Creating Community Through Clay
The Central Vermont Clay Connection is a work in progress and we hope this loose network will become a vital resource for local clay lovers. We want to connect potters and ceramic artists who may be working remotely in their own studios, unaware of all the other potters working locally. We’re calling all ceramicists who live, work, or sell work in the Central Vermont region to join our online directory.
Our online directory provides a database to help connect clay lovers of all skill levels
Clay Connection folks will be the first to know about special clay opportunities at River Arts. Participate in River Arts Pop Up Exhibitions, Pottery Sales, Potter’s Potlucks, and more!
We hope to find potters who are interested in sharing techniques, equipment, or kilns. Here at River Arts, we only have an electric kiln and we know some of our clay studio users would love to try firing in gas, wood, salt, and soda kilns, pit firings, or raku!
River Arts is always looking for instructors to teach clay classes and will pull from our local ceramic artist database.
Interested in joining?
Local Ceramic Artists:
Dirt Floors Pottery by Silene Sutera
Elmore, VT
Silene is a soil scientist as well as potter, and it turns out these two professions go together quite nicely. She is primarily self-taught but has apprenticed with several incredible female potters in Central NY. She aspires to bring simple, elegant art into everyday life through her work which is why she loves the gentle nuance of reduction-cooled surfaces. Silene built her anagama style wood kiln and fires it several times per year.
Where to buy: Front Seat Coffee in Hardwick, The Miller’s Thumb Gallery in Greensboro, and The Axel Gallery in Waterbury.
See More: dirtfloorstudios.com
Muddy Creek Pottery by Heather Stearns
North Wolcott, VT
Heather Stearns is the founder and owner of Muddy Creek Pottery in North Wolcott, Vermont. She has been working in clay since 1991 and teaching since 1993 in numerous capacities. She learned to make pots at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, where she earned a B.A. in Ceramics and Education. Further study in ceramics at Haystack Mountain School of Craft, Truro Center for the Arts, and the Moravian Tile Works have all influenced her work and teaching.
Where to buy: Buffalo Mountain Co-Op, Laughing Moon Chocolates, Northwood Gallery, and Craftsbury General Store
See More: muddycreekpottery.org
Emma Podolin Redware
East Hardwick, VT
Emma Podolin is a mother and potter who throws with red earthenware clay. Earthenware contains a high amount of iron oxide and other mineral 'impurities', giving it a luscious deep red color. It also fires to a lower temperature giving it a slightly lower energy input. Her designs and surface decorations are a distinct feature of her work and she enjoys finding the balance between homeschooling, parenting, pottery, tending her family’s farmstead and running her business.
Where to buy: Front Seat Coffee in Hardwick, River Arts Giftshop and at Emma Podoline Redware
See More: emmapodolinredware.com
Lisa Wolfgang
Morrisville, VT
Lisa Wolfgang is an environmental artist and educator. Although clay is only one medium that she works in, she enjoys making functional ceramic pieces as gifts and enjoys teaching people how to work in clay.
Where to buy: River Arts Giftshop
See More: lrwolfgang.com
Heidi Bielenberg
Peacham, VT
Heidi Bielenberg started her pottery journey in college, and fell in love with clay. In 2018 using her grandfather’s wheel and a donated kiln, Heidi helped establish the River Arts Clay Studio. Heidi had recently started her own pottery studio in a beautiful historic barn in Peacham, Vermont.
Where to buy: The Roots Farmer’s Market and River Arts Giftshop
See More: @heidilouisepottery
Barbara Flathers
Potter
See More: @bflatpottery
Jude Prashaw
Hyde Park, VT
Jude Prashaw is a potter and artist living in Hyde Park. Her She find meaningful expression in clay, metal, paint, canvas and writing. Jude has a textured teaching history, facilitating healing experiences through sculpture and ceramics.
Where to buy: River Arts Giftshop, RockArt Brewery
See More: judeprashaw.com
Dylan Nadeau
Morrisville, VT
Dylan Nadeau recently graduated with a BFA in ceramics from the Maine College of Art. His work is inspired by the world around him specifically within the natural world.
Where to buy: RockArt Brewery
See More: dylannadeau.com
Vermont Pottery Works by Elaine Diamond
Morrisville, VT
Elaine Diamond is a self taught potter for 20 years, retired technical illustrator, painter and life long artist. She is a hand builder working in porcelain making one of a kind functional and sculptural pieces. She also designs and manufactures textured rolling pins and stamps for use in clay. Vermont Pottery Works was started as a hobby and has turned into an obsession and full time career. Elaine’s focus is on fine details, decorating and texture in clay.
Where to Buy: Vermont Pottery Works
See More: vermontpotteryworks.com, @elainediamondpottery
Greenwood Pottery
by Lucinda Smith
Woodbury, Vermont
Lucinda Smith is a functional potter who works in stoneware. Smith has worked to achieve her distinctive glazes that mimic the atmospheric effects that can be achieved in gas firings for her electric kiln. Her choice of color in glazes is inspired by the natural world and Vermont’s four seasons. It is important to her that her work creates a positive response in people, and that they can count on its quality and usefulness.
Where to Buy: Artisans Hand and Miller's Thumb Gallery
See More: Greenwood Pottery
Mill Village Pottery
Craftsbury Common, Vermont
Lynn Flory has owned and operated MIll Village Pottery, a working studio and gallery, for over two decades. Lynn specializes in one-of-a-kind vessels and unique functional ware. She works with many different clays and firing techniques. The studio is equipped with five kilns. The high fire kiln was a gift from world-famous potter, Otto Heino, who mentored Lynn from the opening of her pottery until the time of his death in 2009. Lynn considers the working of clay to be sacred labor. It is a fusion of play and imagination where the living elements merge with soul. When done well, the inner and outer lives become one.
Where to buy: Mill Village Pottery
Clay Studios:
River Arts Clay Studio
74 Pleasant Street, Morrisville, VT
Est. in 2018 as a place for community access, the River Arts Clay studio has 10 membership spots, allows punchcard users to access the space during free time, hosts homeschool, afterschool, evening, and weekend classes for youth and adults.
Learn More: River Arts Clay Studio
Call: (802) 888-1261
Clay Studio at The Current
90 Pond St, Stowe, VT
The Clay Studio at The Current offers youth and adult classes in all pottery levels at a sliding scale fee. Youth Classes are offered for after school and summer camps, and Adult Classes are offered at varying weekdays, weeknights, and weekends. Inquire about our Open Studio Renters starting 2022!
Learn More: The Current
Call: (802) 253-8358
Muddy Creek Pottery
999 Brook Road, Wolcott, VT 05680
Learn More: Muddy Creek Pottery
Call: (802) 595-5961