in class fees in 18 months.
We will put on workshops replicating cloth textures, throwing large forms, photolithographic image transfers, making onggi pots for kimchi (and learning how make kimchi as well).
We also have new juried student shows and solo gallery shows featuring artists like Sam Briegel.
We will be redoing our Cone Six glazes and soliciting student input to get the glazes that you want most. We will also add more overflow shelving and create an informative mistakes shelf.
We will be adding new wheel and handbuilding classes and hiring teachers new to District Clay.
We will keep our students better informed with bi-monthly announcements by teachers in all classes.
Over the next four months:
In order to help fund a 6 percent raise for our teachers in 2022, class fees will be raised by $5 per 10 week session (1.5%) - the first increase in class fees in 18 months.
We will put on workshops replicating cloth textures, throwing large forms, photolithographic image transfers, making onggi pots for kimchi (and learning how make kimchi as well).
We also have new juried student shows and solo gallery shows featuring artists like Sam Briegel.
We will be redoing our Cone Six glazes and soliciting student input to get the glazes that you want most. We will also add more overflow shelving and create an informative mistakes shelf.
We will be adding new wheel and handbuilding classes and hiring teachers new to District Clay.
We will keep our students better informed with bi-monthly announcements by teachers in all classes.
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FROM FABRIC TO CLAY: CLOTHING THE VESSEL
with SAM BRIEGEL Jan. 30 & Feb. 6, 10 AM - 4 PM Join us to transform textured fabric into beautiful ceramic vessels and tiles! In this 2-day workshop with artist Sam Briegel, students will learn transfer techniques that use a plaster slab to add layers of textured slip onto a slab of clay. During the workshop, students will create a textured 8.5’’x12’’x1’’ plaster slab using a swatch of low-relief fabric or piece of clothing. After a slab of colored & textured clay has been created, students will learn basic soft-slab building techniques to turn it into a cup or leave it flat to create a tile. Students will come away from this workshop with their very own fabric-texture mold, a decorated tile or cup fired at District Clay Center, and special techniques for taking their surface designs to a whole new level. |
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Show Extended By Popular Demand:
CITY UPON A HILL New Work by Resident Artist Connor Czora Opening: Sat, Nov 6, 6-8 pm This November, the District Clay Center is proud to present the work of DCC 2019-2021 resident artist Connor Czora. Through a stunning and thought provoking collection of commemorative porcelain and protest ephemera, Czora’s City Upon A Hill challenges our understanding of American empire and our role in creating a more perfect union. |
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NEW!
What's Happening with Clay
in the DC Area
Click here to see a listing of clay events happening around the DC metro area.
This list has been created by DCC students, artists and teachers.
Become a District Clay Artist!
For those who want 24/7 access to District Clay, plus expanded shelving and discounts on advanced classes (among other benefits), check out our Community Artist program.
* Best for those with significant clay experience who are also interested in Independent Study.
* Free drop-ins for regular wheel classes included.
We have approximately 60 slots and are currently full. We are maintaining a wait list for those interested.
If you want to see District Clay before making a decision, you can schedule a tour by going here.
For more info on the program, go here.
For those who want 24/7 access to District Clay, plus expanded shelving and discounts on advanced classes (among other benefits), check out our Community Artist program.
* Best for those with significant clay experience who are also interested in Independent Study.
* Free drop-ins for regular wheel classes included.
We have approximately 60 slots and are currently full. We are maintaining a wait list for those interested.
If you want to see District Clay before making a decision, you can schedule a tour by going here.
For more info on the program, go here.
Give us ONE SHOT. . .
Brand new to clay and want to take one of our potter's wheels out for a test ride?
Try a One Shot! class on Saturday and Sunday nights and get a coupon for a discounted 10 week class.
Brand new to clay and want to take one of our potter's wheels out for a test ride?
Try a One Shot! class on Saturday and Sunday nights and get a coupon for a discounted 10 week class.
Private Parties, One on One Instruction & Corporate Events
Create the perfect birthday, anniversary or friends and family Private Party Event using our socially distanced wheels and handbuilding stations. Or take a private lesson with a District Clay teacher.
Or plan a Corporate Teambuilding Event for your staff and use our Teambuilding Guides to enrich your work experience.
Either way, you'll have fun. Just let us know how many people and what format you would like. Find out more here.
Create the perfect birthday, anniversary or friends and family Private Party Event using our socially distanced wheels and handbuilding stations. Or take a private lesson with a District Clay teacher.
Or plan a Corporate Teambuilding Event for your staff and use our Teambuilding Guides to enrich your work experience.
Either way, you'll have fun. Just let us know how many people and what format you would like. Find out more here.
Want to Check out District Clay?
We are now offering 30 minute private tours during weekdays and weekends.
Come and see the largest clay studio in the DC area, see our kilns and wheel rooms and hear about all the ways we are making District Clay a safe place to play with clay.
Sign up for a private tour here.
We are now offering 30 minute private tours during weekdays and weekends.
Come and see the largest clay studio in the DC area, see our kilns and wheel rooms and hear about all the ways we are making District Clay a safe place to play with clay.
Sign up for a private tour here.
District Clay Covid Guidelines
Everyone Entering District Clay Must Supply Proof of Vaccination.
Masks are Required While Inside District Clay.
Go here for more information.
Everyone Entering District Clay Must Supply Proof of Vaccination.
Masks are Required While Inside District Clay.
Go here for more information.
Why Take a Pottery Class?
The Best Places to Take Ceramics Classes Across the US, Artsy, 6/2018 (District Clay made the list!)
94% of District Clay Students Give DCC a Good or Excellent rating, 1/2020
Local Company Changing the Pottery Scene, WUSA9 Feature on the District Clay Center: 8/18
District Clay Center Provides Holiday Shoppers with Pottery Bonanza, OnTap, 12/10/2019
Pottery is the new Pilates..., the New York Times, 11/2018
Creating Ceramics Can Help Combat Depression, Artsy, 9/2017
25 Reasons to Take a Pottery Class, Amaranth Stoneware, 7/2015
The Best Places to Take Ceramics Classes Across the US, Artsy, 6/2018 (District Clay made the list!)
94% of District Clay Students Give DCC a Good or Excellent rating, 1/2020
Local Company Changing the Pottery Scene, WUSA9 Feature on the District Clay Center: 8/18
District Clay Center Provides Holiday Shoppers with Pottery Bonanza, OnTap, 12/10/2019
Pottery is the new Pilates..., the New York Times, 11/2018
Creating Ceramics Can Help Combat Depression, Artsy, 9/2017
25 Reasons to Take a Pottery Class, Amaranth Stoneware, 7/2015
Where is the District Clay Center?
The District Clay Center is located at 2414 Douglas St NE in Washington DC on the first floor of the Off the Beaten Track Warehouse. We are minutes from Brookland, Union Market and Catholic U.
Our doors are on the left hand side of the building facing the street. Parking is available directly in front of the building.
Click here to contact us. Click here to join our mailing list.
The District Clay Center is located at 2414 Douglas St NE in Washington DC on the first floor of the Off the Beaten Track Warehouse. We are minutes from Brookland, Union Market and Catholic U.
Our doors are on the left hand side of the building facing the street. Parking is available directly in front of the building.
Click here to contact us. Click here to join our mailing list.
