Our aim is to provide a concentrated, supportive atmosphere for both those seeking an introduction to ceramics as well as more seasoned practitioners wanting to expand their skills and confidence.



The Tuscarora Summer Pottery School was established in the summer of 1966 by Dennis and Julie Parks. They chose this place because of its quiet, vast open spaces, clean air, clear skies, and rugged mountains. Now the school is run by their son Ben.

These sessions are geared toward beginning and intermediate pottery students.



Topics covered vary depending on the individuals enrolled in the workshop, but can include the basics of getting started on the wheel--centering, learning to throw functional forms as well as more advanced topics like altering thrown pots, learning to throw larger pots, developing your own glazes using natural materials in your environment, and so forth. We work with a couple of different stoneware clay bodies we purchase pre-mixed, glaze it raw (i.e. no bisque fire), and single fire to cone 10 using propane as fuel. Further, we have recently built a salt/soda kiln which we can fire, depending on the desires of the participants and time constraints.

In addition, we have a raku kiln for doing some extra firing while waiting for the big kilns to cool at the end of a session. Class sizes are small, usually 6 participants, so there is ample opportunity for one-on-one interaction with the instructor(s).

Emphasis is on meeting the individual student at his or her skill/interest level and working from there.

The cost is $1500, which includes tuition, room, board, glaze materials, and firing.  Students buy clay from the school at our cost.  If you wish to bring your own clay, please inquire about appropriate types.