The Studio

The Carwile-Dodson Studio, opened in April 2004, is located in a renovated  mill building next door to Mud Dabbers Pottery & Crafts.  Both buildings were built in 1922.  The studio is equipped with nine electric wheels, one being a handicap-accessible wheel.  Handbuilding equipment includes a slab roller and two extruders.  Stoneware clay will be used in the classes; it will be fired in an electric oxidation kiln.

3621 Greenville Hwy
(Next to Mud Dabbers Pottery)
PO Box 1162
Brevard, NC 28712
(828) 884-5771
(828) 884-5131
http://www.muddabbers.com/classes.htm

Course Schedule

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced potter, our classes are designed for everyone. Experienced instructors will work with you to reach individual goals.

Hand Building with Suzanne Jones

This three-week class will run from April 22 through May 7.
Class meets Tuesdays for instruction and Wednesdays for practice from 6 - 9 p.m.  Experiment with various hand- building techniques and learn how to add creative embellishments to your ware.

Raku with Rick Compton & Amy Biamonte

This three-week class will run from May 9 through May 28.
Class meets Fridays for instruction and on Wednesdays for practice, both from 6 - 9 p.m.  Students will learn basic hand building techniques to create a variety of projects that will be raku fired.  They also will learn about the properties of raku clay and glaze. 

Raku is one of the most exciting and immediately gratifying firing techniques in pottery.  Pieces are removed from the kiln when glaze is molten hot and placed into a container of combustibles and allotted time to carbonize.  This process turns black any surface that has not been glazed, while glazed areas have a one-of-a-kind metallic or clear crackle finish.

Wheel Throwing with John Dodson

This six-week class will run twice this spring.

First Opportunity:  March 3 through April 9
Second Opportunity:  April 21 through May 28 

Class meets Mondays for instruction and on Wednesdays for practice, both from 6 - 9 p.m.  In this class students will learn about the properties of clay and beginning wheel- throwing techniques.  Students will learn how to transform basic cylinders into bowls, goblets, vases, mugs, and lidded vessels.  Students also will learn glazing basics and will glaze their own work.

Hand Building with Suzanne Jones

This six-week class will run from March 4 through April 9.
Class meets Tuesdays for instruction and Wednesdays for practice from 6 - 9 p.m.  Experiment with various hand-building techniques and make boxes, vases, bird feeders, garden ornaments and much more.  This course is an excellent introduction to working with clay and understanding its properties.

Independent Study with Rick Compton

March 2 through April 10(Tuesdays from 9 a.m.- 12 p.m., Thursdays from 6 - 9 p.m., and Sundays from 2-8 p.m.)

April 20 through May 29 (Tuesdays from 9 a.m.- 12 p.m., Thursdays from 6 - 9 p.m., and Sundays from 2-8 p.m.)

June 8 through  July 17 (Thursdays from 6 - 9 p.m., and Sundays from 2-8 p.m.)

July 27 through September 4 (Thursdays from 6 - 9 p.m., and Sundays from 2-8 p.m).

     
This course is open to former Carwile-Dodson Studio students who have completed a six-week or three-week course with instructor approval.  This is a non-instructional studio time for experienced students to continue creating with clay.  Students participating in the Independent Study Studio Time will be allowed to use the studio two days a week. 

Costs/Fees-

Six -Week  Sessions cost $160 and Three-Week Sessions cost $85.  This fee includes a 25-pound bag of clay, as well as glazing and firing.  Each additional bag of clay is $16.  Community tools are available in the studio for student use.  Personal pottery tool kits are available for $14.

The six-week Independent Study session is $100. 

Independent study prices do not include the cost of clay ($16 per bag).  Glazing and firing costs are included in the cost of each bag of clay.

(One-Time   Independent Drop-In cost is $16)

Raku Night with Rick Compton 

“Give a Pinch, Take a Pinch”

The last Friday of every month from 6 - 9 p.m.           Cost $30

Learn about this ancient Japanese firing technique and experience its beauty firsthand.  All participants will pick a pre-fired (bisqued) pinch pot to glaze, fire, and take home.  Students also will learn how to hand build and embellish a pinch pot to leave behind. 

Other items to raku fire will be made available for an additional cost. 

Try Pottery for a Night 

Saturdays from 6-8:30 p.m.
Adults only: 
Learn the basics and get your hands dirty.

Cost $35 per person

March 1 - Basic Hand Building
March 8 - Basic Wheel Throwing
March 15 - Basic Hand Building
March 22 - Basic Wheel Throwing
March 29 - Basic Hand Building
April 5 - Basic Wheel Throwing
April 12 - Basic Hand Building
April 19 - Basic Wheel Throwing
April 26 - Basic Hand Building
May 3 - Basic Wheel Throwing
May 10 - Basic Hand Building
May 17 - Basic Wheel Throwing
May 24 - Basic Hand Building
May 31 - Basic Wheel Throwing

Cost $40 per person

June 7 - Basic Hand Building
June 14 - Basic Wheel Throwing
June 21 - Basic Hand Building
June 28 - Basic Wheel Throwing
July 5 - Basic Hand Building
July 12 - Basic Wheel Throwing
July 19 - Basic Hand Building
July 26 - Basic Wheel Throwing
August 2 - Basic Hand Building
August 9 - Basic Wheel Throwing
August 16 - Basic Hand Building
August 23 - Basic Wheel Throwing
August 30 - Basic Hand Building

Family Clay Day 

Saturdays from 9-11 a.m.
Learn hand- building basics and have some fun.
All ages welcome: 

