Pottery Notes – West Village

SPRING WEEK 3 – APRIL 21

STUDIO BUSINESS
Glaze Studio Availability
Posted around the studio, you will find the schedule for the glaze studio this term. Unless classes are scheduled in that space, you can drop in to glaze any time. Reservations are not required to use the glaze studio, and you do not need to register. Reservations are required for the spray booth and can be made on our website or in the liaison office. If a class has the space reserved, YOU MUST check with the instructor for permission before working.  

Cookie Monster?
These flat, reusable disks of fired clay are a way to protect your pots and our kiln shelves from drippy accidents in the kiln—you may also know them as “firing trays.” GHP has a stock available of various sizes for student use. If you want to make your own, please label it with your full name on every edge so it can be returned to you. Unlabeled trays may end up in the shared inventory. A bucket of kiln wash is available under the measuring station in the glaze room to coat the top of your cookie. See a Technician if you have questions.   

Finished Work Discard Date
All of the glaze work from winter term has been fired. Please take your projects home before Sunday, May 11 at 5:30 p.m. This work will be marked with a sticker and any remaining work will be discarded on May 12. 

A-Section Classes Wrap-Up
Our early-spring A-Section classes are now more than half finished. Students who are not continuing into a B-section class should plan to bring all their work to the bisqueware drop off by the end of the fourth class next week. Please plan appropriately with your final projects.  

Cleanliness? You’ll Find it is Next to Godliness
Proper clean-up is critical to maintaining a healthy community ceramics studio. Breathing in dry clay is a health risk so it is important that everyone follows cleaning protocols. Here are our guiding tenets for cleaning:  

  • Students must clean their tools and workspace after every class or studio/glaze session.  
  • Every time you clean up, use a wet sponge or mop. Never sweep, scrape, blow clay dust, or use paper towels.  
  • Wipe down all surfaces at least twice with a clean sponge in order to remove clay and glaze residue. 
  • For your first pass, bring a bucket of clean water to your wheel or workspace to clean the area and your tools. 
  • Keep clay off the floors—trimmings, particles, and chunks. Clay or glaze on the floor gets spread throughout the building and becomes airborne with every step. Use a mop or sponge to clean up any splashes or trimmings. 
  • Help yourself and others by leaving the studio cleaner than you found it—a clean studio is a happy studio. 

GALLERY & RESIDENCY PROGRAM
Ceramics Now Opening Reception
Mark your calendar for the opening reception of Ceramics Now, an exhibition of work by our 2024 artists in residence: Daniel Barragán, Carson Culp, Kristy Moreno, and Gina Tibbott. Join us for the opening reception on Thursday, May 8 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.  

COMMUNITY EVENTS
Community Town Hall
Save the date for a zoom town hall on Wednesday, April 30 at 6:30 p.m. An invitation will be emailed to all students and faculty shortly. Please RSVP to receive the link to the meeting. This is a date change from the town hall that was previously scheduled for April 16. 

Sidewalk Sale
Join us on Saturday, May 3 for our next ceramic sidewalk sale. This semi-annual tradition is a great way to introduce your friends to the joys and wonders of 16 Jones Street and proceeds from the sale will support operations at the Pottery. Volunteers welcome! Please sign up in the office to help us set-up, clean-up, wrap pots, and welcome visitors.  

Save the Date: Taste, Toast, & Transform Lives
On Tuesday, May 6, experience an unforgettable evening of flavors at Taste of Greenwich Village 2025 with dishes from NYC’s top chefs and acclaimed restaurants, an open bar featuring a specialty mocktail, and a live DJ setting the vibe—all in support of Greenwich House’s vital programs in arts, education, and social services. Learn more on our website.  

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS:
Learn more about these great workshops and sign up online or in the liaison office! 

  • Throwing off the Hump – a quick wheel trick for efficiency and small parts. Saturday, April 26 at GHP West Village.  
  • Focus on Handles – it’s what makes a mug a mug! Sunday, April 27 at GHP Chelsea. 
  • Mindfulness Techniques through Pinch Pots – relax and feel the clay. Saturday, May 3 at GHP West Village. 
  • Glaze Clinic – brush up on basics and go one step further. Sunday, May 4 at GHP West Village.  
  • Body Mechanics on the Wheel – ergonomic tips for clay workers. Wednesday, May 7 at GHP West Village.  

