RULES of THE ROSSMOOR CERAMIC ARTS CLUB
The Ceramic Arts Club of Rossmoor is committed to providing a friendly, supportive and educational environment in which to be a creative ceramicist and a collaborative member.
It is not intended for use by professional ceramicists when doing commercial ("production") work for their own profit. Professional ceramicists are welcome to become members of the club, but they are not allowed to use the studio's facilities to an extent that is detrimental to the general membership.
The Ceramic Arts Club of Rossmoor is committed to providing a friendly, supportive and educational environment in which to be a creative ceramicist and a collaborative member.
It is not intended for use by professional ceramicists when doing commercial ("production") work for their own profit. Professional ceramicists are welcome to become members of the club, but they are not allowed to use the studio's facilities to an extent that is detrimental to the general membership.
SAFETY FIRST:
Making things with clay seems like a natural, creative and fun thing to do – and it is! That doesn’t mean it is without risks, however. The CAC Studio and facilities must be used in a safe manner at all times. The basic rule is that all work done in our Studio must be performed according to accepted practices and with consideration for the rights of others. Each user is responsible for the safety of his or her acts and for being certain that these actions do not create unsafe products or conditions.
The following two sections of the CAC Rules give an overview of some very basic safety precautions when working in our Studio. In addition, there are other safety measures mentioned in connection with various different procedures and activities, which are given in some detail in the Rossmoor Ceramic Arts Club Studio Handbook (available in the CAC Library) - members are asked to read and pay close attention to those as well. CAC members should also heed specific safety warnings posted in the studio and/or given verbally by more experienced CAC members or instructors.
SAFELY HANDLING CLAY / SANDING CERAMIC PIECES:
When working with clay it forms tiny particles too small to see which can settle in your lungs and cause silicosis, which is why it’s very important to keep the work areas of our Studio clean. In particular, any sanding of dry clay (either before or after it has been bisque-fired) poses a serious respiratory threat to everyone in the vicinity, similar to the hazards of secondhand cigarette smoke. CAC’s rule is that all sanding of dry clay pieces must be done outside of thee Studio. Wearing a protective mask and gloves is also recommended. Please take care to clean your work area afterwards; use a towel or a damp sponge to wipe any dusty surfaces and a broom for sweeping off the outside walkway.
SAFELY USING CAC EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS:
Do not operate any equipment in the CAC Studio unless you have been fully trained in its use. And don’t operate any of our machinery while working alone in the Studio until you have not only been trained, but also have had enough experience using the equipment to feel competent and confident on your own. For example, when using the spray glazing booth you must use a mask and safety goggles; it is also required to turn on the exhaust fan, since the fine particles of some chemical compounds in glaze can create respiratory and other health problems. Safety goggles must also be worn when using the grinding wheel, which is meant for removing any sharp edges on glazed pieces that might cut people. It is a CAC policy that anything that poses such a danger should not be taken out of our Studio.
If you are not the designated Kiln Master, never open any of the CAC kilns either to load them or to unload fired pieces from them. For obvious reasons, all combustibles (towels, work mats, etc) must be kept well away from the kilns in the Kiln Room.
Unless authorized and trained in the making of glazes in the CAC Studio, members are not allowed to handle the chemical ingredients used to make our glazes, since some of them are actually poisonous or otherwise dangerous in the raw state.
Participants in alternative firings (i.e., raku, saggar and pit fire) must follow the lead of the experienced CAC members in charge of those activities and adhere to specific established safety procedures. For instance, during raku firing all participants are required to wear cotton clothing covering their arms and legs and closed shoes (no sandals), when removing pieces from the hot kiln.
Our Studio has a First Aid Cabinet in the Kitchen, in which are kept simple first aid supplies (bandages, antiseptics, etc.). It has a mirrored door and is mounted on the wall between the counter and the Refrigerator. For anything more serious than a small cut or abrasion, CAC members should call Rossmoor Securitas (988-7843) and/or 911.
Finally, after you’ve used a work table, a potter’s wheel, or other any CAC equipment or materials, always double-check to make sure that there’s no loose/wet clay, water or other liquid remaining on the floor around the area. If there is, it could cause someone to slip and fall - so be sure clean it up!
CLAY, GLAZES AND CAC EQUIPMENT:
Only CAC-authorized clays and glazes are to be used in our Studio (supplies of these are always kept on hand in the CAC Studio). All such materials from other sources must be clearly labeled for Cone 5-6, and should be approved by the Glaze Master or the Studio Manager. Ceramic pieces made outside of our Studio with clays not identifiable by the Studio Manager or Kiln Masters will not be fired in Studio kilns. Also, no commercial slip castings or ready-made tiles are allowed in the Studio.
