We have been to SMT a couple of times…read more Pros: 1. Small intimate theater 2. Inexpensive admission fee 3. Plenty of free parking Cons: 1. Performers, costumes, & settings no where near Village Theatre caliber 2. Not many restaurants nearby Unless it's a play we love, SMT is probably not our first choice for local theatre productions.

Decent size venue with good acoustics…read more Sarah and I saw Aida here and the venue was pretty good all things considered. The acoustics was decent at the dress circle level but I'm not sure how it is at the balcony level. They also have a camera pointed at the conductor so you can see him passionately conducting the event on a TV screen attached to the balcony railing! Everyone working at the venue are super nice and there is a small cafeteria that sells snacks, coffee, wine and beer. There is venue parking and plenty of street parking so that's one thing not to worry about! We had a good time here and the play was nice for the price we paid for the tickets! Will definitely come back for more shows in the summer!

With many years of experience, skillful technique, and an eye for color, Janet's teaching abilities…read morecompare to none other. As one of her former grade school students, I've had the privilege of experiencing art with her in both childhood, and as a young adult. One of her many strengths as a teacher is to instruct technique without doing any of the work. Her patient guidance allows her students to explore their own creativity and expression through their projects. Whether you're looking for help with a special piece, or for an outlet for creative exploration, Janet will help your vision come to life. You can join her for lessons in person, or work from the comfort of your own home with one of her online classes. AWE truly is for anyone and everyone.​

My lessons are my favorite part of my week! I started…read moretaking lessons a year and half ago as a beginner. I thought I had no talent or ability. I've found that I do have a lot of talent and ability. Janet has worked with me to help pull it out. She knows how to work with me to expand my ability and grow my confidence. She's always encouraging. I've learned so much about my creative abilities and I have so much fun in my lessons with her. We try something new all the time and it keeps me engaged and always learning and having fun. She's able to see when I need a challenging project and when I need something easier to just warm me up. I go every week and don't see myself stopping anytime soon. It truly is my favorite part of my week!

This place is AMAZING. I've always wanted to paint and Dabble made it so easy to get started. I…read morebrought my own gessobords, but other than that, I didn't need to buy any other tools or supplies. I'm now obsessed and have painted every day since I joined, with three finished paintings that I'm really happy with. Dave, the owner, is so warm, welcoming, knowledgable, and supportive--he'll leave you alone if you want to just do your own thing, or he'll chat with you about your art if you want feedback. The space is set up incredibly well, ready for any kind of visual art you might want to do. The classes are fantastic too. I'm so happy that Dabble exists!

This is a super well laid out, super well lit super cool art studio available to the public!!…read more I was shipping art prints at the renowned Greenwood post office and happened upon this on my way back - the owner was available and was gracious enough to give me a tour of the space! They have TONS of professional tools!! Including silk press, vinyl cut, a station to assemble prints/zines etc, a station with a hood to do spray paints!! Looked like they had all kinds of paint brushes one might try, LOTs of professional sinks in their clean up area, even a fridge, small lockers, cubbies and a microwave if you need to put in an extra long session. All set up in the most organized and functional fashion, it's SO COOL!! They also offer classes to learn new techniques! The studio rate looks to be $10 an hour for individuals and $20 for a family unit, ( it's gotta be Guardians and kids who live under the same roof, it's not necessarily a group rate) I was shocked to see so much cool stuff at once so this list isn't complete and I've yet to get everyone together for a visit, but upon first glance this looks like an incredible community asset!!

I really can't say enough good things about the Seattle Artist League. I have an art degree, and…read moreI'm not exaggerating when I say I've gotten more out of my time at the League than I did during my undergraduate art education. I've taken painting classes with Jordan Horton, Erin Milez, Lendy, and a critique workshop with Ruthie V., and every class has changed the way I make and think about art. The instructors are thoughtful, generous, incredibly knowledgeable, and (maybe most importantly) really know how to help you grow without making you feel like there's one "right" way to be an artist. The critique workshop has been life-changing, I recommend it for everyone. I used to DREAD art critiques in college. They often felt negative and intimidating, and I came away from them feeling worse about my work rather than more curious about it. Ruthie completely changed that. I finally feel like I have the tools to actually look at art and talk about what I'm seeing, respond thoughtfully, and then understand why something is working, or why it isn't. And that hasn't just changed my own artwork. I now enjoy going to galleries, museums and looking at art more than I ever did before. I notice more. I'm more curious. I now have a vocabulary for things I could feel but didn't know how to articulate. I've learned A LOT during my time here, I've taken more risks in my art and I've fallen in love with making and looking at art again and it's the best feeling. If you're thinking about taking a class (or two!) at the Seattle Artist League, do it. Doesn't matter if you're a beginner or have been making art for years, there is SO MUCH to get out of this place.

