Clay Center to celebrate third anniversary with art, music

 

 

A pottery school for the community, The Clay Center of Northern Colorado will celebrate its three-year anniversary this weekend as the jazzy tones of “Bad Brad and the Fats Cats” will accompany guests as they admire bookshelves of local art, some of which will be for sale.

 

The event will be from 5-10 p.m. Saturday at 1024 6th Ave.

 

Located across the railroad tracks in the industrial park of downtown Greeley, anyone is welcome to take classes from The Clay Center. 

 

“I teach kids classes during the day (and) adults in the evening,” said Tim Preston, owner of The Clay Center of Northern Colorado. “Students range from beginning through advanced. The classes are unstructured, unlike a university or community college setting. Students are encouraged to come up with their own ideas for projects. I’m here to help them with any ideas they have.”

 

Over the past few years, Preston has had students create everything from dinnerware to working fountains. In fact, one woman chose to make miniature clay houses to place in her garden.

 

Creations from The Clay Center vary from functional and utilitarian to purely sculpture. J. McCarthy, a senior nursing major at UNC, joined The Clay Center last month after she found out about its website. McCarthy uses The Clay Center as an artistic outlet.

 

“I worked with clay in high school and wanted to get back into it,” McCarthy said. “The Clay Club at UNC wouldn’t let me join because I’m not an art major, but anyone can join The Clay Center and there is no [sic] syllabus or rules.”

 

Potentially one of the premier clay studios in the area, The Clay Center offers a series of different firing options that include raku, gas, gas reduction and soda. Along with offering 10 pottery wheels for throwing, the studio offers a slab roller, mix router, a variety of glazes and expert instruction. 

 

One of the center’s exciting new projects includes collaborative efforts with the University of Northern Colorado Visual Arts department in building a wood-burning kiln. A kiln requires a team effort, Preston said. 

 

“Wood is the primary source of fuel, so firing the kiln is a community effort organized in shifts,” Preston said. “The kiln is brought up to 2,000 degrees.”

 

For only $125 a month, students receive eight classes, which include clay and glazes. Currently, The Clay Center is offering a 20 percent discount for students throughout the school year. The eight classes are open, and although a person pays for the eight classes, he or she can utilize them whenever they would like throughout the month. 

 

A current artist, Neal Celani, residing at The Clay Center, is looking forward to the party and invites those interested from the community to attend. 

 

“It’s a good introduction,” Celani said. “A way of getting your foot in the door. It’s going to open you up to this place and give you a glimpse of the attitude and environment we create here.”

 

For more information about The Clay Center of Northern Colorado and its three year anniversary party, check out its website at claycenternc.com  or call at 970-590-1561.