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CLASSES
​
CLASSES
Unless otherwise stated, all classes are for 18 years of age and above.

COVID GUIDELINES

In response to the community need for safety and well-being,  IRC is implementing safety procedures for our members and for class participants. These include temperature taking at the door, hand sanitizing when you first come in, wearing masks, social distancing and limiting the class number to 8 participants.
Thank you for your continued support of Indian River Clay and thank you most of all for your understanding.  

DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN HAVE YOUR OWN CLAY EVENT
OR THAT PRIVATE CLAY LESSONS ARE AVAILABLE AT INDIAN RIVER CLAY?
- Clay events are $35 per person (minimum 6 people), for the group. You provide your refreshments and Indian River Clay will take care of everything clay. 
- Private lessons are $45/hour, minimum 3 hours or $60/hour for 2 people.
Contact us for more details or to schedule a party or lessons.

MASTER WORKSHOPS AT INDIAN RIVER CLAY
As part of a special program Indian River Clay will be offering the participants the chance to take their practice to another level with Master Workshops.  We will have guest instructors visit and bestow their passion and expertise on various projects.  Don't miss this fantastic opportunity to learn from the masters!

PLAYING WITH FIRE (AND SODA)
​A JESUS MINGUEZ III MASTER WORKSHOP

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Playing with Fire (and soda), a Jesus Minguez III Master WorkshopWe are excited to have master potter Jesus Minguez III return to Indian River Clay for a fun-filled 2-day master workshop on soda firing. Join Jesus on Saturday to learn about the history and technique of atmospheric firings, and how our experimental soda kiln was converted from electric to gas. Jesus will discuss the materials used in the process and will demonstrate techniques for both throwing and hand-building that maximize the effects of the soda firing.  After a bag-lunch break, students will slip-decorate their bisque pieces, with guidance from the instructor. 
On Sunday morning we will resume, load the experimental kiln and start firing. While the kiln is firing and cooling, there will be time for more demonstrations and discussions. A pot-luck lunch will follow. At the end of the day we will open and unload the kiln and discuss the results. 
Participants must pick up 3 lb of clay from the Studio to make up to 2 4”x4” pieces and return those pieces to the Studio to be bisqued before the 20th. For the workshop a simple form like a cup or a box will probably work best. 
Pre-Registration is required.
Instructor: Jesus Minguez III
Skill Level: Able to construct a 4” piece in clay
Cost: $105
Materials Fee: $0 
Materials To Bring: none
Class Date: Saturday, February 6 and Sunday, February 7
Time: 9 AM to 4 PM
Location: 1239 16th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960

​REGISTER


JANUARY


BEGINNING WHEEL



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Beginning Wheel with Maria Sparsis 
This class is intended for beginners students with little or no previous experience using the wheel. Class will focus on fundamentals of wedging, centering, opening lifting and producing basic pottery forms such as bowls, cylinders, mugs, plates and vases. Time will also be spent on glazing techniques. Students buy their own clay at $25 for a 25 pound bag the first class.
Pre-Registration is required.
Instructor: Maria Sparsis
Skill Level: Beginner and intermediate
Cost: $180
Materials Fee: $25 purchase of bag of clay
Materials To Bring: none
Location: 1239 16th Street Vero Beach 32960

Session 1
Class Date: Monday, January 4, 11, 18, 25, February 1, 8
Time: 6 to 9 PM
REGISTER


Session 2
Class Date: Thursdays, February 4, 11, 18, 25, March 4, 11
Time: 6 to 9 PM
REGISTER


Session 3
​Class Date: Mondays, March 29, April 5, 12, 19, 26, May 3
Time: 6 to 9 PM
​REGISTER


BEGINNING HAND BUILDING


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Learn the basics of hand building in clay. Pinch pot, slab and coil construction will be covered. Course consists of six 3 hour classes. During the class students will make a project a class with the last class focusing on glazing techniques. Several of the projects will be making a pinch pot container with an animal lid, pop up plates and a coil container.
Pre-Registration is required.
Instructor: Ginny Piech Street
Skill Level: Beginners
​Cost: $180
Materials Fee: $25 bag of clay
​Materials To Bring: None
Location: 1239 16th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960

​Session 1
Class Dates: Wednesdays, January 6, 13, 20, 27, February 3, 10
Time: 1 to 4 PM
REGISTER

Session 2
Class Dates: Wednesdays, February 17, 24, March 3, 10, 17, 24
Time: 1 to 4 PM
REGISTER