CAC members are responsible for the repair or replacement of any CAC equipment damaged due to poor work practices, carelessness or violation of rules. For instance, if a member has applied too much glaze to a piece which causes it to overflow onto a kiln shelf during firing, the kiln shelf will have to either be cleaned off or replaced by the person responsible for the damage.
WORKING IN THE CAC STUDIO:
Everyone using the Studio (other than Orientation students) must be current a CAC member or a guest of a club member. Members who invite guests into the CAC Studio must stay with them and make sure that they adhere fully to our Studio’s rules and work practices. Whenever there is an overcrowded situation in the Studio (e.g., all of the wheels or work tables are in use) our members take precedence, and guests must relinquish their positions.
CAC members all have individual identification marks (a.k.a. a signature or logo) which are recorded on the Membership Forms filled out each year when joining CAC or renewing membership. Such a mark must be used on every ceramic piece created in the CAC Studio; unidentified pieces will not be fired. In addition, the Kiln Masters will reject poorly prepared pieces as they see fit.
STUDIO ETIQUETTE:
It is a policy of CAC to avoid touching other people’s pieces without their permission. If it becomes necessary to move the work of others it must be done with great caution. Should someone else’s piece be broken by accident, the member who damaged it must leave a note for the other person. Everyone knows that accidents happen, and acknowledging a mistake is a form of courtesy.
As a matter of basic Studio courtesy, do not interrupt someone who is in the process of working with clay. If you have a question or a favor to ask of a member who is present, first ask them if it’s a good time – don’t just assume that they won’t mind. Concentration is often very important when doing creative work, so please don’t take it personally if the person says “No.” Either wait until she or he has finished the task at hand or find someone else to ask! The same thing applies if you simply want to chat; although we are for the most part a very friendly group, it’s OK if someone is not in the mood for conversation - please be sensitive to this.
All members are asked to remove their finished work from the Studio as soon as possible to make room for the work of others. This is important due to space limitations. At some point every month, ceramic pieces which have been left on the racks or damp cupboards for over two months are collected and put out on a table with a sign saying that they must be removed by a certain date or they will be disposed of.
Unless you are alone, cell phone conversations should not take place in the CAC Studio - if it can’t wait, please go outside. And of course you may play music if you are the only one in the Studio, but when others are present you should ask if it is all right with them - or simply turn it off.
CLEANLINESS IN THE CAC STUDIO:
The policy of the Ceramic Arts Club is that whenever you are finished working in the Studio, the workspace you’ve used should be as clean, if not cleaner than when you started there. Each member of our club is expected to clean up after him or herself. As they say, “Your Mother Doesn’t Live Here!”
However everyone occasionally forgets to do something, so if you notice that another member (who is isn't present) hasn't done something minor, such as wiping off a table or putting something away, please do it yourself if possible. The next time someone might do the same for you! But if one of our members has left a huge mess it’s best not to touch it; please to bring it to the attention of the Studio Manager or another experienced member. The Studio Manager will speak with the person responsible.
We have a supply of work mats for members’ use when working with clay on a table (these are best used with the rough side up for most clay work). These mats are kept on clip hangers to the far right of the kilns in the kiln room; always wipe them off and put them back when finished with them. To prevent leaving a clay “haze” on the table’s surface, it’s best to use a damp terry-cloth towel to wipe the top of the table, rinsing and wringing the towel out both before and after you use it. Damp towels should be hung to dry in the kiln room, on plastic hangers kept for that purpose to the right of the kilns (these hangers are kept just to the left of the work mats).
All equipment and work areas must be cleaned after use and equipment should be returned to its proper place. It is especially important to clean off our shared tools and equipment so as not to allow encrusted clay or dust to accumulate, which could damage them. Wipe off all turntables and wooden bats after using them. Dispose of all used newspaper, paper towels, etc. Deposit any scraps of unfired clay that you don’t want into the recycled clay bucket. If you have used any kitchen utensils, cups or dishes, wash and put them away before you leave the Studio. Please clean and dry the sink and surrounding countertops when you are through using them. Finally, look around and wipe off anything you may have touched with dirty hands, as well as any other surface that’s gotten messy or dirty in the process.
