provided to The Santiva Chronicle
BIG ARTS is thrilled to announce the return of its beloved ceramics program, featuring a diverse range of classes and on-site firing capability. Classes begin in October and registration opens August 1, 2025, online here.
“Pottery has been at the heart of BIG ARTS contribution to the community for over 40 years. While we were forced to suspend BIG ARTS pottery program due to facility restrictions, we are thrilled it is back and our classes will be taught by some of the finest ceramic artists in Southwest Florida,” said Lee Ellen Harder, BIG ARTS Executive Director.
The 2026 season ceramics curriculum offers classes for everyone—from beginners to seasoned artists—with a diverse collection of courses, including:
• Beginning Pottery Wheel 101 – Beginning students will discover how to center a ball of clay and shape it into various objects. Those with prior experience will refine their skills and learn techniques to create more intricate forms.
• Intermediate Pottery Wheel 102 – If you are comfortable with the basics of throwing and eager to learn more advanced techniques, this class is for you.
• Advanced Pottery Wheel 103 – Students will engage in independent special projects. You are encouraged to pursue your interests or develop and refine your pieces.
• Ceramics Open Studio – Students registered in the full 6-week pottery sessions (101, 102, or 103) can participate in the Friday open studio classes monitored by a BIG ARTS instructor, and offering current students extra time outside of class to continue and complete their artwork.
• Handbuilding 101 – This class will focus on the fundamentals of handbuilding techniques: pinch, coil, and slab. Specific projects will be recommended and demonstrated so students can begin their work with confidence.
• Handbuilding Adventures – New ideas abound in this special class for students with some knowledge who would benefit from new challenges. Students will be encouraged to pursue complex and varied building techniques.
• Above & Beyond – Students in this class will make pieces specific to experimenting with different glaze techniques, including slip trailing, transfers, sgraffito, stamping, underglazes, wax resist, bubble glazing, and stencils.
• Pottery Slab & Texture – Slab construction includes designing templates, forms to shape and drape and wrap your clay.
• Wine & RAKU Mixers – Learn about Raku, the traditional Japanese pottery-firing technique, and glaze your very own pre-thrown clay pot. As our work is being fired, we will stroll to the BIG ARTS Malone Family Sculpture Garden to enjoy bites and wine.
Whether you’re looking to get your hands dirty for the first time or dive deeper into your ceramic study, BIG ARTS ceramics program is your place to create, connect, and grow. Enjoy camaraderie and creativity in classes crafted to inspire your inner artist.
Visit BIG ARTS website for all the details and register. Registration begins August 1, 2025. We encourage early registration as space is limited for the pottery classes and all workshops at BIG ARTS.
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