We’re excited to invite you to a special event celebrating creativity, community, and craftsmanship! After years of planning, our Cultural Arts, Public Works, and Community Development teams are proud to debut the newest artistic asset to Manhattan Beach the Live Oak Ceramics Studio Kiln.
In honor of this amazing triumph, we will be having a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Monday, March 3rd, at 2:30PM. We would be overjoyed for you to join us celebrate!
Date: Monday, March 3, 2025
Time: 2:30 PM
Location: Live Oak Park Ceramics Studio, 1901 Valley Drive
Click Here to RSVP!
LOCKER/CUBBY
SIGN-UPS
At the start of every session, it’s very important for all students and Open Lab locker/cubby renters to print their names next to their assigned space on our Master Locker & Cubby assignment form.
We are currently still missing roughly 40+ names that should be added on this list.
Talk to your instructor or a Tech-Staff member to make sure you are on the list and in the right spot!
We use this Master list to tell us where the continuing artists are located so we don’t accidentally clean out assigned spaces.
If your name is missing from the sheet or in the wrong location, there is a chance that, during the next cleanout time, your items can be accidentally removed. Help us keep your pieces safe!
STUDIO GUIDELINES
We want to send a big welcome to all of our new students! We hope the first few weeks of your classes are going smoothly!
We know that it can be overwhelming to understand the ins and outs of a new environment, so as a brief introduction (and a refresher to our seasoned studio members), here are a few studio guidelines.
OPEN LAB GUIDELINES
15-person max limit and closed-toe shoes required
You need Ceramics Bucks to pay for Open Lab and clay!
After mixing your glaze with the power mixer, please move the bucket you ' ve mixed away from that location so that others can mix their glazes too
Permission slip available to take greenware/bisqueware home to;
wax, do sgraffito, or add detailed slip or underglaze application
Max greenware pottery size is 12” wide, 16” tall
If you need to sand your greenware or bisqued piece for any reason, please do it outside AND wear a mask if it is a lot of sanding. Breathing in sand particles is not good for anyone ' s health!
PAY IT FORWARD
We all love our studio! It’s an amazing space to create the art and wares we all are excited to take home. It’s also a rather compact space with tools, bats, boards, wheels, and other items we all share.
To help everyone create in the best environment and make the things they love, we need to “ pay it forward” in some important ways:
Cleaning What You Use
Make sure to wash both the bats and boards you use - so your old, dried clay doesn’t impact the next person using.
If you use a wedging table, use a sponge to clean off the remaining clay.
If you use a tabletop, to either store wet wheel work or to do hand building, sponge clean the area you used when done.
Wipe the wheels down; wheel side, top and bin trays.
Clean the spray booth after usage. Be sure to find the Tech onshift (or teacher) to double check your work.
Happy wedging day!
Shiny smilely tables!
PAY IT FORWARD
(CONTINUED)
Bats and Boards Usage
Almost everyone in the studio uses and shares our studio bats and boards. There never seems to be enough, but we can make it better.
Bats - as soon as possible, transfer your pieces to a board
Boards - put as many pieces as possible on the same board. If your piece is mostly dry or in a mold, you don’t need a board.
Cookie Use
It’s always good to go over cookie use guidelines. We want your pieces to fire successfully. Using cookies properly helps that to happen.
Use cookies whenever you have a glazed pot with less than a 1/2 inch of unglazed bottom
Do not use cookies with cracks or holes in them
Sad unclean wheel!
Happy clean bats!
Raku Workshop
Manhattan Beach Art Center
Join us at our new time of 5:00pm - 8:00pm and dive into the exciting art of Raku firing under the night sky!
Experience the thrill of glazing and firing your pieces as you participate in the entire process. Watch the colors and heat come to life in a who new light, creating stunning, one-of-a-kind ceramics. Level: Intermediate to Advanced. Workshop is conducted outdoors, behind the Manhattan Beach Art Center.
5PM - 8PM For ages: 18+ #44412
Wednesday, February 12
Wednesday, March 12
5PM - 8PM For ages: 18+ #44413
To register for this workshop please visit: Raku
GLAZE(S) OF THE WEEK
“Cats are like music; it’s foolish to try to explain their worth to those who don’t appreciate them.” – Unknown
I don’t think we need to explain these kitties’ worth! Our first oxidation Glaze(s) of the Week feature a unique display of feline friends! All of these critters have been skillfully painted with underglaze and coated in Clear or Peter’s Chun by an unknown artist.
Our next oxidation pick is a beautifully thrown bowl with an iridescent pool of Angel Eyes and a neat Rutile rim, also by an unknown artist. The swirls of gold through the deeper blue tones are created based on the thickness of the glaze in each spot. A thinner coat results in that gorgeous amber, while a thicker coat comes out blue!
GLAZE(S) OF THE WEEK
For our final oxidation piece, we have this stunning planter by artist JR. It appears to be a coral slip over granite that’s been glazed in Rutile. The slip kind of
To continue our oxidation picks, we have what I would call the perfect coffee (or tea!) mug, featuring a layer of Cooper Blue Crystal on top of Peter’s Chun, which created those lovely speckles. This piece was created by an unknown artist.
To kick off our reduction selection, we have a bowl that looks like a thick coat of Pete's Red by artist Kylie. Some surprise pink-red highlights poke through on the side, giving it such a unique coloring!
GLAZE(S) OF THE WEEK
Next in our reduction Glazes of the Week, we have a bowl by Colleen T., which has been glazed in Fish Guts and one other mystery glaze. The combination of purple tones is too pretty... let’s hope she’ll share her mystery combos with us ;)
This reduction vase is made of marbled clay that has been left raw on the outside and glazed in St. John’s Black on the inside. It’s yet another stunning piece by our resident Marbled-Clay Master: Brian H!
Our final reduction glaze of the week is a small bowl coated in Thick White Shino. The ridges created by the carved-out circles and horizontal lines result in those lovely bronze highlights. This, too, was created by an unknown artist.
Open Lab
10:00 - 2:00
WINTER 2025 SCHEDULE
Open Lab
2:00 - 6:00 Open Lab 10:00 - 2:00
Ceramics Class (Chris)
6:30 - 9:30 Open Lab 9:00 - 1:00 Open Lab 1:00 - 5:00
