By Bob Singleton, Executive Director, Greater Astoria Historical Society
Shopping for Ceramics? If you are interested in learning silk screen printing or improving your skills at a glaze workshop, a youngster learning the art of hand building pottery, or just wanting to throw a unique party for your creative friends – BrickHouse Ceramic Art Center, located at 10-34 44th Drive, is the place for you.
They offer classes that suit the needs of a novice or a pro. Whether for a child’s birthday party, a professional work event, or a gathering with friends and family, BrickHouse provides opportunities for both educational activities and enjoyable experiences related to the art of sculpture.
BrickHouse provides courses in wheel throwing, hand building pottery, sculpture, and technical subjects, offered across four terms annually for anyone interested in learning sculpture. Each term is divided into two sessions: semester classes, and private lessons.
If you have a specific recipe that you would like to use, then you can certainly mix it there.
Whether it’s a birthday party, a work event, or just a get together with friends and family, students get their own shelf to keep clay, tools, and their work on. There are also lockers. A child or teenager may take a scheduled private lesson, have a private party or take a class with a parent or guardian.
First-time glaze mixers must be trained by studio staff prior to mixing a glaze. They also teach classes so one can learn how to mix their own glazes if they wish. As they progress, intermediate students can develop ideas and skills under the supervision of the instructor. Almost half of the studio is designed to accommodate experienced ceramicists, known as ‘Associates’ by the staff.
BrickHouse can take a person through a lifetime of learning. Beginning students receive individual instruction, and as their skills improve, ‘bench-time’ is scheduled to let them practice in the studio independently.
