By Dan Shriner
Review Editor
Who knew there was a place in Lake Orion where adults can act like children and create fun and functional art at the same time.
The Clay Studio, located adjacent to Diamond Dave’s Jewelers and a part of the Lake Orion Art Center, is offering classes for adults and children to learn the art of pottery and have fun at the simultaneously.
‘It’s a chance to get their hands in the mud and play like a kid,? said Brenda Pescia, one of the teachers in the current class, Adult Clay Hand Building.
The three-hour class, held on Monday this week and running for six more weeks, teaches students how to do pinch, slab and coil work when making pottery. They were busy this week making bowls but also will learn how to make a serving plate, or vase, a box and a container made of coils.
The four ladies in the class this week were molding boxes and later will paint them before they are fired in a kiln.
Josie Boike, of Oakland Township, said this is the third time she has taken a class. She and some of the others said it is relaxing.
‘I learn something new each time,? Boike said. ‘It is so relaxing and therapeutic, too.?
Brianna Burns said she took a pottery class at Lake Orion High School but came here to learn more and enjoys making items.
Missy Milner, lives in Waterford, and said she wanted to learn pottery and is excited to take the class. Verena Oppen, of Lake Orion, agreed and said the class seems relaxing and fun.
Pescia said the Clay Studio is a great location on Lapeer Road and also has room on some evenings for artists to come in and practice their art with live models or other still forms.
In the coming months, there are several other classes in clay that are being offered for anyone in the community, including children.
From Nov. 15 to Dec. 20, there is an open studio in the evenings for those who have taken a hand building class and are members of the Orion Art Center to come by and create and fire their own designs. One of those days will have include a free pass day so that members can bring friends or family who want to learn about working with clay.
On Nov. 5 and Dec. 3 there will be a program for adults to make a small bowl for dips from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The first session will be for creating and the second for glazing. The pieces will be fired between sessions.
There will be classes on Nov. 1 and 22 for adults who want to make holiday ornaments. Everyone can make up to 10 ornaments and should bring holiday cookie cutters or other devices to form ornaments out of clay. The first day is for creating and the second for glazing.
Children will not be left out of the fun. On Saturday, Nov. 15, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., children can learn to make what is called a slab mask. They will make a mask out of a slab of clay into a colorful piece to hang on a wall. Children are encouraged to bring ideas and sketches.
On Dec. 10 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. children will make pinch pot creatures. They will be shown how to mold a pinch pot into their favorite creature, monster, alien, animal or whatever they choose. They should bring a picture or an image of the creature they want to make.
Cost for the various classes differ and those interested should look at the Orion Art Center website for more information and the cost of the classes. See orionartcenter.org for information.
Pescia said that The Clay Studio has been growing as word of mouth gets out about the goings-on and fun things to do for all ages.
She said the center has one pottery wheel and desperately need one or two more. She said if anyone has a pottery wheel they would like to donate, that it would be greatly appreciated. She also said the studio is considering to having a fundraiser to buy one or two more pottery wheels, which are used to shape clay into vases and other forms.