Pottery Studio Information
Meet Our Pottery Department!
Our pottery department consists of 2 Studio Coordinators,
8 Instructors, and many Pottery Assistants who are all working artists!
Our space consists of 3 unique studio spaces for glazing, teaching, and an
exclusive studio for pottery access passholders.
Kiln Unit Allotments
Starting in Fall 2023, the pottery department will be instituting a kiln unit allotment.
Tri-weekly scheduled kiln firings for both students and access pass participants and a generous kiln unit allotment are included in the cost of course.
Participants exceeding this allotment during the class period will be charged 3 cents per kiln unit over their allotment (1 cent per bisque firing, 2 cents per glaze firings).
Please see allotments below (in cubic inches):
6-week class with instruction: 3250 units
7-week class with instruction: 3792 units
8-week class with instruction: 4333 units
10-week class with instruction: 5417 units
Standard Pottery Access: 6500 units
Short format Pottery Access (December only): 3250 units
*please note, if you are enrolled in a class and it is extended due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances,
your kiln allotment remains the same as your original length of class*
For more information regarding the kiln unit allotment, or your individual allotment, please email studio coordinators Erin White or Heather Hartz-Roberge
Kiln Fundraiser Update
In 2023, The Arts Center for the Capital Region conducted a fundraiser to replace our 2 Skutt model KM-1027 kilns, which have gotten a lot of use firing to cone 5 (2167 degrees F) multiple times a week since 1999. In April 2023, we met our fundraising goal and were able to purchase a new Bailey oval kiln with double the kiln units of the pervious 2 combined. We expect the new kiln to arrive in August 2023. We have continued to raise funds for additional supplies, repairs, and maintenance within the pottery department. We greatly appreciate any additional donations!
Staff & Instructors
Erin White, Pottery Studio Coordinator & Instructor
Erin White has over 25 years of experience making functional wheel-thrown pottery for the kitchen and table. Erin studied Ceramics at Kalamazoo College and the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts in Michigan before attending classes at the Arts Center of the Capital Region beginning in 2007. She aims to be a patient and enthusiastic instructor who considers the individual learning styles and goals of her students.
Erin teaches Wheel-Throwing Basics, hosts pottery Crafty Hour, and offers a few free Tips classes per semester.
Heather Hartz-Roberge, Pottery Studio Assistant Coordinator & Instructor
Heather graduated in 2020 from SUNY Buffalo State with her BFA in ceramics. Focusing mainly on thrown work, she uses surface design to bring her illustrations and stories to life on functional forms.
Heather teaches Intermediate Surface Design, Intro to Ceramic Sculpture, and Intro to Hand Building.
Linda Allen, Instructor
Linda Allen has been a part-time potter for over 40 years, her work is primarily wheel-thrown functional forms, but also hand-built forms. She has worked with both mid and high-fire clays and used many different surface decorative techniques to produce unique, one-of-a-kind pottery. She studied under David MacDonald at Syracuse University and has previously taught pottery at the University of California at Davis Crafts Center.
Linda teaches Introduction to Pottery Intensive, Intro to Wheel Throwing, and hosts Crafty Hour.
Natalie Kossack, Instructor
Natalie has had a passion for ceramics from a young age and learned to throw at various community studios throughout the country. Before moving to New York, she taught pottery classes in Baltimore, MD and has been teaching at the Arts Center since 2019. She loves to experiment with surface texture through carving and slip application and hopes to inspire students to try new techniques.
Natalie teaches Beginning & Intermediate Wheel, and hosts Crafty Hour.
Sarah Pratt, Instructor
Sarah has been throwing pots for over 10 years and loves the process of using clay to make beautiful and thoughtfully-designed pieces for everyday use. She has held various positions in the Pottery Department over the years, including Studio Assistant and Studio Coordinator, but is happiest in her current role as Instructor, introducing adults to the joys of making pottery. She strives to teach beginners in a positive way that fosters creativity and encourages exploration, experimentation, and fun.
Sarah teaches Beginning Wheel.
