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North Carolina

The Art of Working Clay by Hand

Program No. 21934RJ
Discover the thrill of working clay by hand as you join experienced instructors to create your own unique masterpieces. Plus, explore the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains!
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CraftsSmall GroupBest ValueRetreats
Length
6 days
Rating (5)
Activity Level
Starts at
1,149

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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
6 days
5 nights
What's Included
15 meals ( 5B, 5L, 5D )
9 expert-led lectures
1 expert-led field trip
11 hands-on experiences
3 performances
An experienced Group Leader
5 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Inn check-in from 3:00 p.m. Remember to bring your name-tag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
You will share this week with other Road Scholar programs as well as a "Suncoast Pickleball Boot Camp" group. Assembly Inn check-in 3:00-5:30 p.m. Pull up to the Assembly Inn porch to unload, then park your vehicle in any designated spot close to the Inn or by the lake and check in. Program Registration. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table to register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing the up-to-date schedule that reflects any changes, other important information, and to confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check in. Feel free to relax in your room, meet and enjoy fellowship with other participants in the beautiful lobby, or stretch your legs with a walk around the campus before dinner.
Dinner:
5:30-6:30 p.m. in the Assembly Inn Dining room.
Evening:
Orientation: 7:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will also meet the instructor. This is a Road Scholar Retreats program. Programming at Retreat locations includes opportunities for light morning exercise, interaction with members of the local community, a farm-to-table meal, and evening entertainment. Sleeping and dining facilities are in one building, with approximately 300 yards walking required. However, you will walk across the street from the Assembly Inn and climb a flight of stairs (no elevator) for your pottery classes. On some evenings, there will be entertainment such as a concert, dance, or storyteller followed by opportunities for fellowship in the lobby of the Inn. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. We’ll finish up around 8:00 p.m. with some “get to know you” activities and then have refreshments and fellowship in the lobby. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity Note
Group stretches in the main lobby 7:30-7:45 a.m. Daily climbing a flight of stairs to second floor of building where classes are held; walking up and down hills, mountainous terrain.
Breakfast:
7:30-8:30 a.m. in the Assembly Inn Dining Room (early morning coffee available around 6:30 a.m.)
Morning:
We will walk across the street from the Assembly Inn, and climb stairs to the 2nd floor of the Sally Jones Pottery Studio. Clay can be pushed, pulled, and pinched in countless ways. Pinching and coiling of clay is an age-old method of forming pottery. Our first project will involve large flat slabs of clay that we will texture, cut, and assemble to form soup bowls. For our second project, we will build a small open vessel or lidded jar combining pinching and coiling. Our focus will be on scoring and slipping to make our pieces water tight. We will consider different ways to fashion handles and decorative attachments. We’ll also have some refreshments to keep us going!
Lunch:
12:30-1:30 p.m. in the Assembly Inn Dining Room.
Afternoon:
Using textured slabs of clay, we will build boxes that are closed forms which — when stiff — will need to be cut apart to create a lid and base. This is a puzzle indeed! We will finish the afternoon preparing trivets with slip for our “scraffitto” surface design project. Our class time will conclude around 3:15. Next, we’ll set out on an expert-led exploration of Montreat. The remainder of the afternoon is free.
Dinner:
5:30-6:30 p.m. in the Assembly Inn Dining Room.
Evening:
Our evening program will be a musical concert or a storyteller. The remainder of the evening is at leisure, with activities in the lobby of the Inn for fellowship. There may be open studio time at the Sally Jones Pottery.
Activity Note
Group stretches in the main lobby 7:30-7:45 a.m. Daily climbing a flight of stairs to second floor of building where classes are held; walking up and down hills, mountainous terrain.
Breakfast:
7:30-8:30 a.m. in the Assembly Inn Dining Room (early morning coffee available around 6:30 a.m.)
