There are more exciting happenings at the Habitat for the Arts, including pottery classes with Dish Pottery’s Julie Anne McMath. 

Starting on Jan. 26, McMath will be hosting a three-week clay pendant class for teens ages 13-16. Teens will get the opportunity to make their own one-of-a-kind jewellery pendants in a fun, social atmosphere. The classes will run on Wednesdays from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

McMath will be offering a kids handbuilding class for children ages seven to 12. The three-week course will teach kids the basics of handbuilding with clay. The exact items to be created are undecided, but McMath said they could include piggy banks, jewellery boxes, mugs, monsters and plant pots. The program will also be on Wednesdays, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., also starting on Jan. 26.

For adults, McMath will be hosting an A and B class on beginner wheel throwing. The six-week, two hour course will teach adults the essential skills of wheel throwing. Students will learn how to create their own bowls and mugs.

Breaking the class up into two sections means there will be lots of teacher attention for each student. The first group will run on Thursdays and kick off Jan. 27 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The B group will start Feb. 7 on Mondays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Other classes in the spring include wheel throwing for teens, a more advanced wheel throwing class for adults and more handbuilding classes for kids. 

Summer will be a great opportunity for aspiring pottery artists, with a kid and teen clay camp, figure sculpting drop-in and Put A Lid On It! and Tea For Two wheel throwing workshops for adults. 

McMath said she is looking forward to starting up her classes at the Habitat. 

“I have been waiting a long time to have a permanent classroom to host workshops to our community, and the Habitat will allow that,” she said. “Over the next year, I hope to develop several pottery programs and workshops that keep the community engaged and excited about clay.”