Welcome to Work In Progress Art Studio. This set of guidelines are provided for the safety of you, our staff, and all of the working artists who use the studio. These policies also help us to create a positive working atmosphere for our community.
To participate in any studio activities, you must sign the waiver included in class / workshop registration or membership registration. You will be held accountable for adhering to the policies outlined in this guide.
Studio Access & Liability
- The studio is open Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 5:00p to 9:00p and Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00a to 4:00p.
- Firing fees are calculated by the cubic inch for items less than 15 cubic inches and then a flat rate by size after that. Fees are payable through the membership portal.
- Only registered students and active studio members may use the studio and equipment. Members are not permitted to host their own classes or private lessons in the studio.
- Safety guidelines are in place to protect all members, staff, and visitors. See ‘Health & Safety’ section for more information. Work In Progress is not responsible for any accidents or incidents resulting from improper and/or unsafe use of the studio.
- Work In Progress is not responsible for lost, stolen, or misplaced items. Please be sure you check all areas of the studio where you may have worked before leaving for the day.
- Children under the age of 16 may not use the potter’s wheels.
- Work In Progress may dispose of your work, tools and equipment if it is not cleared from your shelf or locker at the time of your membership expiration or class completion date. Work In Progress is not responsible for promises made by anyone else to safeguard these items if your membership has lapsed. It is your sole responsibility to make sure your space is cleaned out so that Work In Progress can offer the space to the next round of students/members.
Community and Studio Conduct
- Any disrespect, harm, or harassment to Work In Progress staff, instructors, employees, interns, studio members, students, etc. is not acceptable or tolerated. Work In Progress has the right to refuse access to any person(s) at any time.
- Please respect all artists of the studio. Do not disrupt them while they are working, use their tools, or touch their work/possessions without their permission.
- Please be courteous and accommodating of any classes taking place in the studio. If a staff member asks you to clean up your work area to prepare for a class, please do so quickly and efficiently. Do not disturb instructors or students and try to keep noise to a minimum. Students enrolled in classes shall have the instructor’s full attention.
- No smoking of any kind in the studio or within 10 yards of premises.
- Please practice cell phone courtesy when in the studio and take any phone conversations outside.
- The studio promotes the sharing of best practices and an overall community appreciation of ceramic work. Please be respectful of intellectual property and do not photograph or otherwise appropriate any work, procedures, methods, or likewise of any studio members, staff, or guests.
- In the case that human error or a ceramic error happens, please be considerate to staff and fellow artists. Work In Progress staff work very hard to provide the most professional studio atmosphere possible. Staff are willing to discuss these situations in a professional manner. Hostile, accusatory communication is not acceptable.
- In the event that staff, members, and/or students break or damage any personal property, including ceramic work, they must leave a note for the owner and we will do our best to notify you.
- Please refrain from creating a negative environment for other people in the space. Staff have the right to ask any person to leave if they are negatively affecting the studio environment and/or safety.
General Cleaning Guidelines
All members and students are responsible for cleaning up after themselves in accordance with the following guidelines.
- Common areas such as the glaze station, wedging tables, sink area, etc. should be wiped down and cleaned with fresh water immediately after use.
- Do not let clay dry out on surfaces– clean up your work area right away with water and a sponge.
- Do not let large amounts of water sit on table tops and other wood surfaces as it will warp the wood.
- Beware and limit any studio actions that create dust, as airborne particles can be hazardous to all of our health. Sweeping of trimmings is allowed but must be done slowly and carefully to avoid kicking up dust.
- When finished using a wheel, ensure that it has been switched off before cleaning.
- Wash all community tools, buckets, bats (including the rims), wareboards, etc. and put away prior to leaving.
- Check your throwing buckets for any tools before dumping into the reclaim bins/sink.
- Glaze tools such as whisks, spatulas, and tongs, must be thoroughly cleaned between glazes and after use. Contamination between glaze buckets can ruin an entire batch of glaze and disrupt use for other artists in the studio. If a glaze batch is ruined as a result of improper use, artists may be charged for the materials and the time it takes to replace it.
- There is ABSOLUTELY no clay or glaze material to be washed in the bathroom sink. Use the studio sink in the community area for filling buckets, cleaning, and anything clay/glaze-related. Wash any clay/glaze from your hands before entering the bathroom.
- Final cleaning should be done using fresh water and a clean sponge. Using dirty sponges can lead to the spreading of thinner layers of clay-water which evaporate and leave dust.
- Please dispose of trash and recycling in the appropriate cans.
Tools & Storage
- All provided equipment and community tools are shared among the studio and should be looked after, cleaned, and returned after use.
- Members and students are responsible for providing their own tools if they require something the studio doesn’t have.
- You may use the community shelves, but work should be ready to be fired within a one-week timeframe.
- Members/students working on large-scale work will need to provide for transporting work if they are unable to move it unaided by others.
Handling of Clay and Glaze Materials
- Only wet sanding is permitted indoors. Please take all dry sanding outside and away from the windows.
- All outside materials including glazes, etc must be approved by studio staff for proper use and storage. Clay must be approved by the studio to ensure safe reclaim and firing practices.
- When working with wet glazes and stains, remember that some colorants can be absorbed through the skin. Please be sure to clean hands thoroughly before using other parts of the studio or consider using disposable gloves.
Kilns & Firing
- Never open, touch, or unload any kilns without the permission of Work In Progress.
- Firing schedules are subject to change according to the quantity of work that is ready to fire and the overall happenings of Work In Progress. We will do our best to maintain a visible schedule on the website.
- Cracks and defects in greenware and glazed pieces will not be loaded into the kilns. Defective pots will be returned to your shelf with an accompanying note.
- No-name pieces without an appropriate firing slip or signature will not be fired.
- Do not store work that is visibly wet, or not ready for firing, on the bisque/glaze racks. We cannot be held responsible for damage to this work.
- Please be aware that kiln firings can have unpredictable results and, as such, we cannot guarantee the final product. Damage and/or unwanted results during the entire loading, firing, and unloading process are not the responsibility of the studio.
- If it is determined that a member’s piece is the cause of any damage to the kilns, shelves, or any other kiln furniture, that member may be charged for the replacement of the items and/or the time it takes to clean them, a minimum of $5 per incident.
Health and Safety Rules
- Proper attire, eye protection (reading glasses are not acceptable), dust masks, and rubber/work gloves should be worn when working in the studio. The studio is not responsible for supplying these items.
- Closed-Toe shoes are required when operating pottery wheels.
- No smoking of any kind in the studio or on the premises.
- Do not eat in the glazing or work areas.
- Do not touch the kilns.
- Silica dust is extremely dangerous. All measures possible should be taken to minimize the creation of excess clay dust throughout the studio, including:
- Sweeping of trimmings is allowed but must be done slowly and carefully with the large squeegee to avoid kicking up dust.
- All dry sanding is to be done outside and away from windows.
- Spills must be cleaned up immediately and staff must be informed of any potentially unsafe conditions.
- Glaze can be an eye irritant. Wear goggles/protective glasses. If you get a glaze in your eyes, find a member of staff or first aid kit for saline rinse.
- Non-Studio Glazes / Purchased Commercial Glaze: Must be approved by studio staff prior to using and stored in a personal space or taken home each day.
- A first aid kit is available in the office.