 

At-A-Glance Dates and Deadlines
Wednesday, April 30: Community Town Hall on Zoom, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 3: GHP West Village Sidewalk Sale, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday, May 6: Taste of Greenwich Village, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 8: Opening reception for Ceramics Now, exhibition of work by GHP’s 2024 artists in residence
Sunday, May 11: Deadline to take your finished winter projects home 

SPRING WEEK 2 – APRIL 15

STUDIO BUSINESS
Glazing Grace Period: Winter Students Finish Up 
All work on the bisque shelves must be glazed and submitted for firing no later than Sunday, April 20 at 5:30 p.m. The bisque shelves will be completely cleared the morning of April 21; anything left on the shelves will be discarded to make space for new work regardless of individual students’ enrollment!  

Finished work discard date
All of the glaze work from winter term has been fired. Please take your projects home before Sunday, May 11 at 5:30 p.m. This work will be marked with a sticker and any remaining work will be discarded on May 12. 

Door Code
The door code for entry is 5-3-1. This code will only work during the hours that the studio is open. Studio hours are posted on the front door and online. Holiday and break closures are noted in Pottery Notes and our website. 

Studio Sessions
You can book studio sessions to work outside of class time. Each session is 4-hours long, can be booked in your respective classroom, and costs $10 per booking. The session calendar and registration instructions are posted in each classroom. You can book your session by visiting the Current Students section of our website and selecting Register for Studio Sessions. Friday evening studio session reservations are $5! Pre-registration is required, and staff will check registrations during each period.  

GALLERY & RESIDENCY PROGRAM
Congratulations and Thank You!
Congratulations and thank you again to all the participants of the GHP Artists Exhibition! It was so much fun to see what everyone had been working on. Please be sure to stop by the gallery this week to pick up your work any time during regular studio hours. The gallery door will be closed but unlocked for your convenience. Please be sure to pick up your work by Sunday, April 20. Unclaimed work will be moved to the glaze shelves on April 21. 

COMMUNITY EVENTS
Community Town Hall
Save the date for a zoom town hall on April 30 at 6:30 p.m. An invitation will be emailed to all students and faculty shortly. Please RSVP to receive the link to the meeting. This is a date change from the town hall that was previously scheduled for April 16. 

Sidewalk Sale
Join us on May 3 for our next ceramic sidewalk sale. This semi-annual tradition is a great way to introduce your friends to the joys and wonders of 16 Jones Street and proceeds from the sale will support operations at the Pottery. Volunteers welcome! Please sign up in the office to help us set-up, clean-up, wrap pots, and welcome visitors. 

Save the Date: Taste, Toast, & Transform Lives
Tuesday, May 6, experience an unforgettable evening of flavors at Taste of Greenwich Village 2025 with dishes from NYC’s top chefs and acclaimed restaurants, an open bar featuring a specialty mocktail, and a live DJ setting the vibe—all in support of Greenwich House’s vital programs in arts, education, and social services. Learn more on our website. 

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS:
Learn more about these great workshops and sign up online or in the liaison office! 

  • Surface Design: Sgraffito and Water Carving – This workshop has been rescheduled to June 1. 
  • Throwing off the Hump – a quick wheel trick for efficiency and small parts. Saturday, April 26 at GHP West Village.  
  • Focus on Handles – it’s what makes a mug a mug! Sunday, April 27 at GHP Chelsea. 
  • Mindfulness Techniques through Pinch Pots – relax and feel the clay. Saturday, May 3 at GHP West Village.

At-A-Glance Dates and Deadlines
Now – April 20: Lizzy Chemel residency 
April 7 – 20: Glazing grace period
Sunday, April 20: Last day to glaze your bisqueware from Winter. All remaining work will be discarded the morning of April 21. 
April 11 – 20: Pick up your work from the GHP Artists Exhibition
Wednesday, April 30, 6:30 p.m.: Community Town Hall on Zoom
Saturday, May 3: GHP West Village Sidewalk Sale
Tuesday, May 6: Taste of Greenwich Village 

SPRING WEEK 1 – APRIL 7

STUDIO BUSINESS
Welcome! 
We hope that you had a happy and safe break, and we are excited to have everyone back! Whether you are a new or returning student, we ask that you carefully read the student guidelines for studio information and policies. Each week in class, teachers will read Pottery Notes, which contains all the studio updates you should know. If you miss hearing them read aloud, please check online or on the bulletin boards weekly to make sure you are aware of important announcements and deadlines.  

