Pottery Wheel and Ceramics Classes + Open Studio

Raffaela Vergata, (Art Studios Manager) has a BA from Marymount Manhattan College in stage management but has always been drawn to the ceramic studio. After years working for indie theatre companies she turned her focus to ceramics and never looked back. Her company, Sunken Orchard Ceramic was founded in 2018. Primarily using slabs, Raffaela impresses antique lace, inherited from her great-aunts, to create hand built pieces for the table and home, because any day can be a special occasion. She is thrilled to join the team at the JCC Manhattan.

Anya Marfin is a local artist and designer who graduated from Parsons School of Design with BFA in product design. Anya deeply enjoys working with children to explore creativity at a young age and providing a loving, artistic space where art can be used as a language for expression. As a ceramics instructor, Anya brings not only her expertise in ceramics, but also her unwavering enthusiasm and nurturing approach. Under her guidance, children embark on an exciting journey of self-discovery, learn valuable artistic techniques, and develop a lifelong love for ceramics.

Ava McNamee, has been working in clay for over 20 years and has taught at the JCC for more than six years. She brings a whimsical and gentle approach to clay and her classes, empowering her students to believe in themselves from day one. She studied sculpture at The Art Students League and became interested in ceramics while living in Arizona and New Mexico, where she studied at the Sedona Art Center and Coyote Clay & Color. Ava’s work is mostly handbuilt, with extruded forms that she transforms into whimsical lamps.

Amy Schnitzer rediscovered pottery in 2010 upon making a career change and taking a six-month work hiatus. The studio community embraced her and clay became a new and exciting medium to work with. Amy prefers to fire her work using gas reduction, salt, and wood, due to the rich colors and textures and unexpected results. She works with multiple clays at any given time because they produce vastly different results. She focuses on form, which is key to her functional pottery, since handles need to be comfortable, lids need to fit, and bowls and plates need to stack. Her favorite works include sets and items that have multiple parts and pieces.

Isabelle Yaron is a French potter trained the old-fashioned way, with different ceramic artists. She is influenced by ancient ceramics and drawn by the harmony between the form and the mineralization created by the kiln fire. She is fascinated by artifact restoration and archaeology. Her work revolves around simplicity and humility.

Nick Park (he/him) is a proud queer artist and ceramics instructor residing in New York City. After pursuing a career in theatre for nearly a decade, Nick found himself drawn to the creative and healing space that ceramics can provide. Throughout his journey, he has been a student, instructor, studio technician, and studio member in multiple spaces throughout the city. When teaching, Nick constructs an inclusive space where students feel inspired to harness their creative energy. He is known for the vitality and engagement that he brings to his teaching, establishing a community built on collaboration and the joy of discovery. In his personal practice, Nick creates a wide range of (predominantly) functional wares that celebrate form and color while highlighting his fluid curiosity for the process of clay.

Laurence Elle Groux is a self-taught Swiss artist specializing in ceramics and oil etching. Her work is influenced by Pre-Colombian, Mesopotamian, Renaissance, Art Nouveau, Modernism, and Outsider arts, resulting in tactile, curvilinear introspective abstract sculptures with organic shapes. Groux's intricate oil etchings further explore line and shape, creating delicate embellishments that inspire visual curiosity through their dynamic forms. Elle's art has been showcased in exhibitions across New York, Switzerland, and Philadelphia, and is part of collections in several countries. Currently, she is developing two new series: "Healing Circles" in drawing and sculptures inspired by Abstract Nouns—concepts like Love, Fear, and Hope that cannot be sensed physically.

Yasmin Elephant is a ceramic artist with a multidisciplinary background, working in both functional and sculptural handbuilding techniques. Her work embraces organic forms and textures that encourage reflection on connection, nature, and history. I love sharing my knowledge and help others explore the creative possibilities of ceramics.

Open Studio Pass holders are advanced students who can work independently. Pass holders have exclusive access to the studio during selected times and are not required to be current ceramics students in order to purchase an Open Studio Pass.

The cost is $250 per month with a 3-month commitment via auto-renewal. If, after 3 months, you wish to cancel your membership, please email studios@mmjccm.org. Registration includes a private locker; you must provide your own lock. Open Studio Pass does not include firing fees.

