I really wanted to enjoy my experience here, but unfortunately did not. I understand that my situation was pretty specific, but the studio just doesn't really have anything in place to work with folks in my situation. From what I've heard the beginner classes are pretty good.
If you're an intermediate - solidly not beginner, solidly not advanced - who has taken a long hiatus from throwing, and you're looking for a structured class that will reintroduce you to throwing (but you don't need the absolute basics), this is not the place for you.
I had taken over a decade away from throwing. I was by no means a professional, but I was throwing large amounts of clay, plates, vases with handles, nested bowls, lids, feet, tea pots, throwing on top of existing structures, etc. But since it had been so long, I wanted a class where I could refamiliarize myself with throwing and learn or "get back" some skills.
The intermediate class is not really a class at all, and they don't explain that well on the website. It is more of a free throw time with an instructor around who you can ask for help or advice if you want. Otherwise, they really won't bother you. That's great for someone who is more interested in practice time, but that wasn't me.
I had reached out to the studio explaining my situation and asking what class made the most sense, and I signed up for what was essentially a beginner/slow intermediate class, which was suggested to me.
The studio doesn't do any sort of introduction to the studio and how it works unless you do a beginner class. I showed up with a few minutes to spare, not knowing where the entrance door was (multiple doors, all locked), and there was one other person there who asked if I knew the code to the door. I did not. She found the code somewhere in an email (which I had not gotten any type of informational email) and we got in. I wasn't sure what to do because I had never stepped foot in the building before. I waited 10-15 minutes awkwardly until the instructor came late. I confirmed this was the correct class, and she seemed confused that I was confused. I explained to her my situation and that it was my first time here. It came out that she thought I had had a tour of the studio, where everything was, and how things worked. She seemed surprised that I had not gotten that tour. She asked if I had taken a beginner class there, and I explained I had not. She was extra surprised by that and seemed concerned. Once again I explained that whoever I had interacted with at the studio suggested this class based on the description of my experience. Later on I discovered that not all the students had gotten an important email about free practice time and the new code to the door. Wouldn't all registered students be on an auto email list?
Since it was advertised as a class, I was surprised to find that nothing was included. You have to buy your own tools, clay, glaze, firing, etc. You get to choose which clay you want, but after so many years away, I didn't know where to start, and the instructor wasn't very helpful. She ended up recommending the beginner clay. And since the instructor isn't really leading a class, you're essentially paying a small fraction of rent in the space. For someone expecting a class/structure, it was a disappointment.
I should have read some of the reviews about being a minority because right off the bat I felt super uncomfortable. There were a few East Asian-looking women, and one East Asian-looking man. The instructor straight up called two very different looking women the same name. They looked uncomfortable & corrected her. This was made worse by the fact that all the students had taken SEVERAL classes with this instructor before, and had very recently just completed the last one. The instructor then called the man something random and said, "I just call him that because I don't know what his actual name is. What's your name again?" He said his name, which was a non-English name, and one of the (Asian) women repeated it, trying to pronounce it correctly. The instructor said, "See? Even SHE can't say it right!" Several times in that first class the instructor failed to say one of the Asian women's names (which was an objectively very easy name to pronounce) right and kept forgetting it.
The second class, I was struggling for some minor reason and the instructor was very condescending and said that I wouldn't have this problem if I "knew how to throw better". She also quickly dismissed my idea of what I wanted to make (throw a shape and then add sculptural elements) and asked why I was in a wheel class if I wasn't going to learn how to throw. Honestly, the comments to everyone seemed more insulting than constructive.
I had been so excited to get back into an art form I loved, only to feel so much frustration/disappointment. You shouldn't dread having to go to an art class. I took the clay I purchased and didn't attend again. read more