Cassie Kennedy, Instructor
Cassie is ceramic artist and certified yoga instructor, teaching mindful pottery classes full time in Lenox, MA. Although originally drawn to the functional aspect of ceramics, her work has evolved to explore the more sculptural and textural nature of clay at a larger scale. She enjoys the playful aspects and infinite possibilities of the medium, always looking for a way to challenge herself and push her skills to the next level.
Cassie hosts Crafty Hour, teaches summer camps, and offers various themed workshops.
Katherine Tholl, Instructor
Colleen Skiff, Instructor
Colleen has a BFA in fine arts and education (Wilkes University), MA in art education (University of Scranton) and certificates in art therapy (Marywood University) and educational administration (Massachusetts of Liberal Arts). Primarily a painter (oil, watercolor) of portraits and landscapes for many years, Colleen has spent the last 25 years focusing on learning as much about clay as possible to bring interesting project ideas to her students, and to expand her own artistic expression. She has a strong interest in alternative firings (wood, raku, saggar, soda and salt) primarily with cone 6 and 10 firings trying every combination of glazes she can think of to produce interesting effects. She is also currently adding hand painted images to her clay forms. Upon retiring from teaching in public school, Colleen realized that she really missed being with the students.
Colleen teaches summer camps, various adult classes & workshops and hosts Crafty Hour.
Assistants
Mary Huls-Swartz, Pottery Assistant & Open Studio Monitor
Mary became interested in pottery in 2015 and joined Erin White’s class at the Arts Center where she had previously taken oil painting and drawing classes. Pottery was a new experience for her. She fell in love with all of it and she continued to attend classes and learn and grow in this wonderful medium.
Terri Lukacko, Pottery Assistant & Open Studio Monitor
Terri has been taking classes at the Arts Center for about 20 years, mostly in pottery but also drawing and watercolor. After taking many pottery classes, she had learned enough about how to help out in the studio to become a studio assistant. Although she lives in the Albany suburbs, she enjoys having a reason to enjoy Troy and hang out with students and artists and new friends.
Tom Forster, Pottery Assistant
Tom has been doing pottery for about 25 years now. He enjoys working at the art center where every day there is a learning experience.
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Don Mccrary, Pottery Assistant
Don began his journey in ceramics at the Art Center in the summer of 2022. Courses in throwing, sculpture hand building and surface design have fueled his desire to create both functional and sculptural pieces.
Nancy McKenna, Pottery Assistant
Nancy was introduced to the clay workforce while a high school student in the Hudson Valley, then resumed study with instructors at the Arts Center approximately twelve years ago. She incorporates nature themes in her work with underglazes and functional form. She especially enjoys encouraging and supporting students new to the mud world and collaborating with her fellow assistants to keep the studio workable for all.
Jigisha Patel, Pottery Assistant
Jigisha discovered her passion for working with clay when she started classes at the Arts Center in the summer of 2017. Since then, she has been applying her style to create everyday use pottery, such as mugs, jars, bowls, etc.
Antonio Romeo, Pottery Assistant
Tony’s love of pottery began in college with an industrial ceramics class. After pursuing another career path, his family gifted him a second hand potter’s wheel, which led him to begin taking classes at the Arts Center, where he enjoys great satisfaction in seeing the artistic talent in the Capital Region. He now makes pieces his family uses every day for their meals and accommodates requests from friends and family with good success. He loves working with his fellow volunteers and encourages you to get creative at the ACCR.
Kazuo Joe Katagiri, Pottery Assistant
Joe began throwing in 1973, used a kick wheel in ’75 & ,’76, returned to throwing in the 90’s at the Art Center and started making glazes. He does pottery because it’s more than a hobby that keeps on giving; and your pieces are a part of you that will last.
Kayla Simanek, Pottery Assistant
Kayla took her first class at the Art Center in 2022, but has been wheel throwing for over a decade. They enjoy making functional pieces, especially mugs. Having moved to the area just a few years ago from the Midwest, Kayla is excited to meet other local potters and learn the behind-the-scenes of studio operations.
Alison Wasserbauer, Pottery Assistant
Alison first started taking classes at the Arts Center of the Capital Region in the Fall of 2017. She began working as a studio assistant in early 2020, and enjoys focusing on the surface design of pottery.
