North Carolina

The Art of Working Clay by Hand

Program No. 21934RJ
Discover the thrill of working clay by hand as you join experienced instructors to create your own unique masterpieces. Plus, explore the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains!

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At a Glance

Encourage and inspire your creative spark as you experience the joy of working clay by hand. Working under expert guidance in a fully equipped pottery studio, use soft clay slab construction and extruded forms to learn and apply a range of techniques including slip and score construction, the slump mold process, scraffitto design and glazing. Begin with raw clay, form it, glaze it and fire it to produce decorative and functional pieces you can take home proudly. It may all sound foreign now, but by the end of the program you’ll sound — and look! — like a pro.
Activity Level
On Your Feet
Daily climbing a flight of stairs to the second floor of a building where classes are held, walking up and down hills.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

What You'll Learn

  • Work with a professional potter to create your own pieces.
  • Go home with useful and beautiful finished pieces as well as a toolbox full of new skills that will surely spark your interest to do more with clay!
  • Learn specific handbuilding, throwing, glazing and kiln/firing techniques, as well as gaining new insight into the culture of clay.

General Notes

The Retreat Difference: This unique, often basic and no-frills experience at a Road Scholar Retreat includes opportunities for early morning exercise, interaction with the local community for insight into local life, an authentic farm-to-table or locally sourced meal, a live performance or event, and a value-priced single room. Appropriate for beginners and more advanced students. Opportunities are available for traveling companions to attend a different program at Montreat during the same week. Due to the nature of this program, listening devices are not available.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
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Sarah Peters
Sarah Friday Peters grew up surrounded by the pottery traditions of North Carolina. She started making her own pots while working summers in Montreat as an arts and crafts instructor, as well as a handbuilding pottery instructor. Sarah began Wellspring Creative in 2006, making handcrafted jewelry and gifts, and is current president of the Triangle Potters Guild in Raleigh, North Carolina. Nature, spirituality, fellow potters, and new tools, textures, and techniques continue to inspire her. She and Cathie are looking forward to inspiring you!

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Becky Garrity
Becky Garrity View biography
Becky Garrity studied sculpture and ceramics at the College of William and Mary and landed a pottery apprenticeship in Japan. After a brief stint as a graphic designer, she devoted herself to pottery, and since 1998, she has been committed to making pots and teaching pottery. Her aesthetically influenced work is showcased in several galleries, and she claims her pottery is inspired by the energy of her eager students.
Profile Image of Ann Laird Jones
Ann Laird Jones View biography
Rev. Dr. Ann Laird Jones has been working in the Sally Jones Pottery at Montreat for 26 years, and loves every part of working with clay! She is driven by the vigorous conversation between arts and theology, and is moved by the collaborative opportunities to work in community with great artists. She has served as Montreat Conference Center's director of arts ministry since 1993.
Profile Image of Tracy Bailey
Tracy Bailey View biography
Tracy has been on the program staff of Montreat Conference Center since 1986. She began working with Elderhostel programs in 1989, and in 1997 assumed the additional role of on-site coordinator. A native of the area, she graduated from Asheville-Buncombe Technical College in 1981. Her favorite hobbies are hiking, pottery and reading. Tracy married Sam in 2007, and added three daughters to her family. In addition to her own grown children, she and Sam have been foster parents since 2010. They have four grandchildren.
Profile Image of Sarah Peters
Sarah Peters View biography
Sarah Friday Peters grew up surrounded by the pottery traditions of North Carolina. She started making her own pots while working summers in Montreat as an arts and crafts instructor, as well as a handbuilding pottery instructor. Sarah began Wellspring Creative in 2006, making handcrafted jewelry and gifts, and is current president of the Triangle Potters Guild in Raleigh, North Carolina. Nature, spirituality, fellow potters, and new tools, textures, and techniques continue to inspire her. She and Cathie are looking forward to inspiring you!
Profile Image of Cathie Dodson
Cathie Dodson View biography
Cathie Dodson, an artist and former English teacher who moved to Montreat from Louisiana six years ago, has worked on Montreat summer staff at Sally Jones Pottery since 2018. She enjoys sharing the sanctuary space that exists in the pottery studio and helping others explore their own creative gifts in new ways.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
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.
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6 days
5 nights
15 meals
5 B 5 L 5 D
DAY
1
Check-in, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation
Montreat, NC
D
Assembly Inn

Activity note: Inn check-in from 3:00 p.m. Remember to bring your name-tag (sent previously).

Afternoon: Assembly Inn check-in 3:00-5:30 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. 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.

DAY
2
The Nature of Clay: pinch pots, coiled bowls, wind chime
Montreat, NC
B,L,D
Assembly Inn

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 with clay. Our second project will be a leaf or flower wind chime or mobile that can be used indoors or outdoors. 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 play with textures and molds. Using a variety of texture mats, stamps and shapes, we will make trays and dishes with a nature motif, such as birds, flowers or acorns. We will experiment with different shapes and sizes of molds, texture tools and hand building techniques, including handles. One option includes making our own stamps out of clay to take home! 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: Free evening. There may be open studio time at the Sally Jones Pottery.

DAY
3
Creativity and Surface Design: Birdhouses, Boxes and Tiles
Montreat, NC
B,L,D
Assembly Inn

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 brainstorm birdhouse designs and begin to make a one-of-a-kind clay shelter for our feathered friends. An additional project of a lidded box using scraffito will also be demonstrated and available. Scraffito 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. 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 a nature design such as a mountain scene, sunset or favorite flower. 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 own special 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: Free evening (at leisure) Games/cards/TV will be available in the lobby for fellowship. Open studio time may be available.

DAY
4
Prepare for Bisque Firing, Glazing Intro, Free Time
Montreat, NC
B,L,D
Assembly Inn

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.

DAY
5
Glaze Day and Studio Visits
Montreat, NC
B,L,D
Assembly Inn

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.

DAY
6
Hand Building Techniques, Wheel Demo, Kiln Opening
Montreat, NC
B,L

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 11:00 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: 12:30-1:30 p.m. in the Assembly Inn Dining Room (Box lunches will be available for those who cannot stay through lunch).

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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