So I went here yesterday for a beginner "check it out" class. I thought that there might be a bit of dabbling with working on the wheel, but was disappointed to discover that we would only be working with clay at tables for the day. Back in high school, I took two ceramics classes, and above all else, I loved throwing. I'd pretty much bribe my classmates to let me take their throwing day. There's this rush I would get as the wheel picked up speed and my fingers gently began molding the lump of clay into a piece of pottery. And if whatever I was working on sucked that day, it was equally satisfying to rip it off the wheel and smash it against the table. Good de-stresser.
Yeserday was still a fun experience, despite my initial disappointment, and was a great opportunity for my mother and I to spend the afternoon doing something new and different. The class was small, with five of us total. The instructor was nice, was able to keep us talking, and encouraged anyone who suddenly felt discouraged with their piece of pottery.
The check it out is a great class for anyone new to clay. It was also a great reintroduction for me, after years of not working with it. Would I do it again? Probably not. I wish they had an introductory throwing class instead of only offering the class packages, but I understand why that would be something they would offer over the span of 1.5-2 months. The nice part is that they offer these classes throughout the week, so you're not stuck just choosing a Saturday or Sunday class. If your schedule only allows you to go on, say, a Wednesday, you'll be happy to see that there are classes offered on Wednesdays.
As for CAC itself, the classroom was spacious, bright, and very welcoming. I didn't feel like I was stuffed in some high school classroom. The tables were intact and high. I still hunched over my piece, which hurt my back after three hours, but that's what you get when you do this kind of stuff. I was surprised that the tables were in such good condition after hearing that CAC offers many classes to children from schools in the area. Usually, you'll start to see the wear when some child gets bored. Not the case here.
The only problem is that the building is not instantly noticeable. If you're from the area, you may drive by and see it if you look past the parking lot; otherwise, the only way you'd hear about it is probably via the internet. They're working on making their presence known, though. read more