Penland Clay Studio Information

Back to studio index

The Studio
Penland’s two-story clay studio is located in the historic core campus. The earliest part of the building was constructed in 1948. Since then the studio has expanded to include two large classrooms, a spacious kiln yard, and an outside porch. The upstairs classroom, or “upper clay,” is used mostly for wheel throwing classes and accommodates up to 20 students. The room is 33' x 45' and each individual work space is about 3’ x 4’. Each student has a wheel and a small shelving unit for her personal use. There are wooden stools and chairs for seating. There are 4 large 4’ x 8’ canvas-covered tables and 3 more 4’ x 8’ tables not covered with canvas all for shared use.

The downstairs classroom, know as “lower clay” or “deeper clay,” hosts hand building and sculpting classes. Originally, the room was used as Penland’s first wood studio. Lower clay can accommodate up to 18 students. The classroom is 30' x 45' with an additional glazing and plaster working room that is 15' x 39'. Each student has a 3’ x 6’ table with a storage shelf below for her working space. Lower clay features all new manufactured stools with backs and casters.

Wheels and tables are assigned by a lottery process. Both classrooms share a common 21' x 39' glaze making room located upstairs, all the kilns, and the upstairs porch. Use of the glaze lab is restricted to instructors and studio assistants with some exceptions made depending on the class content. Both classrooms have 2 large sinks each with hot and cold running water. There are no lockers for storage of your valuables. All lighting is fluorescent. If you have specific seating or lighting needs, you should bring that with you.
However, there is small selection of clip-on lights for those who have specific lighting preferences in their personal work area. The studio is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Equipment
The following list of equipment will give you an idea of what to expect to see during your class here at Penland. Although we have all this equipment, if something is not necessary for your class, it may not be prepared for use. The equipment used by your class will be determined by your instructor and will be appropriate to the techniques covered in your class.

If you wish to use equipment in other studios during your session you must work with the instructor, studio assistant, or coordinator of that studio to request access. They will determine if your needs are compatible with their class' activities and if you are able to work safely and independently with that equipment.

Our current selection of potter’s wheels:

  • 1 Bailey Pro XL wheel with reversing switch
  • 14 Brent C wheels
  • 2 Brent C wheels with reversing boxes
  • 2 Brent CXC wheels
  • 1 Brent motorized kick wheel
  • 1 Lockerbie motorized kick wheel
  • 1 Lockerbie electric wheel
  • 1 Pacifica GT400 wheel with reversing switch
  • 4 Randall wheels
  • 1 Shimpo M400 electric wheel
  • 1 Shimpo M750 electric wheel
  • 2 Shimpo M-1 mini-master electric wheels
  • 2 Shimpo RK-10 basic electric wheels
  • 3 treadle wheels
  • 4 miscellaneous manufactured and homemade kick wheels

The upper clay classroom includes

  • large canvas-covered cement wedging table
  • large plaster wedging table
  • 4 4' x 8' canvas covered worktables
  • 3 4’ x 8’ worktables without canvas tops
  • North Star extruder
  • North Star slab roller
  • Bailey extruder
  • ball mill
  • bench grinder
  • Bluebird clay mixer
  • Laguna spray booth
  • small sand blaster
  • 8' x 7' x 2' dry box
  • 5 Ohaus balance beam scales
  • 1 Ohaus digital scale
  • large glaze making room with ventilation system and dumb waiter to downstairs classroom

Lower clay classroom includes

Kilns and Firing
Penland features a variety of kilns for a great learning environment. Most kilns are located outside upper clay and are shared between upper and lower clay. Classes have varied curricula and the type and number of firings are determined by the instructor. This is not a production studio so please come with an open mind and willingness to participate in group activities rather than with a list of personal projects to complete.

