People like pottery made by hand, not a machine.
Kristen Thompson of Highlands Ranch comes to the Washington Heights Arts Center to take pottery lessons because people can detect differences in how pieces are made, she said.
“It is more artistic. There is more room for expression, rather than pieces being spit out of a machine,” Thompson said.
Although she has been making pottery for 20 years, Thompson said the classes offered at Washington Heights, 6375 W. First Ave., have helped her to refine the craft.
“I have learned more here about using a (pottery) wheel and glazes than anywhere because of the teacher,” she said.
The instructor of the class is Sumi von Dassow, who said pottery is not for everyone.
“You have to have patience and like to pay close attention to detail. You can’t rush pottery,” she said.
Von Dassow works mostly on brightly glazed functional pieces, burnished and pit-fired vessels, and ceramic sculpture.
Her work has appeared in books and magazines, including “Ceramics Monthly” and “Pottery Making Illustrated,” and she has edited two books for The American Ceramic Society, she said.
“I drive a long way to see her, and I don’t care because she is the best,” Thompson said.
The pottery class consists of stoneware, wheel throwing, hand building, glazing and firing.
Pottery classes taught by von Dassow are offered to any skill level.
“We make what we want,” she said of the weekly lessons.
Thompson has been taking classes from von Dassow for the past three years, learning new techniques to make her creations more vibrant, she said.
“I love making pumpkins on the wheel,” she said.
Pumpkins can only be made on the wheel because they have to be hollow, she said.
Linda Volzer of Conifer said she does not mind the drive to Jeffco because she gets so much out of the class.
“I started working with clay back in the 1990s, but without instruction there is only so far you can go,” Volzer said.
From the wheel to coil building, Volzer said pottery is not simply playing with clay.
“It takes time and there are techniques that need to be used. Once you have a good teacher and instructions, you’d be surprised what can be created,” she said.
From vases to cookware, pottery can function as visual art or for practical use, von Dassow said.
“Sometimes it can be both pretty and useful,” Volzer said.
Classes are offered throughout the week for pottery at the Washington Heights Arts Center.
A $25 fee is collected at the first class for initial clay supply, glazes and firings.
Additional drop-in studio time is available to registered students.
For more information on classes, visit lakewood.org.
Pottery classes
For information on classes in Arvada, visit boxoffice.arvadacenter.org. For Golden classes, visit rec.cityofgolden.net. For Lakewood classes, visit lakewood.org.