TL;DR: SAL's pottery classes are quite good and the studio community/open studio hours are…read moreterrific. That said, the owners are such a negative force, you may want to think twice about supporting them with your money. The rave reviews here about the quality of Seattle Artist League pottery classes, instructors, community, and generous open studio polices are all to be believed. I took my first class at SAL in Fall 2022 and continued with classes and practice until this month. In my 2nd year there, I was hired to be a PT pottery studio tech. After 10 months, the studio owner directed the pottery studio manager to fire me and I returned to being just a student. I won't repeat the defamatory lies the owner invented to justify her decision. My allegiance was to the pottery studio manager, staff, teachers and community. I had positive feedback from them and didn't care about losing the owner's good opinion or the 8 hours a week at min wage. At the heart of all the goodness in SAL is a rot most repeat students and staff tiptoe around. It is the untethered, erratic, impulsive, and, often, abusive behavior of owner Ruthie V., enabled by co-owner, Lendy. It's responsible for high staff turnover, particularly among staff that must work when Ruthie is on site, as well as women who present as experienced, valued leaders who cared about student experience. Ruthie's administration of day-to-day operations is impulsive, with no view to process or consequences. Class spaces are double booked. Classes with low enrollment are canceled with no communication to teachers or students. Classes are announced and filled with no instructor scheduled. Open studio hours are suddenly pre-empted with no communication to staff or update of the calendar. Studio staff are left to manage the chaos Ruthie leaves in her wake. She has no tolerance for problem-solving and will deflect blame on the person who identifies the problem, using whatever lies she needs to shore up her story or justify their ouster. Staff walk on eggshells and the energy in the space when she's there is tight and anxious. We're living through a time when bullying, dictatorial behavior is being normalized. We each must decide whether we speak up, sometimes at great risk to ourselves, or stay silent and become complicit. SAL is a microcosm of that dilemma. Last week, while I was in my second volunteer shift during the annual studio deep clean, Ruthie found something entirely innocuous she could twist into a lie that served as justification to ban me from the studios forever. Lendy delivered the message, lying about staff in the process. Students are paying customers; I had prepaid for nearly $800 of upcoming classes. SAL refunded the money but it speaks to how impulsive Ruthie is that she would risk that loss and the reputational one based on some perceived slight to her fragile ego. I was not allowed any defense. Finally, SAL operates as a 501(c)3 nonprofit with fiscal sponsorship through Shunpike. Washington RCW 24.03A.490 requires nonprofits to maintain a Board of Directors. As a Board member of an arts organization for ~5 years, I know one of the oversight responsibilities is to set HR policies and be a resource for staff to address issues with management. SAL's website lists no BOD and I can find no evidence that Shunpike fills this role for them. SAL appears to be out of compliance as a nonprofit. There are many pottery studios in Seattle, with various offerings. Your choice of them is an investment of your money and a reflection of your values. I want SAL's pottery studios to prosper and, at the same time, I cannot be silent about the environment there even if my voice turns people away from the studio. Actions matter. Truth matters. Make your investment accordingly.

Whether you have always wondered about trying ceramics or have been doing it for many years, sign…read moreup for a class (or two, or three) here. I've been glazing ceramics and doing some handbuilding since I was a kid, but always wanted to learn the wheel. I took one wheel class, had a blast and decided to sign up for an 8-week class- and then another. Dirk is an outstanding, patient teacher and a fun, upbeat guy. I learned so many new things from him and the other students, who had different skill sets at all levels. The studio is such a welcoming environment, I really looked forward to class as my outlet each week. If it were possible I would still be taking these classes, but I moved to Pittsburgh. With Dirk's teaching and advice I was able to set up a mini studio at home where I'm still handbuilding, throwing and glazing. But I still miss the great teaching and company at Dahl Arts. Take a class here- you won't regret it!

I have only taken one class with Dirk while visiting Seattle. I really loved everything about the…read moreclass!!! His studio is so cool; its filled with his original sculptures which are absolutely mind blowing!! They are beautiful and creative which made me wish I could take classes there on a routine basis. I took a wheel throwing class with him and absolutely loved it!! I was having problems centering and with a few tweaks he totally changed how I approached the clay. His methodology is easier for me to grasp and retain. I think he would be an awesome instructor for any type of hand building, sculpture or wheel throwing! The studio had a creative and welcoming vibe which made me want to return!

