Our one-and-only Orientation Class of 2022 started in mid May and ended on the 8th of June, when we welcomed 16 brand new members to the Ceramic Arts Club. As usual, Linda Mariano led the class, assisted by numerous other CAC volunteers. What a great group!

Then on June 29 we had a marvelous Patio Party with a festive Mexican theme.

The bright and whimsical creations of Judy Johnson grace our "Featured Artist" windows this month - see the Rossmoor News article just below. They'll be on view through September 9, so be sure to come on down to the Gateway Plaza and take a look at the Ceramic Studio's display windows!

Here are a few more photos of people & things happening around the studio, in a slideshow format.  Included are some of our members showing their work, looking at one another's art, and playing in clay with grandchildren, as well as a new crop of Orientation students being shown the ropes. We now have 16 new members!

(NOTE: some of the thumbnail images underneath may appear to be upside down or sideways, but when you click on one or start the slideshow they will all be right side up.)

It's been a busy winter & spring! We've recently had another Orientation Class and welcomed 14 new members. Several local clay artists from outside of Rossmoor have demonstrated interesting techniques at our club meetings. There have been two Beginning Wheel classes of 4 sessions each (today is the last day).

In addition, many of our members have made beautiful bowls to donate for the upcoming Empty Bowls fundraiser coming next month (April 18). Also lots of pottery and a number of beautiful and/or quirky sculptures have been created in our studio. Last but not least, some of our folks have brought their pieces to share at our monthly Show & Tell sessions. See below for just a taste of it!

We have a new crop of folks taking the Orientation class at present, see below. Plenty of enthusiasm! The club is ready to welcome them when they join at the last session - next week, August 26 to be exact. (NOTE: the blonde in the pink sweater is Linda M., our Orientation teacher.)

We've also just finished having a sculpture class taught by our own Darryla and Patty (they are shown together in the first photo below). In addition to the sculpting of figures and heads, they've been demonstrating very interesting ways to decorate the surface of the pieces. Another such class will be offered in the future, but the dates are still to be determined.

We should have a really cool Show at Tell next week - sculptures as well as pottery! By the way, it'll be from 3 to 4 on August 26, rather than our usual time of 11 to 12:30 (this is because the Orientation Class's last session is from 10 to 2 that same day).

We have welcomed a new crop of Orientation students to the CAC studio this month. Their final session will be next week (Thursday, Feb 4 - from 10 am to 2 pm), at which point they may join the club if they wish! As you can see from the photos below, Linda has done a good job of teaching them about working with clay. Next week, they'll find out about the glazing process. They are an excellent group, and we're glad to have them with us!

Some interesting sculptures have been created by our members recently, as you can see by these photos of Elaine and Estelle with their artwork.

Good News: our studio is open again. As mentioned before, it will be another week or so until the new air-conditioning starts working, but at least the major work inside our space is done, so we can get back to our work/play with clay!

And yesterday was the first day of our current Orientation Class - the pictures below show the new students (there are 10 this time) and Linda M. as she was teaching them. This class will continue next Saturday, August 29; then it will skip a week (allowing participants to finish pieces and have them bisque-fired), and the final session will be on Saturday, September 12 - NOTE: it's from 10 am to 2 pm each day. After that, we look forward to welcoming some new members!

Well, the HVAC work is in full swing - see the photos below! This is why the studio has to be closed through tomorrow (the 21st). But we expect to be back in business by Saturday August 22nd. In fact the 22nd is the first day of an Orientation Class, so it will be busy in there from 10 to 2, in case you're rarin' to go. Best to wait until after 2:30 if possible (unless you just want to use the glazing table in the back room). WARNING: it may not be cool in our studio until around August 28, so be prepared. But it sure will be great when they're done!

For the record, below is a photo of Lynn Wood helping one of our members make a pitcher, and some photos of things we made in the "Pots That Pour" class she taught. Teapots were made, as well as simple pitchers - those were a real challenge! We may show a lot of those pieces in the studio's window display that will be installed on Monday Sept 14.. stay tuned.

Next we have snapshots from Grandkids' Days in July, and one of Judy with a new mask she's been sculpting. There's also a photo of the new display which went into the Event Center a couple of weeks ago (the top 6 niches) .. looks much better in person,so check it out when you have a chance! That display will be up for 4 months - until early December.

Our air-conditioning is going to be fixed, starting this month. It's been very hot this week, so that is really good news. It means that the studio will be closed one day - Wednesday June 24th - but it's worth it. NOTE: Unfortunately it will take longer than one day for the work to be completed - check this space for more information as it becomes available!

In other news, the current Orientation class will have its last session next week, Wednesday, June 17. There a lots of people with great energy and creative ideas in it, and most will become new members of our club starting next week - - we certainly welcome them! Some photos of the class are below.

Last but not least, the Rossmoor Flea Market will happen on Saturday June 20, and our studio will be open for the public to come in and browse and hopefully take home some nice ceramic pieces. Members are encouraged to sign up & show their work in the studio then, if so inclined!