Additional instructions for cleaning up specific areas/equipment are given in some detail in the Rossmoor Ceramic Arts Club Studio Handbook (available in the CAC Library) - members are asked to read and follow those directions as well. For instance, in the “Tools and Equipment” section the cleaning of our wheels and wedging tables is covered (among other things); the glazing area clean-up procedure is included in the section entitled “Glazing Your Work.”
NOTE: If you are the last person to leave the Studio, please make sure that the glaze cabinet is locked and turn out all of the lights and make sure all the doors to the outside are closed - but do not lock them.
Making things with clay seems like a natural, creative and fun thing to do – and it is! That doesn’t mean it is without risks, however. The CAC Studio and facilities must be used in a safe manner at all times. The basic rule is that all work done in our Studio must be performed according to accepted practices and with consideration for the rights of others. Each user is responsible for the safety of his or her acts and for being certain that these actions do not create unsafe products or conditions.
The following two sections of the CAC Rules give an overview of some very basic safety precautions when working in our Studio. In addition, there are other safety measures mentioned in connection with various different procedures and activities, which are given in some detail in the Rossmoor Ceramic Arts Club Studio Handbook (available in the CAC Library) - members are asked to read and pay close attention to those as well. CAC members should also heed specific safety warnings posted in the studio and/or given verbally by more experienced CAC members or instructors.
SAFELY HANDLING CLAY / SANDING CERAMIC PIECES:
When working with clay it forms tiny particles too small to see which can settle in your lungs and cause silicosis, which is why it’s very important to keep the work areas of our Studio clean. In particular, any sanding of dry clay (either before or after it has been bisque-fired) poses a serious respiratory threat to everyone in the vicinity, similar to the hazards of secondhand cigarette smoke. CAC’s rule is that all sanding of dry clay pieces must be done outside of thee Studio. Wearing a protective mask and gloves is also recommended. Please take care to clean your work area afterwards; use a towel or a damp sponge to wipe any dusty surfaces and a broom for sweeping off the outside walkway.
SAFELY USING CAC EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS:
Do not operate any equipment in the CAC Studio unless you have been fully trained in its use. And don’t operate any of our machinery while working alone in the Studio until you have not only been trained, but also have had enough experience using the equipment to feel competent and confident on your own. For example, when using the spray glazing booth you must use a mask and safety goggles; it is also required to turn on the exhaust fan, since the fine particles of some chemical compounds in glaze can create respiratory and other health problems. Safety goggles must also be worn when using the grinding wheel, which is meant for removing any sharp edges on glazed pieces that might cut people. It is a CAC policy that anything that poses such a danger should not be taken out of our Studio.
If you are not the designated Kiln Master, never open any of the CAC kilns either to load them or to unload fired pieces from them. For obvious reasons, all combustibles (towels, work mats, etc) must be kept well away from the kilns in the Kiln Room.
Unless authorized and trained in the making of glazes in the CAC Studio, members are not allowed to handle the chemical ingredients used to make our glazes, since some of them are actually poisonous or otherwise dangerous in the raw state.
Participants in alternative firings (i.e., raku, saggar and pit fire) must follow the lead of the experienced CAC members in charge of those activities and adhere to specific established safety procedures. For instance, during raku firing all participants are required to wear cotton clothing covering their arms and legs and closed shoes (no sandals), when removing pieces from the hot kiln.
Our Studio has a First Aid Cabinet in the Kitchen, in which are kept simple first aid supplies (bandages, antiseptics, etc.). It has a mirrored door and is mounted on the wall between the counter and the Refrigerator. For anything more serious than a small cut or abrasion, CAC members should call Rossmoor Securitas (988-7843) and/or 911.
Finally, after you’ve used a work table, a potter’s wheel, or other any CAC equipment or materials, always double-check to make sure that there’s no loose/wet clay, water or other liquid remaining on the floor around the area. If there is, it could cause someone to slip and fall - so be sure clean it up!
CLAY, GLAZES AND CAC EQUIPMENT:
Only CAC-authorized clays and glazes are to be used in our Studio (supplies of these are always kept on hand in the CAC Studio). All such materials from other sources must be clearly labeled for Cone 5-6, and should be approved by the Glaze Master or the Studio Manager. Ceramic pieces made outside of our Studio with clays not identifiable by the Studio Manager or Kiln Masters will not be fired in Studio kilns. Also, no commercial slip castings or ready-made tiles are allowed in the Studio.
CAC members are responsible for the repair or replacement of any CAC equipment damaged due to poor work practices, carelessness or violation of rules. For instance, if a member has applied too much glaze to a piece which causes it to overflow onto a kiln shelf during firing, the kiln shelf will have to either be cleaned off or replaced by the person responsible for the damage.