Open Studio Pass Hours:
Mondays, 10 am–5 pm
Wednesdays, 10 am–6 pm
Saturdays, 10 am–4 pm

The JCC Ceramics Studio offers open studio time for students. Each currently enrolled student is entitled to three hours of studio time for the semester in which they are enrolled.

Additional open studio time can be purchased via credit card in the studio. The rate is $4 an hour.

Studio Time for Students:
Tuesday 1-3 pm
Thursday 1-3 pm and 5:30-8:30 pm
Friday 1-4 pm

Locker rentals are $20/semester for JCC members and $30/semester for the public. Between semesters, locker rentals are $10/month. Lockers are free for Open Studio Pass students. When you arrive to class, your instructor will help you rent a locker. A limited number of lockers are available.

• White stoneware and brown speckle clay are available for all students to use, and are included in class fees.
• Clay should be recycled in the appropriate bins, and clay should be checked for tools and sponges before adding to the bucket.
• All glazes are food safe unless otherwise noted. Unglazed washes and slips are not food safe.
• Do not thin glazes—ask instructor for assistance.
• Students must be prepared to recycle special order clay on their own; otherwise, it will be recycled into the studio reclaim clay for all to use.

• Firing fees are priced by the size of the work and are measured in cubic inches
• Firing costs 6 cents per cubic inch and includes both bisque and glaze firings
• The minimum fee per piece is 75 cents. Re-firings are 3 cents per cubic inch
• Payment is accepted by credit card via Square
• Only monitors and teachers are responsible for collecting payment
• A firing receipt with your name on it is required. Items without a receipt will not be fired.
• You are required to sign the bottom of your work

• Do not glaze the bottom of the work, and make sure to clean the bottom with a wet sponge. Works with glaze on the bottom will not be fired and will be placed on special shelves in the kiln room.
• Do not let work pile up on shelves.
• Do not handle or touch the work of others. If you damage another student’s work, leave a note.
• Works must be measured by the instructor and paid for prior to firing.
• Always bisque work before you glaze fire.
• Place work on appropriate, labeled shelves in kiln room to be bisque-fired or glaze-fired.

• Leave the studio cleaner than you found it.
• Classes and open studio participants are responsible for leaving the studio clean at the end of the session.
• Minimize dust; clean up with a wet sponge.
• Rinse out sponges when done using them.
• Potter’s wheels should be shut off, cleaned, and splash pans should be washed and returned.
• Clean up spills as they happen.
• Make sure fans are turned off.
• Make sure personal tools are cleaned and stored on shelves.

• Maintain a Dust-Free Environment: Always prioritize keeping the studio free from dust accumulation to ensure a clean and safe workspace.
• Wet Sanding Requirement: Never sand pieces without the presence of water. Wet sanding is essential to prevent the release of harmful particles into the air.
• Access to Masks: Masks are available in the studio. Use a mask when needed to protect your respiratory health.
• Only operate equipment under the supervision of JCC staff if you are unfamiliar with its usage.

Payment is made on the JCC website (mmjccm.org) or via the box office at 646.505.4444 or boxoffice@mmjccm.org.

Registration covers the entire semester. Please be advised that our policy does not allow for prorating missed classes. In case of unexpected absences, we encourage you to contact us at studios@mmjccm.org for assistance. We will try our best to work with you while maintaining our semester commitment policy.

Students who are currently enrolled in ceramics classes receive priority registration for the new semester of classes before the general public.

• Studio time for members requires a three-month commitment.
• Payment for studio time will be automatically renewed after three months unless canceled by the member. This system is designed to streamline the payment process for your convenience.
• For any individual schedule-related issues, please reach out to studios@mmjccm.org. Our team will do our best to resolve your concerns.

Member Studio Times:
Monday, 10 am–5 pm
Wednesday, 10 am–6 pm
Saturday, 10 am–4 pm

We understand that unforeseen circumstances may prevent you from attending your regular class times. With that in mind, we offer each student up to three make-up classes per semester.

• Please note that make-up classes are subject to availability, and we cannot guarantee space in specific classes.
• Due to full class capacity, we've restricted make-up classes to accommodate only one person per session.
• If you sign up for a class and cannot attend, please remove your name from the online sheet so other students can attend that class.
• Please register for a makeup class that is similar in practice to your original class. For example, if your original class is a wheel class, please register for a make-up wheel class, not a handbuilding class.

These policies aim to ensure fair access to make-up classes for all, while also maintaining smooth operations for participants.