● Programs

Wheel Throwing 101

8 Week Intermediate Throwing Class

8 Weeks ($480) - Wednesday mornings from 10am-1pm beginning May 6th to June 24th taught by Lauren Rider.

Registration opens 12pm 4/9

● Program Overview

Intro to Throwing

Our classes offer a supportive environment to explore wheel throwing at your own pace. Each session begins with an instructor demonstration followed by plenty of hands-on practice, giving you the guidance and time you need to develop your craft. Classes meet once a week for three hours.

What’s Included

  • 25lb. of clay

  • Use of all of our 10 shop glazes

  • All bisque and glaze firings

  • Everyone will have their own wheel + water pail

  • Shared studio tools

  • Storage for your work on shared class shelving

    *If you’d like your own tools we do have starter throwing kits available for sale if our studio shop (open 10am-6pm daily)

What You’ll Need to Bring

  • Please bring 1-2 hand towels (very important!)

  • An apron if you prefer to wear one

  • An open mind to try new things and meet new people :)

  • Feel free to bring your own tools if you prefer

Sample Syllabus

Class intro to class and centering, opening up your vessel, pulling up walls, working with ribs and tools

WEEK ONE

Practicing basic techniques 

WEEK TWO

Bowl Demo + how to process scraps, wedging and review of basic centering techniques + handles

WEEK THREE

Trimming feet + handles

WEEK FOUR

Surface treatments for greenware - water etching, stenciling, stamping, sgraffito+ continuation of surface treatments

WEEK FIVE

Glaze demo + continuation of surface treatments

WEEK SIX

Throwing plates + altering throw forms 

WEEK SEVEN

Glazing

WEEK EIGHT

You’ll be notified via KilnFire Email about 2 weeks after your class wraps up to pick up your work. Our pick up hours are during 10am-6pm daily. You’ll find your work labeled on your class shelf in our kiln room

*WORK PICK-UP

Frequently Asked Questions

  • No previous experience with clay is necessary! All 101 classes welcome new-comers.

  • The Ceramics Dept. is located on the gorund floor of VIA - The Village. of Industry and Art (formerly Hamiloton and Furness Hall of UArts) at 320 S. Broad St. in Philadelphia, PA.

    You will enter using a key code for the Broad Street entrance that you will receive in a welcome email the week your class begins with all the info you’ll need to be prepared for class!

  • Do not worry if you cannot make it to every single class. Although we do not offer make-up classes you are welcome to utilize open studio hours throughout the week to keep practicing until you can come back.

    Our teachers can also briefly recap and catch you up on what you missed when you return.

  • 10am - 6pm Daily

  • More clay is available to purchase at the studio shop. We sell Standard Clay and its sold in 25lb. bags. Firing fees are included in the price of clay to keep things simpler for everyone.

    The studio shop is open daily from 10am-6pm. Please come before class to purchase clay if you’re taking a PM class.

  • You’ll be notifed about two weeks after your class ends and you can come by during open hours (10am-6pm) to pick up your work from the Finished Work Shelves which will be labled with your class.

    We will send you an email as soon as your work is ready for pickup via KilnFire. Please do not call or email asking if it is ready. 

  • Please email us directly at hello@theceramicsdept.com, so we can speak directly to your accessibility needs to see if we can meet them! VIA was built in 1826 and Scout (our landloard) is working towards improving access for everyone.

  • General FAQ is coming soon