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!
KEEPING EVERYONE’S WORK SAFE
Recently, we ’ ve had an increasing number of potters whose work has been damaged while on the greenware racks. We want to remind everyone that no one is permitted to move a piece that is not their own.
To prevent instances like this one, we ask everyone to:
1) Pay it forward: Always place your own work as far back on the shelf as possible. Do not leave open shelf space behind your piece that another artist may need to get to.
2) Ask for help: If your piece is trapped in between others’ pieces, ask a Lab Tech or Instructor to help you get to it. Only Techs and Instructors are permitted to touch others’ work.
3) Take responsibility: In the case that you damage another pot, let the Instructor or Tech on that shift know. We all know how much work goes into each piece. Let’s make sure that we ’ re being mindful of everyone ’ s work to protect all of that effort and talent!
SPRING 2025 REGISTRATION
Yep, it is that time again. Registration for our Spring 2025 session have started! We will have all 12 of our current classes going. Classes will start the week of April 7th. Make sure to register for your spot quickly!
Registration Dates
Mon, March 3rd, 2025 6:00AM Manhattan Beach Residents
Mon, March 17th, 2025 6:00AM Non-Residents
For more information on class offerings, please visit the MANHAPPENINGS page or the Activities Registration page.
LOCKER RENTALS
If you ' re not enrolled in classes or do not plan to be for next session but would like to keep a locker space for Open Lab, please make sure to register for a Locker Rental. Locker Rentals are already live on ActiveNet. Secure your locker here!
Please make sure to record your name on the Master Locker Sheet after renting a locker!
SPRING WORKSHOPS
We’re starting off the spring with another week of workshops led by our amazing instructors! This could be the perfect opportunity to hone specific skills or to learn from a new instructor! Make sure to register before spots fill up!
Ceramics Surface Decoration w/ Kathryn Hiller
Monday, March 31, 2025
6:30PM - 9:30PM #45226
Ceramics Glaze Application w/ Kathryn Hiller
Friday, April 4, 2025
11:00AM - 2:00PM #45225
Beginning Hand-Built Ceramics w/ Mitsuko Ikeno
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
10:00AM - 1:00PM # 45227
Ceramics Outside the Box w/ Amber Mooers
Thursday, April 3, 2025
6:30PM - 9:30PM #45222
For more information on Workshop offerings, please visit HERE!
KIDS’ CLAY INTENSIVE CAMP
Join us at the Manhattan Beach Art Center for our NEW Kids' Clay Intensive to explore the foundational skills of working with clay while creating fun and unique projects!
Campers will learn essential techniques like coil building, pinch pots, slipping, scoring, and glazing, gaining hands-on experience in pottery basics. Let your imagination come to life as you design and craft oneof-a-kind creations, including functional items, decorative pieces, and projects inspired by your own creativity. Fee includes all materials and firing. Camp will be held outside on the Manhattan Beach Art Center Patio. All work will be fired and available for pick-up 1 week after camp concludes.
For ages: 8 through 14
June 16 - 20, 2025
June 23 - 27, 2025
July 7 - 11, 2025
August 4 - 8, 2025
August 11 - 15, 2025
9AM - 12PM #45089
9AM - 12PM #45090 9AM - 12PM #45091
9AM - 12PM #45092
9AM - 12PM #45093
Night Raku Workshop
Manhattan Beach Art Center
Explore the exciting art of Raku firing in this hands-on workshop! Students will glaze and fire their pieces, participating in the entire process. Students are limited to bring 3-4 pieces, space is limited so not all work may be fired. Pieces limited to no more than 4” wide and 8” tall. Pieces must be bisque fired prior to workshop. An information sheet about this workshop and requirements will be emailed to participants. Fire safe clothes and closed toed shoes must be worn. Level: Intermediate to Advanced. Workshop is conducted outdoors, behind the Manhattan Beach Art Center.
Wednesday, March 12 5PM - 8PM For ages: 18+
#44413
To register for this workshop please visit: Raku
GLAZE(S) OF THE WEEK
“ When you come across with a problem in your life, do not always try to solve it; make a long jump like a kangaroo and continue on your way!”
- Mehmet Murat Hdan
Let’s make the long jump into our first oxidation piece of our glaze of
beautiful textures we see with in the blues and black of these mugs!
Our last oxidation glaze of the week are these six tiles created by the artist Bing. Using an underglaze and clear on Stoney White, we are able to see the lovely different textures and colors come through!
GLAZE(S) OF THE WEEK
All of our reduction picks for this month are from our first load in the new kiln. The reduction on these pieces came out nicely toasted, if you will. We’re super excited for future reduction firings in Valentine!
Our first two reduction picks are quite a beautiful pair. We couldn’t help but notice their elegant shapes after opening up the kiln. The vase is coated in a layer of Mark’s Temmoku with spots of Hidden Valley Ranch and Rutile, created by artist Cam K.
The delightfully tall mug is by artist CB, who has glazed it in Bailey’s Red with layers of Hidden Valley Ranch all over it.
Next is a piece by artist Marlene Y, which features cool indentations that give the Angel Eyes glaze a good, textured surface to grip onto to make those beautiful shades of deep blue and amber.
GLAZE(S) OF THE WEEK
Artist Cam K. Coleman’s unique reduction vase brings out the rich, deep tones using Shino and Oribe glazes. The Shino glaze, is known for its creamy white finish and distinctive orange-peel look, which we see a little of in the picture offering subtle variations of color from both.
Meanwhile, the Oribe glaze gives us the vibrant greens and earthy hues that interact beautifully with the clay. Cam K. Coleman's piece highlights a one-of-a-kind, organic finish!
Our final reduction Glaze of the Week is by the artist Lauren. Look at this amazing sculpture! The earthy red tones from the Carbon Trap Shino, the stark contrast of the Thick White Shino, and the crackly texture of the White Crawl gives this already-captivating shape so much character!
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
Ceramics Class (Mitsuko) 10:00 - 1:00
Ceramics Class (Mitsuko) 1:00 - 4:00
Ceramics Class (Alan) 6:30 - 9:30
Ceramics Class (Alan) 6:30 - 9:30
Ceramics Class (Lowell) 10:00 - 1:00
Ceramics Class (Lowell) 1:15 - 4:15
Ceramics Class (Amber) 6:30 - 9:30
Ceramics Class (Kathryn) 10:00 - 1:00
Ceramics Class (Kathryn) 1:00 - 4:00
Ceramics Class (Amber) 10:00 - 1:00 Ceramics Class (Amber) 1:00 - 4:00
