Cup by Liz

Handbuilding
Ancient Echos
Instructor: Liz Quackenbush

Thursdays 5:00pm-7:00pm
11 Weeks! Sept 11th-Nov 20th
Class fee: $485 (Does not include clay)

Let the past and the present meet in your hands. In this handbuilding-focused class, Liz Quackenbush draws inspiration from the garden, landscape, and centuries of ceramic traditions that celebrate everyday life. You'll explore time-honored forms and surface techniques from around the world, learning to see how environment and culture shape what we make.

Through coiling, pinching, and slab construction, Liz will guide you in creating your own functional ceramic dishes while introducing you to a world of historical references, playful experimentation, and dynamic surface approaches. Whether you're just starting out or returning to clay, this class invites you to echo tradition while discovering your own creative voice.

Water-Etched Surface by Liz

Eligibility: You will get the most out of this class if you can throw a 5” tall cylinder or have had a wheel throwing class before. You must be 15+ years of age to participate. This class is a great fit for those wanting to grow their skills with an instructor present to ask questions. There is a 15” maximum size, in any direction, when creating with clay at RCC.

Materials: Clay is $40 for new clay or at times we have recycled clay for sale for $20. This is a separate purchase from your class fee. Purchase clay HERE and we will have it ready on your first class.

Bring an apron, comfy clothes, a quart-sized container (like a yogurt container), and a beginner's set of tools to the first class.

Tool kits are available for purchase online or at SPS or CAC. Or here is another option on Amazon. The class fee includes all glazing materials, firings, and generous open-studio access for practice time. All levels welcome - come join the fun!

Deb Schwartzkopf

About the Instructor:
Instructor: Liz Quackenbush (she/her)
Born and raised in Wyckoff, NJ, I grew up knowing the butcher, fruit seller, and pharmacist by name because they had all grown up in Wyckoff, too, and gone to school with either my mother or my father. Our home was filled with things that came with stories, many of which were handmade by a relative from one generation or another. The stories told of family sharing their love and talents by making furniture, knitted blankets, clothing, jigsaw puzzles, marionettes, woven reed baskets and decoupage waste paper baskets, hats, key rings, needlepoint pillows, doorstops, purses, aprons, Christmas tree skirts, ornaments and more! I was encouraged to learn crafts and excel in craftsmanship. Long hours alone cutting, sewing, pasting and painting suited me. When I wasn’t working with my hands, I was wandering around in the woods digging in the dirt. My bedroom was my studio, the great outdoors my muse.

Class refund policy:

Cancellations must be made via email to info@raincityclay.com
If you want to cancel your class, you may request a refund based on the bullet points below. Then you may rebook yourself for a class that fits better into your schedule. Last-minute cancellations in classes are difficult to fill - please double-check your schedule before committing to an event. Refunds take several business days to process from the date we receive the email request.

  • 100% of tuition (less a $15 processing fee) will be refunded if a student elects to drop a class no later than ten days (10 days) before the first class meeting.

  • 80% of tuition (less a $15 processing fee) will be refunded if a student drops a class within 7 business days before the first class meeting.

  • 50% of tuition (less a $15 processing fee) will be refunded if a student drops a class within 3 business days before the first class meeting.

  • 0% of tuition is refunded if cancellation is made within two days of class for any reason except for documented medical emergencies. (providing a doctor's note). There are no other exceptions to this policy.

  • No refunds or credit will be given for missed classes. Students currently enrolled in 10-week classes may practice during open studio time to build skills even if a class is missed. One-day clay events and lessons do not come with open studio time.

  • We reserve the right to cancel a class or workshop up to 3 days in advance of the first class due to insufficient enrollment. If a class is canceled, you will be offered the option of another class or a full refund.