Morning:
Getting back to the puzzle of finishing the box project, we will decide how to separate the lid from the base, then we will need to consider handles and feet. For our second project of the morning, we will use molds into which we press small pieces of clay to create a patchwork surface. If time allows, we will create a drinking vessel with a handle using techniques learned thus far. A mid-morning refreshment and fellowship break will be in the studio.
Lunch:
12:30-1:30 p.m. in the Assembly Inn Dining Room.
Afternoon:
“Scraffitto” surface design: clay that has stiffened slightly and has a contrasting slip painted on the surface allows us to carve through to expose the darker clay underneath. Colored slips will be available if desired. We’ll also delve further into processes we’ve learned so far. At 3:30 p.m., we’ll set out on an elective hike in the mountains (weather permitting). The remainder of the afternoon is free.
Dinner:
5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Assembly Inn Dining Room.
Evening:
We will gather for a fun evening event: a dance, a concert, or a storyteller. Games/cards/TV will be available in the lobby for fellowship.
Activity Note
Group stretches in the main lobby 7:30-7:45 a.m. Daily climbing a flight of stairs to second floor of building where classes are held; walking up and down hills, mountainous terrain.
Breakfast:
7:30-8:30 a.m. in the Assembly Inn Dining Room (early morning coffee available around 6:30 a.m.)
Morning:
We will prepare for the bisque firing by completing all projects in process. We’ll then have an introduction to glazing and learn about glaze ingredients, recipes, and raw materials.
Lunch:
12:30-1:30 p.m. in the Assembly Inn Dining Room.
Afternoon:
Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration. We recommend visiting local galleries in Black Mountain for inspiration for glazing ideas. Kilns will be firing!
Dinner:
5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Assembly Inn Dining Room. We will enjoy a farm-to-table meal.
Evening:
We will join our instructors to learn about their artistic journeys and have a presentation on Japanese pottery.
Activity Note
Group stretches in the main lobby 7:30-7:45 a.m. Daily climbing a flight of stairs to second floor of building where classes are held; walking up and down hills, mountainous terrain.
Breakfast:
7:30-8:30 a.m. in the Assembly Inn Dining Room (early morning coffee available around 6:30 a.m.)
Morning:
We will gather for a demonstration of the glaze process and will then be able to try various glaze techniques including dipping, pouring, layering, and wax resist. This is your time to glaze all pieces for the final firing. All glazing must be finished before lunch. Food-safe and durable finished pieces will go home with us on Friday for daily use in our homes.
Lunch:
12:30-1:30 p.m. in the Assembly Inn Dining Room.
Afternoon:
While the kilns are firing, we will delve into a pottery wheel introduction and experience. Be ready to get muddy! We’ll enjoy “throwing” on the wheel without the worry of finishing. All clay used during the wheel-throwing afternoon will be recycled by the studio for use with future classes. We will only keep skills and memories, not pieces, from this pottery wheel immersion. The session will end at 3:30 p.m. The remainder of the afternoon is free.
Dinner:
5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Assembly Inn Dining Room. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
We’ll gather for a last evening together as a group (probably a concert), followed by an opportunity for games/cards/TV in lobby for fellowship. Prepare for check-out and departure after lunch tomorrow.
Activity Note
Daily climbing a flight of stairs to second floor of building where classes are held; walking up and down hills, mountainous terrain. Check-out 11:00 a.m.
Breakfast:
7:30-8:30 a.m. in the Assembly Inn Dining Room (early morning coffee available around 6:30 a.m.)
Morning:
We will continue our experimentation with the wheel by learning how to wheel trim our thrown pieces and how to pull and attach handles in the style commonly used by potters for their wheel thrown work.
Lunch:
At noon, our box lunches will be available. You may eat in the lobby, out on the porch or tea garden, or over on the porch of the pottery studio. Enjoy a last walk around the lake, perhaps visit the Montreat store or grab an ice cream at the Huckleberry.
Afternoon:
With great anticipation, we will celebrate the opening of the kiln and get out final pieces. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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