Door Code
The door code for entry is 5-3-1. This code will only work during the hours that the studio is open. Studio hours are posted on the front door and online. Holiday and break closures are noted in Pottery Notes and our website. 

Glazing Grace Period: Winter Students Finish Up 
All work on the bisque shelves must be glazed and submitted for firing no later than Sunday, April 20 at 5:30 p.m. The bisque shelves will be completely cleared the morning of April 21; anything left on the shelves will be discarded to make space for new work regardless of individual students’ enrollment! Glazed work will not be discarded until mid-May, date TBA. 

Studio Sessions
You can book studio sessions to work outside of class time. Each session is 4-hours long, can be booked in your respective classroom, and costs $10 per booking. The session calendar and registration instructions are posted in each classroom. You can book your session by visiting the Current Students section of our website and selecting Register for Studio Sessions. Friday evening studio session reservations are $5! Pre-registration is required, and staff will check registrations during each period.  

Hello, hello 
Please join us in welcoming two new studio assistants to the GHP team! Sawyer London and Aaliyah Garcia will be with us this Spring. They will be based at the Chelsea studio, but you may also see them filling in as Liaisons or Techs here as well.  

The West Village studio welcomes three new interns to the tech team. Please give a kind hello to Rosie, Chaerin, and Gabbo.   

Maxed Out
As you plan your projects this spring, keep in mind that the maximum dimension of any piece may not exceed 22”. Particularly with the summer closure coming at the West Village studio, it is important that we all plan ahead to keep the kiln loads moving smoothly through June.  

GALLERY & RESIDENCY PROGRAM
Last week of GHP Artists Exhibition
The GHP Artists Exhibition is on view through April 11. Once the show is over, be sure to pick up your piece during regular Pottery hours: Saturday, April 12 through Sunday, April 20. (Gallery door will be closed but unlocked for your convenience.) If you are unable to come during these times, please make arrangements for someone else to pick up your piece. Unclaimed work will be moved to glaze shelves on April 21. 

Lost & Found
Our lost and found is located in the basement. Valuable items will be held in the Liaison office. Items are donated or discarded after 30 days, so be sure to take a look if you are missing something. 

COMMUNITY EVENTS
Community Town Hall
Save the date for a zoom town hall on April 30 at 6:30 p.m. An invitation will be emailed to all students and faculty shortly. Please RSVP to receive the link to the meeting. This is a date change from the town hall that was previously scheduled for April 16. 

Sidewalk Sale
Join us on May 3 for our next ceramic sidewalk sale. This semi-annual tradition is a great way to introduce your friends to the joys and wonders of 16 Jones Street and proceeds from the sale will support operations at the Pottery.  

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS:
Learn more about these great workshops and sign up online or in the liaison office! 

  • Mother’s Day in Clay – parents and kids team up to make a colorful bouquet for mom. Sunday, April 13 at GHP Chelsea. 
  • Surface Design: Sgraffito and Water Carving – practice these two impactful techniques to make your work unique. Saturday, April 19 at GHP Chelsea.  
  • Throwing off the Hump – a quick wheel trick for efficiency and small parts. Saturday, April 26 at GHP West Village.  
  • Focus on Handles – it’s what makes a mug a mug! Sunday, April 27 at GHP Chelsea. 

 

At-A-Glance Dates and Deadlines
Now – April 20: Lizzy Chemel residency 
April 7: First day of spring term
April 7 – 20: Glazing grace period
Friday, April 11: Last day of GHP Artists Exhibition
April 11 – 20: Pick up your work from the GHP Artists Exhibition
Wednesday, April 30, 6:30 p.m.: Community Town Hall on Zoom.
Saturday, May 3: GHP West Village Sidewalk Sale 

 

WINTER WEEK 12 – March 24

STUDIO BUSINESS
Shine, Shine, Shine
On the last day of your class, we ask that all wheel throwers deep clean your wheel, splash pan, and stool; handbuilders please each choose one community supply (e.g. sort and fold canvas, wipe down the rolling pin shelf, or clean the dried clay off of the threads of a slip container so that it closes smoothly). Every tiny effort makes for a better studio experience for all. 

