Pottery Notes
FALL WEEK 2 – September 25
Door Code
Students can enter the building using the door code 5-3-1. Please do not attempt to enter the building or ring the doorbell before 9:30 a.m. as the deadbolt will be locked!
Final Week of the Glaze Grace Period
We’re approaching the end of our grace period for summer term glazing! Make sure to glaze and move your pieces through the studio.
All work on the bisque shelves must be glazed and dropped off at the measuring station no later than October 1 at 5:30 p.m. even if you are registered for the current term! The bisque shelves will be completely cleared the morning of October 2, no exceptions. There should be no work left on the shelves whatsoever as we will need to complete crucial construction in the glaze room. Anything remaining, even work that’s labeled, will be tossed.
Note that the glaze drop-off shelves are now organized by firing temperature. However, please remember to circle your glaze temperature on your firing slips. Without it, we can’t be sure that we’re putting your work in the correct kiln!
Greenware Drop-Off
The measuring drop-off location has changed! You can find the drop-off shelves to the left of the kiln room doors.
Summer Term Firing Slips
Looking for your glaze firing slips from last term? Please see the bin on top of the water cooler. If you’re on the hunt for older spring firing slips, see the office.
Photograph Your Work
We highly encourage photographing your work and taking notes on your glazes. With over 400 students (and all of their pottery) in the studio, it can be harder than expected to locate your pieces. Photos can be an enormously helpful aide.
In House Exhibition
The faculty and staff exhibition, In House, will be on view through October 13. Come see fantastic recent work by GHP’s talented faculty and staff!
Sunday Samplers
Know someone who is curious about clay? We are offering one-off Sunday Sampler classes on select weekends of this term. Participants can sign up for a 2-hour handbuilding or wheel throwing class, and can get a feel for the material and our space! Sampler registrations are $95 per person.
Sidewalk Sale
Thanks to your donations, last week’s Sidewalk Sale raised $10,300 for the Pottery’s general operating fund. Thank you also to those that volunteered and to Jerry Saltz for posting about our sale.
At-A-Glance Dates and Deadlines
September 18-October 1: Glazing Grace Period
Monday, September 25: Yom Kippur (no classes; GHP open for glazing and studio time)
Tuesday, September 26, 4:00 p.m.: Kate Strachan Artist Talk (no glazing)
Sunday, October 1: Last day to pick up or glaze summer bisqueware
Monday, October 9: GHP open, classes in session
Sunday, October 15: Last day to pick up summer glazeware
Tuesday, October 31: Halloween (GHP closes at 1:30 p.m.)
FALL WEEK 1 – September 18
Welcome!
We hope that you had a happy and safe break and we are excited to have everyone back! Whether you are a new or returning student, we ask that you carefully read the student one-sheet for studio information and policies. Each week in class, teachers will read Pottery Notes, which contain all the studio updates you should know. If you miss hearing them read aloud, please check online or on the bulletin boards weekly to make sure you are aware of important announcements and deadlines.
Masks in the Pottery
With COVID-19 on the rise again in New York City, we encourage masking for those considered high-risk. GHP runs air scrubbers 24/7, and will continue to keep windows ajar for increased airflow during the day.
Building Improvements
Yay, we have begun phase one of renovations! This includes upgrading our heating system and gas lines and installing two new electric kilns. These upgrades are ongoing so please pardon our appearance.
Glaze Grace Period: Summer Students Finish Up
A reminder that all work on the bisque shelves must be glazed and dropped off at the measuring station no later than Sunday, October 1 at 5:30 p.m. The bisque shelves will be completely cleared the morning of October 2; anything left on the shelves will be discarded to make space for new work regardless of individual students’ enrollment!
Studio Sessions
Want to work outside of your class time? You can book studio sessions, which are 4-hour appointments in your respective classroom. Studio sessions cost $10 per booking, and the session calendar and registration instructions are posted in each classroom. You can book your session by visiting the Current Students section of our website and selecting Register for Studio Sessions
In a attempt to make Studio Sessions more accessible to our community, Friday evening studio session reservations are $5. Pre-registration is required.
Appointments are no longer required in order to glaze (hallelujah!)
However, students should consult the glazing demo calendar (available in early October) to gauge classroom availability after the grace period, as faculty will occasionally reserve the room for their class. Please do not plan to show up to glaze during a faculty demo window or at a time the glaze room is closed for an event.