Our current non-electric kiln selection:

  • A double-chambered Noborigama wood kiln designed by Kevin Crowe and Dan Finnegan
  • A 65 cu. ft. hard brick/sprung arch salt kiln designed by local potter Shane Mickey
    (propane/venturi burners w/piggy back pilots)
  • A 30 cu.ft. hard castable catenary arch cross-draft soda-only kiln (propane/venturi burners w/piggyback pilots)
  • A 50 cu. ft. soft brick sprung arch gas kiln designed by local potter Tracy Dotson (propane/venturi
    burners w/piggy back pilots)
  • A 20 cu. ft. soft brick sprung arch gas kiln designed by local potter John Britt (propane/venturi burners w/piggy back pilots)
  • A 2 cu. ft. soft brick sprung arch gas test kiln designed by local potter John Britt (propane/venturi burners w/piggy back pilots)
  • A small test salt kiln also designed by John Britt
  • 2 fiber raku kilns (3' x 3' x 3')

Our current computer-controlled electric kiln selection

  • 1 test kiln
  • 1 18” round kiln
  • 6 23” round kilns
  • 3 28” round kilns
  • 2 large oval kilns
  • 1 front-loading square 20” kiln

Supplies and Materials
For consistency students must purchase clay from the clay studio and no clay is to be brought in from outside. Most of our clay comes from Highwater Clays in Asheville, NC or it can come from another supplier if requested by the instructor. The price is prorated to include glaze-making and firing costs: $16 for a 25 lb. bag of stoneware or earthenware and $19 for a 25 lb. bag of porcelain. The average clay cost for a wheel-throwing class is $125.00 and the average clay cost for a hand-building class is $65.00. This, of course, will vary according to your personal usage. Some classes might have an added studio fee to cover any hazardous waste removal or any special-order items used solely by that class.

You should bring your own favorite tools, brushes, stamps, paddles, slip-trailers, sgraffito tools, sketchbooks, drawing supplies, apron, and towels. Carefully read the student materials list to see what other items you should bring. If you have any questions about supplies, please contact the studio coordinator at clay@penland.org.

Safety
On the first night or morning of your class, you are required to attend a formal safety talk and tour of the studio. Please provide your own respirator or particle mask. If you like to use latex or rubber gloves while glazing, please bring your own. If you have your own safety glasses, bring those, too. The clay studio cannot provide these for you as per OSHA requirements. You must wear a respirator while scraping kiln shelves, while handling any powdered material, and also while using the grinder or spray booth. You must also wear safety glasses while scraping kiln shelves or using the grinder. If you are serious about your art, you will have these. All of these items are for sale at the Penland Supply Store. You must also wear closed-toed shoes and long pants while stoking the wood kiln or firing the raku kiln.

Drinking alcoholic beverages and/or smoking are not permitted in the studio or on the kiln pad. This includes drinking somewhere else and then coming into the studio to work. It also includes drinking while “watching” the kiln. The use of illegal drugs anywhere on campus is prohibited. Violation of these rules can result in an unexpected early trip home. If it chooses, the class can elect to have a party with drinks in the studio, with the studio coordinator’s permission, provided that everyone agrees not to work during the party time.

Penland’s septic system is not prepared to handle some regulated materials that might affect our ground water. “Hazardous” at Penland can mean some things that are regulated but not necessarily labeled as hazardous by OSHA. Before disposing of anything, please consult the studio coordinator as to proper procedures.

Shared Studio Equipment
Shared air space/ Music: Each class should discuss the playing of music and reach a consensus on the time of day, the volume, and the type of music to be played. Tolerance and consideration are expected from everyone.

If you wish to use equipment in other studios during your session, you must contact the Studio Coordinator who oversees that particular studio first. If permission is granted, then you must work with the instructor, studio assistant, and studio coordinator of that studio to arrange access. They will determine if the desired usage is compatible with their class’ activities, and if you are able to work safely and independently with the equipment.

Studio Clean-up
Students can anticipate that in addition to their daily clean-up chores there will also be a three to four hour all-class final clean-up of the clay studio. Group studio clean-up is mandatory. This will be scheduled during the last week of class, usually on Thursday, while kilns are cooling and there is no time available to make more work.

Session Schedule
Each session starts with an all school meeting Sunday evening at 5 p.m. followed by dinner in the Pines. Classes start Sunday at 8:30 p.m. Classes end and studio clean-up takes place the day before your session ends. The last day of each session is reserved for farewells and an all school exhibition of work created during your time at Penland.

Come visit our studio any time! We’ll see you soon.

If you have any questions contact
Studio Coordinator: Susan Feagin
Office: 828-765-2359 x 40
Voicemail: 828-765-2359 x41
E-mail: clay@penland.org

Revised April 2008