End of Term Business 

  • Glaze, glaze, glaze! We’ll fire a lot of kilns over the break. Please focus on glazing during the last week of class. 
  • As we come to the final weeks of the term, we encourage you to wrap up all work in progress. If you are unable to finish a piece before the end of the term and ONLY if you are returning next semester, clearly label it with your NAME and SPRING 2025 with the orange tape provided in the classrooms. Any greenware pieces found unlabeled over break will be reclaimed, no exceptions. Staff will be working hard during the break to prepare the studio for the spring term.  
  • Check your firing log through the self-measuring system and settle any unpaid balances. 
  • Clear anything unwanted from your class shelves and renew your locker. Any tool/supplies left on the class shelves will be reclaimed, donated, or discarded during the break.  
  • If you were unable to glaze all of your pieces during this term, you can come in during the first two weeks of the next term to glaze any remaining work, even if you are not enrolled in a winter term class. This ‘glaze grace period’ will run from April 7 – 20.  
  • Slipcasters must clean, consolidate, and clearly label any molds or works in progress with your name, class number and “spring2025” using the orange masking tape provided. You may only leave these items in the slipcasting room if you will register in a moldmaking class for the next term. 

Locker Renewals – Now Online! 

Renew your locker for next term by using this QR code or stop by the liaison office this week. This will reserve your current locker. If you would like to change lockers or get a locker for the first time (i.e. not renew) please visit the office during the first week of class in April. 

If you are not returning for spring term, please remove all personal belongings and clean your locker by March 28. Lockers that are not renewed will be emptied during the break. 

We Want to Hear from You! 

We are sending two very important surveys this week—one will ask about your hopes and dreams for summer term. Please note that it is also important to respond if you do not plan on taking regular weekly classes with us. You may also get some hints about special events, topics, and directions towards which we are reaching…  

The other survey will be our regular end-of-term survey. Your feedback is important to the future of our programming and we thank you in advance for your time.  

It’s Everywhere You Want To Be 

Did you know you can use the self-service measuring system on your phone? QR codes are located around the studios to access the website, and make sure you are printing to the correct location. Avoid the crowd at the iPad: measure from your workstation! 

Let’s Talk Electricity 

If you need to unplug a wheel to charge your phone or use a blowdryer, please please plug that wheel back in when you’re done. 

GALLERY & RESIDENCY PROGRAM 

GHP Artists Exhibition Award Recipients 

Congratulations to all of the GHP Artists Exhibition participants on the truly fantastic work you submitted for the exhibition! We’d like to offer special acknowledgement to the award recipients: 

Hiroe Hanazono Award (slipcasting): Guilhem Labadie
Madeline Sadin Award (wheel throwing): Helen Lau
Anna Siok Award (handbuilding): Charlotte Shi
Director’s Choice Award: Mirjana Ciric
Honorable Mention: Lisa Paolella 

The GHP Artists Exhibition is on view through April 11. Pick up your piece during regular Pottery hours: Saturday, April 12 through Sunday, April 20. (Gallery door will be closed but unlocked for your convenience.) If you are unable to come during these times, please make arrangements for someone else to pick up your piece. Unclaimed work will be moved to glaze shelves on April 21.  

COMMUNITY EVENTS 

Zoom Community Town Hall 

Our next online town hall is scheduled for Wednesday, April 16 at 6:30 p.m. Please watch for more information in your inbox. 

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS: 

  • Mother’s Day in Clay – Build a bouquet with your family bunch. Sunday, April 13, 2:30 – 5:30 p.m. at GHP Chelsea. 
  • Surface Design: Sgraffito and Water Etching – Enhance your surfaces with hands-on guidance. Saturday, April 19, 2:30 – 4:30 PM at GHP West Village. 
  • Throwing off the Hump – learn a technique for throwing small and quick. Saturday, April 26, 2:30 – 4:30 pm at GHP West Village. 

At-A-Glance Dates and Deadlines
Saturday, March 29: Last day of winter term
Sunday, March 30– Sunday, April 6: GHP is closed for interterm break
Tuesday, April 1, 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.: GHP West Village is open for fired work pick-up only
Monday, April 7: Spring term classes begin
Friday, April 11: Last day of GHP Artists Exhibition
April 11 – 20: Pick up your work from the GHP Artists Exhibition