WORKING IN THE CAC STUDIO:
Everyone using the Studio (other than Orientation students) must be current a CAC member or a guest of a club member. Members who invite guests into the CAC Studio must stay with them and make sure that they adhere fully to our Studio’s rules and work practices. Whenever there is an overcrowded situation in the Studio (e.g., all of the wheels or work tables are in use) our members take precedence, and guests must relinquish their positions.
CAC members all have individual identification marks (a.k.a. a signature or logo) which are recorded on the Membership Forms filled out each year when joining CAC or renewing membership. Such a mark must be used on every ceramic piece created in the CAC Studio; unidentified pieces will not be fired. In addition, the Kiln Masters will reject poorly prepared pieces as they see fit.
STUDIO ETIQUETTE:
It is a policy of CAC to avoid touching other people’s pieces without their permission. If it becomes necessary to move the work of others it must be done with great caution. Should someone else’s piece be broken by accident, the member who damaged it must leave a note for the other person. Everyone knows that accidents happen, and acknowledging a mistake is a form of courtesy.
As a matter of basic Studio courtesy, do not interrupt someone who is in the process of working with clay. If you have a question or a favor to ask of a member who is present, first ask them if it’s a good time – don’t just assume that they won’t mind. Concentration is often very important when doing creative work, so please don’t take it personally if the person says “No.” Either wait until she or he has finished the task at hand or find someone else to ask! The same thing applies if you simply want to chat; although we are for the most part a very friendly group, it’s OK if someone is not in the mood for conversation - please be sensitive to this.
All members are asked to remove their finished work from the Studio as soon as possible to make room for the work of others. This is important due to space limitations. At some point every month, ceramic pieces which have been left on the racks or damp cupboards for over two months are collected and put out on a table with a sign saying that they must be removed by a certain date or they will be disposed of.
Unless you are alone, cell phone conversations should not take place in the CAC Studio - if it can’t wait, please go outside. And of course you may play music if you are the only one in the Studio, but when others are present you should ask if it is all right with them - or simply turn it off.
CLEANLINESS IN THE CAC STUDIO:
The policy of the Ceramic Arts Club is that whenever you are finished working in the Studio, the workspace you’ve used should be as clean, if not cleaner than when you started there. Each member of our club is expected to clean up after him or herself. As they say, “Your Mother Doesn’t Live Here!”
However everyone occasionally forgets to do something, so if you notice that another member (who is isn't present) hasn't done something minor, such as wiping off a table or putting something away, please do it yourself if possible. The next time someone might do the same for you! But if one of our members has left a huge mess it’s best not to touch it; please to bring it to the attention of the Studio Manager or another experienced member. The Studio Manager will speak with the person responsible.
We have a supply of work mats for members’ use when working with clay on a table (these are best used with the rough side up for most clay work). These mats are kept on clip hangers to the far right of the kilns in the kiln room; always wipe them off and put them back when finished with them. To prevent leaving a clay “haze” on the table’s surface, it’s best to use a damp terry-cloth towel to wipe the top of the table, rinsing and wringing the towel out both before and after you use it. Damp towels should be hung to dry in the kiln room, on plastic hangers kept for that purpose to the right of the kilns (these hangers are kept just to the left of the work mats).
All equipment and work areas must be cleaned after use and equipment should be returned to its proper place. It is especially important to clean off our shared tools and equipment so as not to allow encrusted clay or dust to accumulate, which could damage them. Wipe off all turntables and wooden bats after using them. Dispose of all used newspaper, paper towels, etc. Deposit any scraps of unfired clay that you don’t want into the recycled clay bucket. If you have used any kitchen utensils, cups or dishes, wash and put them away before you leave the Studio. Please clean and dry the sink and surrounding countertops when you are through using them. Finally, look around and wipe off anything you may have touched with dirty hands, as well as any other surface that’s gotten messy or dirty in the process.
Additional instructions for cleaning up specific areas/equipment are given in some detail in the Rossmoor Ceramic Arts Club Studio Handbook (available in the CAC Library) - members are asked to read and follow those directions as well. For instance, in the “Tools and Equipment” section the cleaning of our wheels and wedging tables is covered (among other things); the glazing area clean-up procedure is included in the section entitled “Glazing Your Work.”
NOTE: If you are the last person to leave the Studio, please make sure that the glaze cabinet is locked and turn out all of the lights and make sure all the doors to the outside are closed - but do not lock them.