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A person's hands covered in clay shape a pot on a spinning potter's wheel during a class in North Carolina.
North Carolina

The Art of Working Clay by Hand

Program No. 21934RJ
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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
6 days
5 nights
What's Included
15 meals ( 5B, 5L, 5D )
9 expert-led lectures
1 expert-led field trip
10 hands-on experiences
3 performances
An experienced Group Leader
5 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Inn check-in from 4:00 p.m. Remember to bring your name-tag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
Assembly Inn check-in 4:00-5:30 p.m. Pull up to the Assembly Inn porch to unload, then park your vehicle in any designated spot close to the Inn or by the lake and check in. You will share this week with other Road Scholar programs. Program Registration. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table to register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing the up-to-date schedule that reflects any changes, other important information, and to confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check in. Feel free to relax in your room, meet and enjoy fellowship with other participants in the beautiful lobby, or stretch your legs with a walk around the campus before dinner.
Dinner:
5:30-6:30 p.m. in the Assembly Inn Dining room.
Evening:
Orientation: 7:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will also meet the instructor. This is a Road Scholar Retreats program. Programming at Retreat locations includes opportunities for light morning exercise, interaction with members of the local community, a farm-to-table meal, and evening entertainment. Sleeping and dining facilities are in one building, with approximately 300 yards walking required. However, you will walk across the street from the Assembly Inn and climb a flight of stairs (no elevator) for your pottery classes. On some evenings, there will be entertainment such as a concert, dance, or storyteller followed by opportunities for fellowship in the lobby of the Inn. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. We’ll finish up around 8:00 p.m. with some “get to know you” activities and then have refreshments and fellowship in the lobby. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity Note
Group stretches in the main lobby 7:30-7:45 a.m. Daily climbing a flight of stairs to second floor of building where classes are held; walking up and down hills, mountainous terrain.
Breakfast:
7:30-8:30 a.m. in the Assembly Inn Dining Room (early morning coffee available around 6:30 a.m.)
Morning:
We will walk from Assembly Inn to the 2nd floor of the Sally Jones Pottery Studio. After a brief orientation to the studio, we’ll start rolling, pinching and shaping clay just as generations of potters have in North Carolina and around the world. We’ll begin getting a feel for clay with two ancient forms – pinch pots, and coiled bowls. From here, we’ll start our first large project using flat slabs of clay that we will press with leaves, cut and assemble to form beautiful leaf bowls. Perfect for your fall table or a gift. We will learn methods of adhering clay pieces together including “slipping and scoring,” a staple in hand building, to create cups and mugs. We’ll also have some refreshments to keep us going!
Lunch:
12:30-1:30 p.m. in the Assembly Inn Dining Room.
Afternoon:
This afternoon, we will finish our own mugs! Using a variety of texture mats, stamps, and shapes, we will then make trays and dishes with a seasonal or holiday motifs. We will experiment with different texture tools and hand building techniques, including handles. Sgraffito is a surface design technique using stiffened clay painted in a black, white or colored slip. Carving through the slip allows the natural clay underneath to show, and offers a unique contrasting effect. We will also cut fresh tiles and roll slabs for carving on Day 3. Our class time will conclude around 3:15. Next, we’ll set out on an expert-led exploration of Montreat. The remainder of the afternoon is free.
Dinner:
5:30-6:30 p.m. in the Assembly Inn Dining Room.
Evening:
Tonight we welcome a local band, Sourwood Ridge. There may be open studio time at the Sally Jones Pottery.
Activity Note
Group stretches in the main lobby 7:30-7:45 a.m. Daily climbing a flight of stairs to second floor of building where classes are held; walking up and down hills, mountainous terrain.
Breakfast:
7:30-8:30 a.m. in the Assembly Inn Dining Room (early morning coffee available around 6:30 a.m.)
Morning:
A fascinating characteristic of clay, and with hand building, is that you can shape it into almost any design you can dream. We will experiment with extruded forms to create salt and pepper shakers, condiment servers, utensil holders, and more! A mid-morning refreshment and fellowship break will be in the studio.
Lunch:
12:30-1:30 p.m. in the Assembly Inn Dining Room.
Afternoon:
Today we add more tools to our hand-building skills toolbox making a decorative tile or trivet with the design of your choosing. Feel free to bring a picture, photo or sketch if you like. We’ll experiment with carving, slip trailing, applique and scraffito and underglazes to create your piece. At 3:30 p.m., we’ll set out on an elective hike in the mountains (weather and leader availability permitting). The remainder of the afternoon is free.
Dinner:
5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Assembly Inn Dining Room.
Evening:
Another fun evening of entertainment!
Activity Note
Group stretches in the main lobby 7:30-7:45 a.m. Daily climbing a flight of stairs to second floor of building where classes are held; walking up and down hills, mountainous terrain.
Breakfast:
7:30-8:30 a.m. in the Assembly Inn Dining Room (early morning coffee available around 6:30 a.m.)
Morning:
This morning we will finish all greenware projects for the first, or bisque, firing. We’ll introduce glazing as well. Kilns will start firing around lunchtime!
Lunch:
12:30-1:30 p.m. in the Assembly Inn Dining Room.
Afternoon:
Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration. We recommend visiting local galleries in Black Mountain for inspiration for glazing ideas. Kilns will be firing!
Dinner:
5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Assembly Inn Dining Room. We will enjoy a farm-to-table meal.
Evening:
We will join our instructors to learn about North Carolina pottery and traditions.
Activity Note
Group stretches in the main lobby 7:30-7:45 a.m. Daily climbing a flight of stairs to second floor of building where classes are held; walking up and down hills, mountainous terrain.
Breakfast:
7:30-8:30 a.m. in the Assembly Inn Dining Room (early morning coffee available around 6:30 a.m.)
Morning:
We will gather this morning for demonstrations of glaze processes. You will learn various techniques including dipping, pouring, layering and wax resist. This is your time to glaze all pieces for the final firing. All glazing must be completed before lunch. Montreat offers more than a dozen beautiful, durable and food-safe glazes. Finished pieces will go home with us on Friday!
Lunch:
12:30-1:30 p.m. in the Assembly Inn Dining Room.
Afternoon:
We’ll enjoy an afternoon of visiting area amateur and professional pottery studios. Meet at the Craft Center at 1:30 p.m. for boarding our provided transportation (likely a van).
Dinner:
5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Assembly Inn Dining Room. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
We’ll gather for a last evening together as a group (probably a concert), followed by an opportunity for games/cards/TV in lobby for fellowship. Prepare for check-out and departure after lunch tomorrow.
Activity Note
Daily climbing a flight of stairs to second floor of building where classes are held; walking up and down hills, mountainous terrain. Check-out of Inn required by 10:00 a.m.
Breakfast:
7:30-8:30 a.m. in the Assembly Inn Dining Room (early morning coffee available around 6:30 a.m.)
Morning:
We’ll have fun this morning learning more hand building techniques such as using extruders, share resources such as ClayShare (videos) and Highwater Clay (clay, glazes and tools), and other surface design tips. There will be a demo of throwing and shaping using a wheel. We’ll take time, too, to look at clay designs and dream up some new ones for our next projects at home or when we return to Montreat!
Lunch:
At noon, our box lunches will be available for pickup. Enjoy yours in the lobby, on the porch or in the tea garden or on the porch of the pottery studio. After, take a leisurely walk around the lake and stop to check out the Montreat store or pick up some ice cream from the Huckleberry.
Afternoon:
The moment we’ve all been waiting for —— the kiln opening! We will celebrate and share our successes and stories as we display our final pieces! This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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