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Members Only · 24/7 Independent Study

Claymore Community Pottery StudioIndependent Study.

Two 24/7 ceramics spaces in Chicago, made for members of The Pottery Loop (@PotteryChicago) to continue their craft after the 6-week course. No classes, come and go on your own schedule, just a space built for where you're at.

Access
24/7 swipe access
Locations
2 locations, near the Brown Line
Commitment
Month-to-month, at will
An overhead view of a member centering a cylinder on the wheel, hands wet with clay

On the wheel · Claymore studio

About

The 24/7 practice space for The Pottery Loop. Solely for our members.

Claymore is built around independent study. We don't run classes, workshops, or drop ins ourselves; that happens at The Pottery Loop's main studio (@PotteryChicago). Claymore is where members go afterward, to keep practicing on their own time. It's a small, tight knit community of people who already have some experience and want somewhere personal to keep it going.

We run two spaces, so you can pick the one that matches your practice: a Intro Space for members just off the 6-week course who want more time at the wheel, and an Intermediate/Advanced Space for members with more confidence in their projects. Everyone shares the joy of creating, and for the safety of our 24/7 members, we keep our exact addresses private until a tour is confirmed.

The hand-painted Claymore sign on the studio wall, with member shelves beyond

Two Spaces

Pick the space that matches your practice.

Both are 24/7, members only, and billed month-to-month with no long-term commitment. Each section below has its own Beginner / Intermediate tabs.

These are two separate memberships at two separate locations. A membership is for one space only, not both.

Details

$165/mo

The Intro Space

Built for members who just finished The Pottery Loop's 6-week course and want more time at the wheel before moving on. Members should be able to throw comfortably without supervision. Low-fire clay, stable brush glazes, and a kiln that fires to Cone 04.

Near
Near the Damen Brown Line stop
Clay & glaze
Low-fire clay & stable brush glazes
Kiln
Kiln fired to Cone 04
Storage
1 shelf, 18" x 36"
Access
24/7 swipe access

This space's site used to live at throw247.com. That address now redirects here.

The kiln lid lifted open, revealing a full load of glazed turquoise, black, and cream bowls and cups
Inside the studio
Wheel stations lit by the studio's arched, wrought-iron windows against whitewashed brick
The wheel room · arched windows
Shelves of glaze buckets and studio supplies along the whitewashed brick wall
Student shelves · storage included
A glazing worktable with brushes and tools, shelves of glaze behind it
Glazing · pick your palette
Gallery
A glazing table scattered with brushes, sponges, and jars of colored glazeA member's hand holding a hand-painted mug with a sun, moon, and star designA member's hand-painted mug with a sun and two dancing figures, held up to the lightA member holding a hand-thrown mug with a simple smiling face painted on itTwo small bowls with a blue drip glaze over whiteA bowl with a green drip glaze over cream stonewareA member holding a mug with a black and white marbled glazeOrange- and lemon-shaped ceramic dishes with painted leavesA whimsical toast-shaped ceramic trayA sculptural ceramic piece shaped like a small handbagA member holding a small polka-dot mugA member holding a bowl hand-painted with a cat illustration in blue and whiteA member holding a mug with an orange-to-white gradient glazeA member holding two mugs, one blue-green and one purpleA member holding a mug hand-painted with a tulip designA green ceramic tray divided into square compartmentsA bowl with a colorful orange and yellow speckled glazeA member holding a mug hand-painted with a flame designA small dark handled cupA member holding a mug with a two-tone blue and cream glazeA small ceramic gecko figure

Membership

Two spaces, one simple policy.

These are two separate memberships. You join one space, not both. Your monthly membership fee covers full 24/7 access to your space, plus full use of all tools and studio glazes. The only added cost is studio clay, billed separately at $1 per pound in both the Intro Space and the Intermediate/Advanced Space, so it varies based on how much you use. Clay prices may change as needed, with notice to members. Memberships are month-to-month with no long-term commitment, and at-will: either side can end it with two weeks' notice before the end of the month.

No outside clay, ever, including clay from the other studio. Doing so results in immediate membership termination.

Intro Space

$165/mo

1 shelf, 18" x 36"

  • 1 shelf, 18" x 36"
  • Low-fire clay & stable brush glazes
  • Kiln fired to Cone 04
  • 24/7 swipe access

This space's site used to live at throw247.com. That address now redirects here.

Apply for the Intro Space

Intermediate/Advanced Space

$195/mo

2 shelves, 18" x 36" each (72" total)

  • 2 shelves, 18" x 36" each (72" total)
  • Mid-fire clay & glazes
  • Two kilns fired to Cone 6
  • 24/7 swipe access

Members who've been in the Intro Space for 3+ months qualify for a $185/mo loyalty rate here instead of $195.

Apply for the Intermediate/Advanced Space
Cedric, a Claymore studio helper, on the studio floor in a clay-splattered apron

A small, tight knit community

We keep things intimate and can only take on so many members, so each studio stays calm and there's always room to work. The best way to see if it's a fit is to come tour a space.

Apply

Interested in having fun with clay... More?

Submit an application and we'll be in touch about getting you a spot. Tell us a little about your practice and how you like to work.

All members read and sign the studio rules and member agreement.

Select all that are likely for you.

We have rolling availability and can't always accommodate specific dates, but we'll do our best!

We'll reply by email.

FAQ

The basics, asked & answered.

Do you offer classes?

Not at Claymore. Classes, workshops, and private events happen at The Pottery Loop (@PotteryChicago). That's the place to go for the 6-week foundations course, a workshop, or booking a private event. Claymore is where you keep practicing afterward, so pick the Intro or Intermediate/Advanced space based on where you're at.

If I take a course at The Pottery Loop, do I automatically get access?

No. After you complete a course at The Pottery Loop, you'll be given the option to join the waitlist, or join directly if space is available. We don't offer dual course and open studio enrollment. Everyone in the Intro Space should be able to throw comfortably without supervision.

What's the difference between the two spaces?

The Intro Space uses low-fire clay and stable brush glazes, fired to Cone 04, built for members just off the 6-week course. The Intermediate/Advanced Space uses mid-fire clay and glazes, fired to Cone 6, for members with more confidence in their projects. Clay is billed at $1 per pound in either space. Clay prices may change as needed, with notice to members. No outside clay, ever, including clay from the other studio. Doing so results in immediate membership termination. Outside glazes may be used with written pre-approval.

How does kiln firing work?

Firings happen every week in both spaces: the Intermediate/Advanced Space fires every Monday, and the Intro Space fires every Thursday. Leave your work on the to-fire shelf with a tag and we'll load it on the next firing.

Where are you located?

We keep our exact addresses private for the safety of our 24/7 members. Request a tour and let us know which space you'd like to see. We'll confirm a time and share the address once it's locked in.

Can I tour first?

Yes, please do. Request a tour of either space and we'll set up a visit before you apply.

Every member reads and signs the studio rules before moving in. Read rules & agreement →

Firing schedule: the Intermediate/Advanced Space (Cone 6) fires every Monday, and the Intro Space (Cone 04) fires every Thursday.

See unloading history →

Ready to join?

Come see a space first. Request a tour and tell us which one, then send us an application.

Contact

Say hello.

Questions about either space, membership, or a one time class? Send us a note and we'll get back to you by email.

Prefer email? Reach us at claymorechicago@gmail.com.

We'll reply by email.

Run a production pottery business? We’re not open to production members right now, but you can leave your contact for when that changes.

Not open to production members right now.

We want to make sure studio resources stay balanced with the community, and we can’t support large scale operations in either space right now.

We’ll only use this to contact you about production memberships.