MESSING AROUND WITH UNDERGLAZES


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Come explore the use of underglazes and expand your repertoire of surface decoration. This class will cover using underglazes on greenware and and on bisque pieces. Participants will bring several slabs of light clay and a bisque piece or two such as a bowl, cup or small sculpture to work on.
Pre-Registration is required.
Instructor: Ginny Piech Street
Skill Level: All Levels
​Cost: $35
Materials Fee: $10 (to be paid to the instructor at the first class)
Materials To Bring: several fresh slabs of light white clay and a bisqued piece or two such as a bowl, cup or small sculpture  (clay slabs should be moist to soft leather hard)
​Class Date: Friday, January 8
Time: 1 - 4 pm
Location: 1239 16th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960

​REGISTER

GUARDIAN MASKS


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Come join Maria Sparsis and create your very own Guardian Mask! During this 2-session series you will learn how to build a clay guardian mask (a creature of your imagination designed to be just a little scary so they can protect you and your home), using an inverted plaster mold. Session 1 will be building your mask, Session 2 will provide an opportunity for you to use underglazes to decorate and bring life to your Guardian. 
Pre-registration is required.
Instructor: Maria Sparsis
Cost: $65
Materials cost:$10
Skill level: All
Date: Sundays, January 10, 31
Time: 2 - 5 pm 
Materials to bring: none
Location: 1239 16th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960

​REGISTER

GAZPACHO BOWLS


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In this 2-session class, students will make a set of 4 gazpacho bowls. In Session 1, students will hand-build the four pinch pot bowls. Session 2 will focus on surface painting and using underglazes.
Pre-Registration is required.
Instructor: Ginny Piech Street
Skill Level: intermediate
​Cost: $60
Materials Fee: $10
​Class Date: Mondays, January 11, 25
Time: 1 to 4 pm
Materials To Bring: none​
Location: 1239 16th Street Vero Beach 32960

​REGISTER

UNIQUE HAND-BUILT BOWLS


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Introducing a new IRC hand building class!
Join clay artist, Karen "Keko" Ekonomou in learning new ways to create textured bowls for your table. In this class, students will explore techniques using slabs and coils and other hand building strategies for creating unique bowls.
​Pre-Registration is required.
Instructor: Karen "Keko" Ekonomou
Skill Level: All Levels
Cost: $40
Materials Fee: $5
Materials To Bring: none
Location: 1239 16th Street Vero Beach 32960

Session 1
Class Date: Friday, January 15
Time: 6 to 9 pm
REGISTER

Session 2
Class Date: Friday, January 22
Time: 6 to 9 pm
​REGISTER

MOSAIC BIRDBATHS WITH ANITA PRENTICE


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In this two-day workshop, you will create a mosaic birdbath with Anita Prentice. She will provide extra tiles, Thin-set for gluing, grout tools, rubber gloves, mixing bowls and granite squares for breaking. There will also be pottery rejects in a bucket at Indian River Clay’s new studio. You can bring existing pieces that you’ve broken or pieces that you’ve made specifically for your bird bath. Participants will need to bring a terracotta plant plate (saucer) and a terracotta flower pot making sure that your plate will balance on your pot. Also, please bring a terry cloth towel to cut up for rags. Please bring a hammer if you have one - safety glasses, too if you have them – the instructor will provide hammers and glasses if you don’t have them.
Preregistration is required.
Instructor: Anita Prentice
Skill Level: All skills
Cost: $65
Materials Fee: $10
Materials to Bring: terracotta flower pot and saucer (be sure saucer can balance on the pot)
Location: Indian River Clay, 1239 16th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960

Session 1
Date: Saturday, January 16 and Sunday, January 17
Time: Saturday - 10 am to 12:30 pm, Sunday - 11 am to 12:30 pm
REGISTER

Session 2
Date: Saturday, January 30 and Sunday, January 31
Time: Saturday - 10 am to 12:30 pm, Sunday - 11 am to 12:30 pm
REGISTER

TIKI MUGS


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Come for one evening and learn how to make your own, personalized tiki mug! Mugs will be glazed and fired for you.
Pre-Registration is required.
Instructor: Maria Sparsis
Skill Level: Beginner
​Cost: $35
Materials Fee: $5
​Class Date: Saturday, January 16
Time: 5 - 8 pm
Materials To Bring: clay clothesmoto_tile
​Location: 1239 16th Street Vero Beach 32960