Really incredible place to get access to any of a myriad of machines that the average person would…read moreotherwise have a hard time getting access to (laser cutters, CNC machines, 3D printers) - and the new ceramics studio is SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper than any of the surrounding studios in Seattle. The members and staff have been very friendly and welcoming - definitely recommend.

My brother paid $125 for a month membership so I could get some familiarity with 3D printing…read more Attended new member orientation on one of my days off. After that, no instructors were available to teach on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday. Uncertified members are not allowed to use 3D printers unsupervised. Certifications are only done on Sundays (one of my work days). Jeremy Hanson replied that for a $50 fee, an instructor could come in on one of my days off from work. On the last day of my work week, I had to isolate due to Covid Omicron. When my doctor cleared me to return to work, I followed up with Jeremy but got no response to either of 2 e-mails I sent. I also contacted contact@seattlemakers.org and got no response. I can't say I'd recommend this place to anyone.

We stirred up the paint at Tapster with master artist Laura Blauman and it was way more fun than I…read moreexpected. As someone who hasn't lifted a brush since grade school art class, I was skeptical that I could produce art that would come close to resembling the example. I felt a bit stressed but mostly enjoyed trying something new in the midst of good drinks and good company. While the pacing was a bit uneven, Laura walked us through everything clearly, while also fielding questions and answering them satisfactorily. In the end, I would say everyone produced a nice looking painting, and it was fun to notice the different "styles" between people. I'm happy with my end result! Even if you think you don't have an artistic bone in your body, if someone invites you to this, I recommend giving it a try!

I've been to 3 or 4 classes with this company now and have enjoyed all of them. They have a…read morecalendar online that you can subscribe to and review upcoming paintings to pick your favorite. My friend and I were unfortunately sick and couldn't make the first class we booked, so we notified the company in advance and Greg was so helpful and accommodating with getting us set up for a future class. All around positive experience. Looking forward to my next one. I think I can even see myself getting better at painting! Highly recommend.

Amazing! Love! Very informative. My friend and I booked a fancy vase beginning glass lesson for…read moreboth of us weeks in advance over email. For context, we have no glass blowing or ceramics experience. What to know beforehand: -You need to wear long pants, long sleeves, and closed-toed shoes and masks! -Picking colors and designs in person may take a while (if you're very decisive you may not have this problem). There are tons of options for what you can make and with what colors so it took at least an hour for us to pick and choose. The final price of your piece can also vary depending how big you want it to be and what color(s) are involved. -It'll take a day for the piece to cool when you're done, so you'll have to pick it up another day. -Small parking lot on-site in the back along with street parking. The beginning glass lesson experience: -David was very good at teaching and support. I felt more like the designer of the piece than the glassblower/creator, but David really gives you every safe opportunity he can to give you hands on experience in the process and talks through every step. You're not just paying for a glass piece here - you're paying for David's 40+ years of experience blowing glass! Felt more like I was shadowing a glassblowing process. I learned a lot and had a great time. -Cynthia was also helpful in confirming the design during the process. I didn't know how to explain that I wanted more of a flare at the top of my design at one point but she caught that for correction. Some fun learnings: -If you want to seriously get into glassblowing, paperweights are the best shape to learn and practice. -The punt of the glass is super sensitive. We also learned a bit about identifying manufactured vs. handmade glass through it. -The Netflix show Blown Away is a fun show to watch if you want to see more glassblowing -Some glass colors are easier to work with than others, and if you're mixing colors in one piece, depending on the colors you're mixing, can make it harder or easier to shape because they affect how stiff the glass can be (lighter colors tend to be more stiff, darker colors tend to be more soft). My friend picked dark blue and green and hers came out great! Mine came out a little warped because I picked a longer piece with two very contrasting colors (dark blue and light pink), but David helped reshape it a little. Current pricing on their website: -Ornament $50 -Paperweight $65 -Sea float $70 -Heart $75 -Starfish $75 -Pumpkin $90 -Bird $90 -Drinking glass $95 -Transparent vase $140 -Fancy vase $175 -Beginning Glass Lesson (1-2 people only) $260/$325 depending on number of people plus tax.

Picked up two beautiful glass ornaments at Blowing Sands Glass Studio. Gorgeous craftsmanship,…read morefriendly staff, and a great spot for unique gifts! Next up: schedule a glass blowing class! The stands are from Etsy reseller.