The two animals New Yorkers see most are the subject of a beginner class in Bushwick this week. Bushwick Ceramics, the pottery studio at 228 Suydam Street, runs its NYC Creatures Making Workshop twice on Friday, November 6, from 4 to 6 p.m. and again from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Both sessions cost $95, and the studio's booking page showed one spot left in each as of Thursday.

How the workshop works

The studio built the class around pigeons and rats, and no experience is needed. It runs two hours. It opens with a short introduction to clay and handbuilding, then each student shapes a creature by hand, attaches decorations and adds surface detail, texture or carving. Students pick a glaze color from the studio's palette, and the studio glazes and fires the pieces after class. Finished creatures are ready to pick up in about two to three weeks.

Clay, tools, glazing and firing are all included in the price. The studio has run the workshop regularly since August, and this week's two sessions are the next on its calendar.

Also on the calendar

  • Magical Ceramic Hooks Workshop: Saturday, November 7, 3 to 5:30 p.m., $90. Students invent a creature (mermaids, unicorns, fairies and stranger hybrids are all on the table) and turn its tail, hand, hair or shoe into a working wall hook.
  • Six-week Monday evening handbuilding: November 9 to December 14, 7 to 9:30 p.m., $490, for beginners and all levels.
  • Two-week ceramic sculpture workshop: Wednesday evenings, December 2 and 9, $190, taught by Pamela Kosin.
  • Sunday morning beginner wheel throwing: six weeks from December 6 to January 17, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., $490, skipping December 27.

Several of the studio's fall courses, including its Tuesday and Thursday evening wheel classes, are already fully booked.

Getting there

The studio is on Suydam Street in central Bushwick, a short walk from the L train. Bookings are made through the studio's website, and questions go to info@bushwickceramics.com.

Sources