membership at black hound clay south

Our members at Black Hound Clay Studio have a diversity of backgrounds and experiences, from people with advanced degrees and decades of working in clay to people who have a few classes under their belt and want to continue to hone their skills. Our main criteria for membership is that you are fluent in the ceramic process from start to finish, from working in wet clay to glazing. We don’t require that members know how to fire their own work, but we do have kiln orientations and training if you want to learn!

We also expect you to be versed in safe ceramic studio practices, from using equipment correctly to cleaning up and reducing risk of silicosis. Candidates must also be comfortable working in a community space - all spaces at Black Hound are communal, with assigned shelves for storage of supplies and work in progress. Member orientations take place several times a month.

We have community-based financial aid available for members who need support in paying their membership dues. Please check out the Black Hound Member Community Support Fund.

If you have any questions regarding Membership, please email Membership Coordinator Marley Massey Parsons at Marley@Blackhoundclay.com.

CURRENT MEMBERSHIP AVAILABILITY

We are currently On a waitlist!

new applications are reviewed the first week of each month, excluding november & december.

Apply for Membership here!

Please note that applying by the deadline does not guarantee an immediate start to membership. Please email Membership Coordinator Marley Massey Parsons at Marley@Blackhoundclay.com with any questions.

LAST UPDATED 1/4/2025

MEMBER BENEFITS INCLUDE:

  • 24/7 Unlimited Studio Access via keypad code

  • Use of all equipment, including wheels, slab roller, extruder, work tables, bats, wareboards and plastic

  • 2500 square foot Dedicated members' area, including individual shelf storage

  • Use of twelve cone 6 studio glazes, oxides, wax resist, brushes, containers, etc.

  • Use of basic tools such as rolling pins, banding wheels, buckets, sponges, etc (members are expected to bring their own tools to the studio; we also have tools and tool kits available for sale)

  • Use of 2 members only electric kilns (firing fees are charged on a cubic inch basis and are billed separately from monthly member dues)

  • Reasonably priced firing fees

  • 25% off In Depth Classes at BHCS

  • Dedicated member classes and workshops

  • Opportunities to sell in the gallery shop, participate in shows, pop up pottery sales, member socials and other events hosted by the studio

MEMBERSHIP LEVELS AT BLACK HOUND CLAY south:

$112 per month: Half Shelf Membership

  • One 20” Deep x17” Wide x 14” High shelf space, plus shared overflow storage.

  • Best for a ceramicist who generates a small amount of work each month

$150 per month: One Shelf Membership

  • One 20” Deep x 34” Wide x 14” High shelf space, plus shared overflow storage.

  • Best for a ceramicist who generates a small amount of work each month

$198 per month: Two Shelf Membership

  • Two 20” Deep x 34” Wide Shelves, 28” high shelf space, plus shared overflow storage.

  • Best for a ceramicist who generates a small to medium amount of work each month and may need additional storage for work in progress, personal glazes or buckets

HOW APPLYING FOR MEMBERSHIP WORKS:

  • Upon application approval by the Director, you will be contacted by the Membership Coordinator to schedule your 1 hour safety orientation. You must attend member orientation prior to moving in possessions and getting the keypad code to the studio. New members must also read the membership handbook prior to orientation.

  • A security deposit of $100 is required before commencement of membership. This is refundable at the end of the membership term if 30 day notice is given, shelves are left empty and clean and all kiln invoices are paid.

  • 30 days notice is required to end membership or change level of membership.

Member programming

GLAZE REFRESH

This one hour workshop is a hands-on demonstration with Black Hound staff on successful glaze techniques, troubleshooting issues that may land you on the problem shelf as well as learning how to read and understand Black Hound's glaze test tile board. Part of this workshop will be a question and answer session, so come armed with your glazing questions!

KILN INFORMATION SESSION

This workshop is an information session focused on electric kilns, firings and what goes on behind the scenes in the kiln room at Black Hound Clay Studio. We will talk about the anatomy of an electric kiln and how it works. You'll learn about cones, kiln shelves, kiln furniture, kiln wash, loading methods and the differences between bisque and glaze firings. There will be time for a question and answer session, so come armed with your kiln and firing related questions! Please note: if you are interested in potentially firing your own kilns, you are still required to take our separate Member Kiln Orientation/Training.

SLIP & COLORS

In this one hour info session, members will learn the basics of how to use slip to add texture, color and design to their in-progress pieces. We will also talk about the safety and process of mixing colors using pigments to create a wider range of colors.

RECLAIM REFRESH

This one hour workshop is a hands-on demonstration with Black Hound staff on reclaiming clay techniques. From bone dry to slip, we will discuss the best practices for reclaiming clay safely and easily so you are able to reuse your clay over and over again! Reclaimed clay from the studio bins is FREE of charge as long as you take the time to process it yourself in a timely manner. Part of this workshop will be a question and answer session, so come armed with your reclaim questions!

KILN ORIENTATION

Members making large work, large quantities of work, delicate work, or work under strict deadlines are strongly encouraged to fire their own kilns. This orientation is for those BHCS South members who would like to sign out and fire their own kilns, and must complete an in-person kiln orientation and training with the Studio Technician.

UNDERGLAZE & SLIP TRANSFERS

Underglazes and Slip are a great tool to achieve vibrant color and detailed designs on your pieces. In this workshop, attendees will learn how to create patterns and/or designs to then make into transfer sheets. The instructor will guide you on how to transfer these onto 2D and 3D forms, as well as, discuss various styles of transfer methods.