Penland Clay Studio Information
Equipment
Penland has two well-equipped clay studios, one generally for wheel throwing and one generally for hand building/sculpture. This list of equipment is not comprehensive; it is meant to give you an idea of what to expect during your class here at Penland. Keep in mind that although we do have this equipment, if something is not necessary for your class it may not be prepared for use. The equipment used by your class will be determined by your instructor, and will be appropriate to the techniques covered in your class. If you have specific sitting or lighting needs you should bring that with you.Upper Clay general equipment includes:
16 Brent C Wheels
3 Brent C x C Wheels
1 Brent kick Wheel
4 Randall Wheels
1 Lockerbie Motor/Kick Wheel
1 Lockerbie Electric Wheel
2 Shimpo Electric Wheels
1 Bailey Pro XL Wheel
1 ea. Leach Treadle, Gates Treadle, Thomas Stuart Treadle wheel
2 homemade Kick wheels
Cement Wedging table
Plaster wedging table
4 ea. 4' x 8' canvas covered worktables
North Star Extruder; Bailey extruder
Ball mill
Laguna Spray Booth
1 ea. 8' x 7' x 2' Dry box
5 ea., Ohaus scales
Talisman Sieve and assorted screens
Dust hood system.Lower Clay general Equipment includes:
Brent Slab roller
North Star slab roller
Large plaster wedging table
18 3' x 6 ' canvas covered tables
1 ea. 8' x 7' x 2' dry box
Assorted rolling pins, plaster molds, canvas, and tools.
Kilns:
Double chambered Noborigama wood kiln
65 cu. ft. Hard brick/sprung arch salt/soda kiln (propane/venturi burners w/piggy back pilots)
30 cu.ft. hard castable catenary arch crossdraft soda (only) kiln. (propane/venturi burners w/piggy back pilots)
50 cu. ft. soft brick sprung arch gas kiln. (propane/venturi burners w/piggy back pilots)
20 cu. ft. soft brick sprung arch gas kiln (propane/venturi burners w/piggy back pilots)
2 cu. ft. soft brick sprung arch gas test kiln. (propane/venturi burners w/piggy back pilots)
Assorted kiln shelves, posts and bricks
2 fiber Raku kilns (3' x 3' x 3')
5 reduction cans
2 electric test kilns
4 Select Fire EXCEL 279 SF electric kilns
2 Excel EX - 399KS electric kilns
1 ConeArt Oval electric kiln
1 Crusader 274S electric kilns
1 Paragon Dragon Front loading electric kiln
1 Skutt KM-1027 electric kilns
Many ware carts, masonite bats and ware boards; assorted plastic buckets and towels.Supplies and Materials
Students must purchase clay from the clay studio. No clay is to be brought in. All clay is from Highwater Clays or special mixes that are ordered by the coordinator. The price is prorated to include the studio and glazing fee, so there is no studio and glazing fee. For a two-week class the average cost for clay is $125.00 in the upper clay studio (throwing) and $65.00 in the lower clay studio (hand building). This varies according to your personal usage. Personal tools and hand towels should be brought in by students or purchased at the school store. Students must provide their own respirators and safety glasses.Classroom
Lighting is all fluorescent. The upper clay studio is generally for wheel throwing and generally has a maximum of 20 students. The room is 33' x 45' and the glaze room (shared with lower clay) is 21' x 39'. There are two sinks with cold and hot water. The lower clay studio is generally for hand building or sculpture and has a class size of 18 -20. The room is 30' x 45' and the glaze area is 15' x 39'. There are two sinks with cold and hot water.Student Workspace
In upper clay each working area is about 3' x 4'. There are wooden stools for seating (no backs). In lower clay each student has a 3' x 6' canvas covered table for their working space. There are wooden stools for seating. (No backs) Wheels and tables are generally assigned by lottery, but this varies by the instructor.Storage
Lockers are available in the Pines. You bring your own lock and choose a locker. There is space to store your clay, pottery and tools in your space but there are no locks and it is open 24 hours a day.Safety Information
We have two equipped first aid kits. Students must provide their own respirators and safety glasses. Refer to the instructors materials list for information about your specific class needs. Toxic glazes must be disposed of in toxic barrel. No toxic materials to be washed down the drain as we have a well and septic system. There is a mandatory safety walk through at the beginning of every class. The walk through is to introduce you to the studio space and to show you the safety equipment. Alcohol is not permitted in the studios. Working in the studios under the influence of alcohol is not permitted. The use of illegal drugs at Penland is prohibited.Shared Studio Equipment
All equipment is to be shared amongst the two studios. If you wish to use equipment in other studios during your session, you must work with the instructor, studio assistant or coordinator of that studio to request access. They will determine if the desired usage is compatible with their class' activities, and if you are able to work safely and independently with the equipment.Firing
Penland is a craft school with a varied curriculum depending on each instructor. The type and the number of firings is determined by the instructor. Penland is not a production studio. So please come with an open mind and willingness to participate in group activities rather than a list of personal projects to complete.Studio Clean Up
Students can anticipate, in addition to their daily clean-up, that the penultimate day of their class will include a two or three hour all-class clean up in both upper and lower clay studios. That second-to-last day is typically Thursday in classes that end on Friday and Tues in our classes that end on Wednesday. The clean up can be scheduled in the morning or the afternoon and will not last longer than three hours. It is generally done while kilns are cooling and there is no time available to make more work. Students will be expected to simply do a more thorough version of the daily clean up with a little more attention paid to the kiln yard, materials rooms and other studio facilities. Getting the studio clean up done a day early is a great way to free up that last, precious day at Penland!If you have any questions contact:
Studio Coordinator: Ian Meares
Office: 828-765-2359 x 40
Voicemail: 828-765-2359 x41
E-mail: clay@penland.orgRevised January, 2006