Clay classes

On Tuesday, March 1, Saint Philip’s clay studio re-opened under the auspice of its new director, Eric Johnson.

Eric introduces beginners to basic hand-building techniques and welcomes makers of all skill levels and experience. What excites Eric about this effort is the opportunity to create a community of people who are interested in two main things: learning about the medium of clay and exploring their power of creativity.

“We’re all hardwired to try to avoid mistakes. The atmosphere I want to create is one that is friendly, supportive, and non-judgmental,” Eric says. “It takes a lot of courage to explore and allow ourselves to make mistakes. We all need grace and a safe space to facilitate that process.”

Formerly the Program Coordinator for the Pima County Master Gardeners program at the University of Arizona, Eric says, “It’s good for the soul to get our hands dirty. It doesn’t matter if they get dirty with soil or clay!”

Class size is limited to six students; masks and proof of vaccination are required. Everything is hand built; there is no pottery wheel.

Classes are once a week for six week sessions. The current session will run until mid-April. The next session will begin the third week of April and conclude at the end of May.

The weekly class schedule is:

Tuesdays 1:00pm-4:00pm
Tuesdays 5:30pm-8:30pm
Wednesday 10:00am-1:00pm
Wednesday 5:30pm-8:30pm

The cost is $180 per student and includes clay and any necessary materials.

Eric holds a BFA in Sculpture from the University of Wisconsin in Madison and earned a Masters in Art Education from the University of Arizona. His specialty is busts, mask-making, and portraits.

To contact Eric, email him at slowburnrecordings@yahoo.com.