Glazeware Pick-up Deadline
All glazeware from summer term must be taken home no later than October 15 at 5:30 p.m. Going forward glazeware will be dated as it comes out of the kiln and any pieces that are not collected within 4 weeks will be subject to discard.
Firing Logs and Measuring Updates
All students must pay for both bisque and glaze firings at once. Requests for single firing slips must be approved by the liaison office or tech team. If you choose not to use your second firing slip, a liaison can assist you in refunding the second firing to your log. We highly recommend that you add funds to your firing log prior to dropping your work off for firing. You can add firing credit by visiting our online store or stopping by the liaison office.
Summer Term Firing Slips
Looking for your glaze firing slips from last term? They will be located on top of the water cooler in the entry hallway. Each class envelope’s contents are sorted alphabetically by last name, so help us out by keeping them in order!
Artist Talk: Kate Strachan
Join us on Tuesday, September 26 at 4:00 p.m. in the glaze room for an artist talk by NCECA emerging artist Kate Strachan. An interdisciplinary artist, whose clay work integrates various materials such as fiber, wax, and wood to form manuscripts, sculpture, installations and video art. Kate uses dark humor to question the doctrine of her Pennsylvania Dutch roots. After a BFA in fiber from FIT she went on to apprentice for two years in Kanazawa, Japan and earned her MFA from Tainan National University in Taiwan. Next year she will be a resident at EKWC in the Netherlands.
In House Exhibition
The faculty and staff exhibition, In House, will be on view from September 16 through October 13. We will be holding a reception to celebrate it on Wednesday, September 20 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Be sure to put it on your calendar and come by to see some fantastic recent work by GHP’s talented faculty and staff, note that most pieces are for sale.
At-A-Glance Dates and Deadlines
September 18-October 1: Glazing Grace Period
Sunday, September 24: Yom Kippur (GHP open for glazing and studio time)
Monday, September 25: Yom Kippur (no classes; GHP open for glazing and studio time)
Tuesday, September 26, 4:00 p.m.: Kate Strachan Artist Talk
Sunday, October 1: Last day to pick up or glaze summer bisqueware
Monday, October 9: GHP open, classes in session
Sunday, October 15: Last day to pick up summer glazeware
Tuesday, October 31: Halloween (GHP closes at 1:30 p.m.)
SUMMER WEEK 6 – August 14
Finish Up!
Students and faculty, please take a moment to look at every class shelf to check that pieces in progress have not been forgotten or abandoned. Unwanted, bone-dry pieces should be deposited in reclaim, boards and bats cleaned and returned for community use. All students should be focused on getting work fired and glazed.
At the end of summer term, any greenware remaining on the classroom shelves will be tossed even if you label it! All lockers must be emptied and any tools, molds, clothing and personal items must be taken home. Has your friend or classmate left for the term? Help them out by double checking they are aware of these deadlines.
For those who did not finish glazing their bisque ware this term, we will be offering a two-week glazing grace period September 18-October 1 when you can come back to the Pottery and glaze your summer work.
Fall Registration
Mark your calendars! Fall registration opens online Wednesday, August 23 at 12:00 p.m. EDT. You can browse the fall schedule online now. The fall term runs from September 18 through December 16, and we are offering a range of 5-, 6-, 9-, and 12-week classes.
Summer Closure
The Pottery will be closed for interterm break August 20 through September 17 with the exception of pick-up days listed below. Staff will be conducting a thorough cleaning of all classrooms during this break, and will complete important maintenance projects throughout the building. Please do not try to enter the building outside of the pickup dates: you will be turned away!
Thursday, August 24 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, August 30 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Circle Your Glaze Temperature!
When you drop off your glazed work, be sure to circle the correct glaze temperature. When students forget to circle this information, it holds up your work from being fired until we can get in touch with you! If you circle the incorrect temperature, you run the risk of your work being underfired or melting in the kilns or damaging other people work.
In the Gallery
This is the last week to see the Ceramics Now exhibition. It highlights some of the work our 2022 resident artists made while working in GHP’s studios. Stop by the gallery any time the door is open or make an appointment online to make sure you see this great show before it is gone!
At-A-Glance Dates and Deadlines
Saturday, August 19: Last day of Summer Term, classroom shelves & lockers must be emptied by this date
Wednesday, August 23: Fall registration opens
Monday, September 18: Fall term begins