Growing Greenup Pottery classes, like in Ghost?

Growing Greenup

Pottery classes, like in Ghost?

Anne Stephens

The Ashland Beacon

Are you curious about pottery? Does it make you think of a movie scene where a ghost visited someone at a pottery wheel? (haha – yes, that movie from 1990) Have you ever wanted to try throwing clay on a wheel or hand building with a quality clay to be glazed and fired? Do you know that Greenup County has a community teaching studio? Merging Rivers Pottery opened almost a year ago and is currently operating with four instructors. Registrations are open for fall classes – are you ready to give it try?  

Merging Rivers Pottery (MRP) is a volunteer led program of the Greenup County Extension Service. The Community Arts Program Agent is Anne Stephens who has been an Extension Agent in Greenup County for over 16 years. Anne is proud to be working with Tom Hudson of Pig Pen Pottery and Sherry Hopper of Pondhawk Pottery as the lead volunteers and studio advisors. Rachel Robins of Robins Crafty Creations and Matt Bemis of Bemis Studio have joined the staff, and each bring their own skills and inspiration to the studio.

Community business owner and current president of the Greenup County Extension District Board, Kristie Patterson, offered studio space as in-kind support to launch the program. Patterson had space at The Edge Business Center in Russell that was well-suited with the ability to meet the unique needs of firing a kiln and reclaiming clay. Fast forward from the start up to now and the studio has moved into downtown Russell in another one of Patterson’s buildings at 509 Bellefonte Street, Russell, KY.

If a spinning wheel seems like more than you are ready for, how about a hand-building project to get you started? MRP has classes for beginners, experienced potters, kids, and adults.

The upcoming kid-friendly class is taking registrations for a “Mommy and Me” experience with a Christmas in July theme! Register now by calling 606.836.0201 or texting 606.922.1596 or emailing anne.stephens@uky.edu. Classes are July 28 and 30, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. You must attend both sessions to complete the project. Cost is $50 for each adult/child pair. You’ll make Christmas ornaments – view some example photos by visiting the studio’s Facebook page.

Christmas in July continues with evening sessions where older students can make Christmas trees with clay, by hand, that will be glazed and fired to a finished piece of art. July 28 and 30, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. You must attend both sessions to complete your project. Cost is $50 per person.  

Pottery wheel classes are offered in eight-week sessions. Explore your creativity and enjoy getting a bit messy! The fall series starts the week of August 10.   

Wheel throwing classes offered:

Mondays 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Tuesdays 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. | Wednesdays 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Thursdays 10:00am to 1:00pm | Thursdays 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Hand-building classes offered:

Thursdays 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

COST?

$200

HOW LONG IS A SESSION?

8 weeks

WHAT IS INCLUDED?

25 lbs of clay 8 weeks of instruction choice of wheel throwing or hand building access to shared tools studio glazes kiln firings shelving space for unfinished pieces

Payment can be accepted at the studio with cash or check made to Greenup Arts. Online payment with credit card is offered by request and includes fees.

Classes are small and provide ample one-on-one time with the instructors. Each student has his or her own wheel and/or space to work on underglaze painting, carving, glazing, and drying space to move pieces toward kiln firing and completion.  

Over the course of the past year, a culture of creativity and connection has been established. Frustration eases into skill and vision becomes reality. To this point, no items have been lost in kiln firings. The custom mixed studio glazes are beautiful and responding as anticipated by the chemist, Sherry.

All instructors have reported enjoyment in engaging with the students and encouraging them to complete their pieces of pottery art. Our pottery community is growing and expanding across the river with members coming from Ohio and West Virginia. Come and get involved!  

The mission of Greenup Arts is to inspire creativity, create opportunities for arts education and participation, foster arts appreciation and consumerism, and encourage community development through arts programming. 

  The vision of Greenup Arts is a community that embraces the importance of all aspects of the arts in education, business, and quality of life. We see a community with vibrant music, dance, visual art, theatre, creative writing, architecture, and landscape. We will strive to be the entity that inspires and provides leadership to both the artist and the arts consumer.

 Greenup Arts Values

·       Supplementing arts education in our public schools and private studios.

·       Promoting local cultural heritage through artist development. 

·       Impacting public understanding of the value of the arts.  

·       Providing volunteerism opportunities through community arts events. 

·       Collaborations that strengthen community. 

For more information, contact Anne Stephens, Agent for Community Arts and Development in Greenup County. 606.836.0201 anne.stephens@uky.edu Greenup County Cooperative Extension Service, 35 Wurtland Avenue, Wurtland, KY 41144. This institution is an Equal Opportunity Provider.