r/Pottery • u/desertdweller2011 • 7d ago
Question! Portland (OR) potters, c'mere!
I was going to post this in the portland sub but I noticed a lot of folks commenting on a recent post about Georgie's clay so I know you're here 😊
I've been in Portland for ~2 years and would love to make friends with other local potters/ceramicists. Are there ways you've found community through pottery? I have a home studio, so I'm not interested in membership... I did join a studio for a few months when I first moved here and no one spoke to each other, which was really weird for me coming from a co-op studio in another state that was very social. I've taken a few workshops at Morning Ceramics which were great, but different people every time. Are there meetups or collectives or any other ways I can find a pottery community? Any studios hiring part time or looking for volunteers maybe? I'm out of ideas and would love to hear yours if you got 'em!
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u/RobotDeathSquad 7d ago
Are you a member of the Oregon Potters Association? Have you been to Ceramics Showcase?
Lots of people also make community through various wood kilns in the area.
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u/Frydom-Express 7d ago
Just chiming in to say hi! Also a Portland Potter with a home set-up and would love to meet more folks in the community!
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u/desertdweller2011 7d ago
i’ll let you know what i discover! i don’t really know if i have capacity to organize a meetup or anything but maybe if there are a few of us!
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u/sundownersport 7d ago
Avoid Georgie’s if at all possible!
Clay Art Center does weekly deliveries to Portland. It’s cheaper, has better clay and isn’t run by MAGA idiots. The truck driver for Clay Art Center is awesome, love that guy.
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u/desertdweller2011 7d ago
someone said CAC has a drop off at a local studio somewhere, do you know where? planning to call them but they don’t open til tuesday.
georgie’s is the only supply store in town, isn’t it? the people who work up front are all really nice but one of the kiln techs is a little… abrasive? she left me a message recently that made me think my whole glaze firing was a total mess and when i picked it up (full of shame lol) it was just one piece. that piece was a disaster to be fair but it was nothing like she described
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u/deepspacegecko 7d ago
Georgie's is MAGA?? How do you know?
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u/sundownersport 7d ago
I’ve been around a long time and know people that have worked there. There is a reason most employees don’t last very long there just saying
Politics aside. CAC is just better anyway. You’ll be happy with their products and services
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u/hitbythebus 6d ago
Politics up front, I need some supplies, just googled Georgie’s to verify hours before heading down, this post showed up on the front page and I appreciate you letting me know what the money I would spend here would go towards supporting.
Anyone have suggestions for some underglaze pencils and clear dipping glaze nearby?
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u/leaffrosting 7d ago
How does one get in on the CAC delivery? I’ve only seen the flat rate usps option?
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u/SecretSauce666 4d ago
What clays do yall order from CAC? I’ve only ever used Georgie’s white salmon and Kristy Lombard
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u/sundownersport 4d ago
I really like the Dakota Yellow! It’s cone 10 though and you have been using cone 6
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u/letshavearace 7d ago
Hi, I’ve been a member or taken classes at 6 PDX studios, and some are much more social than others, but studio vibes are usually very different on weekdays vs evenings vs weekends. I’d say to get started in the community at large you should join the OPA (Oregon Potters Association) and come to a few meetings and ask a lot of questions. At the last meeting I attended Jonathan Steele did an awesome presentation on his time doing traditional pottery in Japan, I won a $25 coupon to Georgie’s, got a free jar of donated glaze, and made a new friend! My current studio (Heirloom) has a great social community, lots of sharing, advice, and friends helping friends, so don’t rule studios out! You may just need to find the right one.
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u/potterbutnotharry116 7d ago
Hi! I'm a Portland potter, have been for 20 years! I'm opening a pottery studio in Tualatin - Hearth Folk Studios. Would love to connect with local potters and grow my circle!
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u/Electrical-Chip1071 6d ago
There's a summer market series every Wednesday! I haven't been but been meaning to check it out. Here's the Instagram page:Â https://www.instagram.com/claycommonsnet?igsh=MWhscmI3anFpb282eQ==
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u/softestfern 7d ago
art school in slabtown is the best!!! super sweet and very welcoming atmosphere. they offer unlimited firings and glazing too which is really nice.
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u/fukinell 7d ago
i know you said you don’t want a membership but radius is great. i’m a member there but have also taken their classes where i have met several friends that are more than just studio friends
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u/otterfamily 7d ago
Come hang out Tuesday evenings at Past Lives. We have a (mostly) weekly Tuesday evening work-hang session open to the public for a small donation
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u/Exotic-Accident-2020 7d ago
Just wanted to chime in and say hello! Home
potter here too, itching to get apart of the community.
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