REGISTER

BOTTLE GLAZING


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Students will learn the technique of bottle glazing.  Bisqued pieces  will be available for practice.  Students will then glaze a trivet using the bottle glazing technique.  Each student will be given their own set of glazing bottles and funnel to take with them.
Pre-Registration is required.
Instructor: Linda Thiessen
Skill Level: All Levels
​Cost: $30
Materials Fee: $12
​Class Date: Friday, January 29
Time: 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
Materials To Bring: none​
Location: 1239 16th Street Vero Beach 32960

​REGISTER


BEGINNING WHEEL WITH GLENDA TAYLOR


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This class is intended for beginners students with little or no previous experience using the wheel. Class will focus on fundamentals of wedging, centering, opening lifting and producing basic pottery forms such as bowls, cylinders, mugs, plates and vases. Time will also be spent on glazing techniques. Students buy their own clay at $25 for a 25 pound bag the first class.
Pre-Registration is required.
Instructor: Glenda Taylor
Skill Level: Beginner and intermediate
Cost: $180
Materials Fee: $25 purchase of bag of clay
Class Date: Thursdays, February 4, 11, 18, 25, March 4, 11
Time:9:30 am to 12:30 pm
Materials To Bring: none
Location: 1239 16th Street Vero Beach 32960

REGISTER​

FEBRUARY

CLAY CARVING


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In the first class, we will construct the piece to be carved. In the second class we will carve our designs. The third class we will finish and refine our carving, then add underglazes or stains.
Pre-Registration is required.
Instructor: Beverly Swatt
Skill Level: Intermediate
​Cost: $90
Materials Fee: $13
​Class Dates: Monday, February 1 and Thursday, February 4
Time: 1 to 4 pm
Materials To Bring: any carving tools and designs or patterns
​Location: 1239 16th Street Vero Beach 32960

REGISTER

IKEBANA PILLOW VASES


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Come in for one evening, bring a snack and a beverage if you’d like, and learn how to make and use a Japanese-style Ikebana flower arranging vase. You will learn how to make and decorate a clay slab for the top part of the container and a simple way of arranging a few flowers and branches to make an elegant arrangement. The slabs you create will be glazed and fired, and a base with a kenzan (flower frog) will be epoxied to the slab. Time permitting you can create 2 or 3 tops. No tools or experience necessary.
Pre-Registration is required.
Instructor: Maria Sparsis
Skill Level: All Levels
​Cost: $35
Materials Fee: $8 per vase
​Class Date: Wednesday, February 10
Time: 6 to 9 PM
Materials To Bring: None
​Location: 1174 S US 1, Vero Beach, FL 32962

​REGISTER


OIL LAMPS


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Each student will learn how to build nd decorate 1 or 2 oil lamps, using the extruder, slab roller and simple hand-building techniques.
Pre-Registration is required.
Instructor: Maria Sparsis
Skill Level: Beginner
​Cost: $45
Materials Fee: $10
​Class Date: Monday, February 15
Time: 6 to 9 pm
Materials To Bring: comfortable clothes and COVID-appropriate mask​
Location: 1239 16th Street Vero Beach 32960  

​REGISTER


GLAZING TIPS AND TRICKS


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Learn simple skills and tricks to get the glazing results you want. How to choose glazes to buy. Will my glazes run? Should I reglaze? Brush or dip? Waxing. Form and function. Resist techniques. Bubbles. Glazes, underglazes, slips and engobes. A little bit about glaze chemistry.  
This will mostly be a demonstration class but students are encouraged to bring bisqueware and bisque test tiles to glaze. Class is designed for beginner and intermediate students.
Pre-Registration is required.
Instructor: Maria Sparsis
Skill Level: Beginner and Intermediate
Cost: $35
Materials Fee: $0
Class Date: Saturday, February 20
Time: 1 to 4 pm
Materials to Bring: bisque pieces and test tiles to glaze, if wanted
​Location: 1239 16th Street Vero Beach 32960

​REGISTER


GARDEN FLOWERS


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Join Ginny Piech Street in the studio for a 3-session class in constructing whimsical ceramic garden art for your garden, backyard or terrace. Session 1 will focus on design and construction, Session 2 (meeting two weeks later) will cover glazing and decorative techniques, Session 3 will allow participants to complete their pieces by adding stems and finishing touches.
Pre-Registration is required.
Instructor: Ginny Piech Street
Skill Level: All Levels
​Cost: $75
Materials Fee: $20
​Class Date: Mondays, February 22, March 8, 15
Time: 1 to 4 pm
Materials To Bring: none​
Location: 1239 16th Street Vero Beach 32960


