Studio Tour, Cornerstone Pottery in Washington Heights, NYC

I thought it was time to post a photo tour of the studio (the photo in the entry below I took years ago when I was studio-less and throwing in my kitchen), so I took a series of images with my iphone this past weekend.

Sorry in advance for the mess. Alex and I were both there working to get pieces done for our upcoming Holiday gift sale and had most surfaces covered with supplies, tools and pots in process.

I start the tour with a shot standing in the entryway where you see the worktable where hand-building classes take place. Then I do a 360 series to give you the full picture.

We are definitely small and cozy, but I feel like we are some of the luckiest potters space-wise and commute-wise in all of New York City! My walk is just 12 minutes door to door from home, most of it spent along the lower, Broadway-hugging path of Fort Tryon Park. The others have even shorter walks.

We have 2 Skutt electric kilns (one large, one small) and one old gas kiln -- all regularly loaded and busy firing our own and student's class work. We fire to a medium range temperature, cone 6, in the Skutts. Alex fires the gas kiln to cone 9.

We have five wheels in use -- three old sturdy kick-wheels, one Brent, and a Pacifica. And if we had adequate electrical wiring we'd
use the Shimpo we currently store underneath the work tables.

Dave made us a new wedging table this past summer (following directions from an old Pottery Making Illustrated article Arlene had clipped and filed), and more recently a floor-to-ceiling adjustable shelving unit from wood he retrieved from neighbor's trash in his co-op apartment and re-purposed.

Not able to restrain myself, I recently mentioned to Dave how I'd kill for a spankin' new work table to replace the current three folding ones that sway and shift like they're afloat on a stormy sea when throwing clay about.

Other studio updates on the horizon include likely adding a table-top slab roller. I've toyed with the idea for years, but can think of no more excuses to not go forward and think I'll purchase one soon.

Back by the windows (on top of the painted white cabinet) is a showcase area we plan to convert into a small storefront once the holiday sale is over, so that whenever one of us is working we can put out a sign and invite passersby to shop our wares.

***We're located in Our Saviour's Atonement Lutheran Church at 178 Bennett Avenue in Washington Heights, New York City. Contact me at cornerstonepottery@gmail.com for info about pottery classes or to join our mailing list. We're mid-term now, but will be starting a new session after the holidays. All class info will be posted on this site. Check back for updates.***