Cost $30 per person

March 1 - personal settings
March 8 - baskets and bunnies
March 15 - for the birds
March 22 - family totem poles
March 29 - critters and creatures
April 5 - fairy/bug houses
April 12 - garden creations
April 19 - for the birds
April 26 - for Mom
May 3 - musical creations
May 10 - pinch pot possibilities
May 17 - wall pockets and wind chimes
May 24 - sculpture
May 31 - for Dad

Cost $35 per person

June 7 - critter abodes
June 14 - garden creations and creatures
June 21 - for the birds
June 28 - wind chimes and wall art
July 5 - not-so-piggy-banks
July 12 - secret hiding places and messages
July 19 -for the birds
July 26 - animal sculptures
August 2 - pinch pot possibilities
August 9 - family totem poles/ garden art
August 16 - whistles and rattles
August 23 -personal mugs and bowls
August 30 - wall art, masks and tiles

Pottery created during the One-Time Classes will be available for pick up in three weeks.  All children must be accompanied by an adult.  The cost of these classes includes clay, glazing, firing, and processing.

Week Long - Adult Summer Camp Sessions

June 16 -20                 Wheel Throwing                       
June 30- July 4              Hand Building 
July 14- 18                   Wheel Throwing
July 28- August 1          Hand Building
August 11- 15              Wheel Throwing

Evening classes for adults run from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. for four evenings:-Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. and Friday. 

Cost of $140 includes program and materials.

The wheel throwing courses will teach beginning wheel throwing skills for those with little or no experience, while more advanced skills and design concepts will be taught to more experienced potters.
Hand building courses will introduce students to the various hand- building techniques.  These include the pinch, coil and slab techniques.  This course is an excellent introduction to working with clay and understanding its properties.  Experienced students will be encouraged to fine tune and further develop their existing skills.

Each Friday, students will be given the opportunity to raku fire some of their creations.  During the process pots are removed from the kiln when the glaze is molten hot and placed into a container of combustibles.  The results are one-of-a-kind.

Morning Camp for children ages 6-10 

June 16 -20
July 28- August 1
June 30-July 4
August 11- 15
July 14- 18

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
During the week students will be introduced to the properties of clay and will have the opportunity to learn and practice basic hand-building skills.  These include the pinch, coil, and slab techniques.  In addition, the basics of clay sculpture will be introduced.  Some of the pieces which are made during the week, will be raku fired on the last day of
camp.  The rest of ware will be glazed and fired to cone 6.  Students will be able to bring home some finished pieces at the end of the week, and will have to collect their remaining pieces from the studio the week after camp.  Cost is 160.00 per session.

Afternoon Camp for children ages 11-16

June 16 -20
July 28- August 1
June 30-July 4
August 11- 15
July 14- 18

1:30 - 4:30 p.m.
In addition to learning about the properties of clay, basic hand building and sculpting techniques, students will learn how to throw on the potter’s wheel.

Those students with some existing knowledge (i.e. those who have previously attended pottery camp or family clay) will be encouraged to further develop and fine- tune their skills.

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Private and Group Instruction

Private lessons and groups can be arranged per request.

Rates are as follows:

1 to 2 people- $30 per hour (each).

3 to 4 people- $25 per hour (each).

5 or more- $20 per hour (each).

At least two hours is recommended per session to get the full experience.

Birthday Parties

Hold a pottery party at the studio. We provide an instructor and a project to make, you provide the celebration and the participants!! Fun for children and adults alike.

Time, date and cost (depending on numbers, type of project, and party length) to be arranged. Call for details.

Children's special

For those children who have attended classes at the studio, pottery kits to take and make at home are available now! There will be set dates to drop work off for firing.

Six -Week Sessions cost $160

Three-Week Sessions cost $85.

This fee includes a 25-pound bag of clay, as well as glazing and firing. Each additional bag of clay is $16. Community tools are available in the studio for student use. Personal pottery tool kits are available for $14.

The six-week Independent Study session is $100.

Independent study prices do not include the cost of clay ($16 per bag). Glazing and firing costs are included in the cost of each bag of clay.

Private and Group Instruction as well as Workshops are priced as listed in the course schedule. These prices include the cost of all materials, glazing and, firing.

A 50% registration fee is required to reserve your space in any class. Class fees can be paid by cash, check, or charge.

Please make all checks payable to Carwile-Dodson Studio.

We do our best to take care of your pottery as it goes through its journey.

However, even experienced potters lose pieces in the process.

Beth Aspray is a studio apprentice and elementary educator in Transylvania CountyPublic Schools.

Amy Biamonte is a studio apprentice and former Transylvania County educator with Master of Arts in Teaching from Towson U. 

Rick Compton is our very own “Jack of all Trades.”  He has over a decade of experience in the field of R&D at Mother Earth News and has dabbled in everything from woodworking to plumbing.

John E. Dodson is a second- generation potter who grew up playing in the clay.  He has taught at Brevard College and at John C. Campbell Folk School.  John’s work ethic and style have been influenced by his father, John O. Dodson and Georgia legend, D.X. Gordy.  He also has taken classes at Arrowmont School of Crafts, John C. Campbell Folk School and Odyssey Center for Ceramic Arts.

Suzanne Jones has been a potter for over a decade.  She has studied at the John C. Campbell Folk School, Brevard College, the Craft Alliance of St. Louis, and FontbonneUniversity.  She also has taught continuing education at Brevard College.

Mary W. Murray has been a production potter in Transylvania County since 1978.She studied art at Brevard College, attended the Atlanta School of Art, and has taken classes at Arrowmont School of Crafts.  Mary also has taught pottery at Brevard College.