​REGISTER

HAND BUILT MUGS

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Students will create two mugs each, using a slab roller, decorating techniques and a pattern. Finished mugs will be fired and glazed by the instructor. Open to adults 18 or older, or teens with adult supervision.
Pre-Registration is required.
Instructor: Maria Sparsis
Skill Level: Beginner
​Cost: $35
Materials Fee: $5
​Class Date: Monday, February 22
Time: 6 to 9 pm
Materials To Bring: comfortable clothes and COVID-appropriate mask​
Location: 1239 16th Street Vero Beach 32960  

​REGISTER

UNDERGLAZE TRANSFERS


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In this workshop, participants will have the opportunity create and use underglaze transfers on slabs of clay to be made into simple slump platters. The workshop includes a demonstration of screen printed transfers.
Some experience necessary. 
Pre-Registration is required.
Instructor: Ginny Piech Street
Skill Level: Intermediate And Up
​Cost: $45
Materials Fee: $10
​Class Date: Saturday, February 27
Time: 1 to 4 pm
​Materials To Bring: A number of fresh to soft leather hard slabs 12" or 14" squares (approximate)
Location: 1239 16th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960

​REGISTER

MARCH

DAY OF THE DUDE

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March 6 is the official Day Of The Dude. The Day Of The Dude is a reference to the classic cult film, The Big Lebowski which actually has no connection to this class except that the little fellow in the picture has been nicknamed The Dude. So, with that in mind, come have some fun building your own Dude from a press mold and a pinch pot. There is plenty of opportunity to make this little fellow your own, reflecting your creative preferences. Come join the class and have a great time. This is a 2 session class, the first on March 6, Saturday, to build The Dude and the second session to glaze him.
Pre-Registration is required.
Instructor: Ginny Piech Street
Skill Level: All Levels
​Cost: $40
Materials Fee: $5
​Class Date: Saturdays, March 6, 20
Time: 10 am to 1 pm
Materials To Bring: None
​Location: 1174 S US 1, Vero Beach, FL 32962

​REGISTER


A LESSON IN SGRAFFITO


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sgraf·fi·to
/zɡräˈfētō,skrä-/
noun
a form of decoration made by scratching through a surface to reveal a lower layer of a contrasting color, typically done in plaster or stucco on walls, or in slip on ceramics before firing.

Join Ginny as she takes you through the basics of the sgraffito technique, giving you the foundation to build on in making your own sgraffito masterpieces.
Pre-Registration is required.
Instructor: Ginny Piech Street
Skill Level: All Levels
​Cost: $35
Materials Fee: $10
​Class Date: Monday, March 29
Time: 1 to 4 pm
Materials To Bring: 2 to 3 medium size, soft leather hard items such as cup, bowl, plate or vase​
Location: 1239 16th Street Vero Beach 32960

​REGISTER

MORE ABOUT OUR INSTRUCTORS HERE

Indian River Clay Class Refund Policy
For cancellations up to 14 DAYS before the first class day, a refund less $25 handling charge will be given. For cancellations after 14 days before the start of class, class cost will be forfeited unless the space is resold.

​Are you interested in being an instructor?
We invite you to submit a proposal for a class of your design. We are now taking class proposals for October, November and December. Below are a few suggestions of classes we may be interested in. Please feel free to be creative with your class offerings.
    •  Beginner and intermediate wheel throwing
    •  Advance project class wheel throwing
    •  Hand-building – beginner and intermediate 
    •  Exploring hand-building with coils
    •  Exploring hand-building with slabs
    •  Exploring hand-building with pinch pots
    •  Sculpture - vessels and figurative
    •  Glazing / decorating / surface treatment / transfers

Class lengths can vary.  We encourage you to consider offering day, night or weekend classes.  All instructors will be required to submit the instructor’s agreement and indemnity forms downloadable below.  If you have any questions, please contact the education committee at Indian River Clay.  We look forward to reading your proposals and seeing you at Indian River Clay.

Click to fill out Class Proposal.
teacher_contract.pdf
File Size: 33 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

instructor_class_proposal_-_no_color.pdf
File Size: 23 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

indemnity.pdf
File Size: 33 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


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