Ceramics Classes
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Adults (18 or older) may register for classes & workshops at Chases Garage. WE DO NOT OFFER CLASSES FOR CHILDREN/TEENS.
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Our classes are offered in 8-week or 10-week sessions, meeting once a week for the duration of either 8 weeks or 10 weeks.
The Introduction to Wheel class is a 6-week session that meets once a week for six weeks.
We have four sessions per year:
Winter (January-March)
Spring (April-June)
Summer (July-September)
Fall (October-December)
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Currently enrolled students receive early registration access for the upcoming session, which means that if they decide to continue, no new spots will become available.
Open spots are limited and only become available if a current student chooses not to register. We don’t have an official waitlist because open spots are infrequent, and we won’t know what class will have an available spot until early access registration concludes. Sometimes, five spots open up, and sometimes, only one.
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Unless otherwise stated in the class listing, classes meet for a duration of three hours.
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Prices vary based on the specific course. Most 10-week sessions cost $400.00.
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Classes are scheduled for the following days and times.
Mondays
1:00pm-4:00pm
6:00pm-9:00pm
Tuesdays
1:00pm-4:00pm
6:00pm-9:00pm
Wednesdays
10:00am-1:00pm
Thursdays
10:00pm-1:00pm
5:00pm-8:00pm
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Subscribe to our mailing list or follow us on Instagram @chasesgarage.
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Class registration grants you exclusive access to our studio. We do not permit outside visitors, guests, friends, or family members to enter and work in our studio.
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We do not prorate classes or provide makeup classes.
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Total Beginner
Someone with no experience in clay or someone who took just one class in high school or college.
Beginner
Someone is still learning to wedge, throw, and hand-build. They need to learn more to work independently and require help from the instructor. They are still mastering the basic steps of hand building, throwing, and glazing. Beginners typically have taken at least 1-3 classes already.
Seasoned Beginner
Someone who has the ability to wedge clay is familiar with general terminology and the basic steps for throwing and handbuilding. Seasoned beginners can create basic hand-built or thrown forms and feel comfortable practicing independently. They have an understanding of basic glazing techniques but still need instruction from teachers and hands-on help. Typically, seasoned beginners have taken at least 3 to 5 classes already.
Intermediate
Someone who can wedge, throw, hand-build, and glaze independently. Intermediate students can create a variety of forms, including bowls, cups, vases, and plates. They are still learning how to make their work lighter and are honing skills such as consistently throwing and trimming, as well as throwing larger or more intricate forms. They are interested in exploring more and are beginning to find their voice and style. They can watch a demo and then attempt it independently, though they may have some questions and need guidance. Typically, intermediate students have been taking classes for one year.
Advanced
Advanced students have honed their skills and are starting to create a consistent body of work (focusing on style, form, etc.). They are able to watch a demo and then do it independently. They are knowledgeable and familiar with creating complicated/multipart forms and confident in glazing with a variety of techniques. Typically, advanced students have been taking classes for 1.5-3 years.
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Student Membership is an additional option for students enrolled in the concurrent session’s multi-week ceramics class.
Student membership = open studio time / the ability to make work at home during the current class session. You must be currently enrolled in a class to gain access to open studio time / the ability to make work at home.
Eligible, currently enrolled students who would like access to open studio time or who would like to make work at home are required to become a STUDENT MEMBER.
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All ceramic work is subject to a $0.025 per cubic inch charge, which is also known as firing fees.
Students: Some classes may include a certain amount of cubic inches (firing fees) with registration. The specified amount will be automatically deducted from your quarterly total. Students may produce work totaling more than the allotted cubic inches; additional work will be subject to our $0.025 per cubic inch firing fee.
All firing fees will be invoiced quarterly
Firing fees pay for the following:
Glaze materials, the time it takes staff to make/test glazes, loading/firing/unloading glaze kilns, utilities/propane to fire the glaze kiln, gas kiln maintenance/repairs, gas kiln shelf, kiln furniture maintenance/replacement, mixing and testing recycled “mystery” glazes, etc.
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We stock Laguna #900, Laguna BMix10, Sheffield T3, and Sheffield #42
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25lbs of clay costs $35.00 + ME state sales tax
Unless otherwise specified, class registration does not include clay.
Class + Workshop Registration
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Currently enrolled students have early access to registration for the following session. This means that if they choose to continue in their current class, no new spots will become available.
Typically, public registration for the next session opens two weeks before the current session ends. We have four sessions a year:
Winter (January-March)
Spring (April-June),
Summer (July-September)
Fall (October-December).
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Once on the individual class listing, click the “Sign Up” button (this will take you to a checkout page)
Follow the prompts to check out. Once you have fully checked out, we will “fulfill your order” on our end. After that, you should receive an order confirmation (receipt) and automatically be registered for the class. If you have not received a receipt, the checkout process was not completed. (Email us if you are having issues.)
Registered students will receive a “Welcome” email one week before the start date of their class.
To ensure you will receive important information about the class, please add ceramics@chasesgarage.com (for ceramics classes + workshops) or info@chasesgarage.com (for printmaking classes + workshops) to your email contact list
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Adults (18 and older) may register for classes and workshops at Chases Garage. Chases reserves the right to cancel courses, substitute instructors, change course times, and limit enrollment. Students agree to abide by all rules and policies of the studios. Chases assumes no responsibility for any loss, personal or physical. By enrolling, students consent to being photographed in classes (unless informed otherwise in writing). These photographs may be used by Chases in future promotional efforts without specific written permission from the students.
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100% Refund (minus a $25 administrative fee): The student must withdraw at least 6 business days prior to the start of the class.
50% Refund (minus a $25 administrative fee): Issued when a student withdraws 5 business days or fewer from the start of the class.
NO REFUNDS ARE GIVEN ONCE A CLASS BEGINS.
If Chases cancels a course, registered students will be notified, and all fees will be fully refunded. Classes that do not meet the minimum enrollment requirements will be canceled, usually two to four business days before the class starts.
Communication + Website
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Sometimes, email servers automatically bounce our emails to your junk or spam folders. To ensure you receive important information about this class, please add info@chasesgarage.com to your email contact list.
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Subscribe to our mailing list found at the bottom of our website.
Another way to stay updated on what’s happening at Chases Garage is to follow us on Instagram or regularly visit our website.
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Email is our preferred communication method! Our office hours are irregular, and we are usually unable to answer phone calls. Please refrain from messaging us on Instagram or Facebook.
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Pages containing specific information for our current renters, members, and students are password protected. These pages include our studio calendars, kiln schedule, clay purchasing page, resources, and more.
Printmaking Memberships
Fill out an application.
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Individuals interested in membership must complete at least two printmaking classes at Chases Garage or possess the skills to work independently in our printmaking studio.
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Printmaking memberships cost $160.00 per month.
All memberships require a 6-month commitment.
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Members can access the printmaking studio 24/7 and may work at any time outside scheduled workshop and class times.
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-36”x60” Conrad French Tool Etching Press
-Non-Toxic Aquatint Spray Booth Max Plate Size 18x20”
-Convection Oven for Big Grounds Hot Plate up to 18x14”
-Glass Inking Tables, Dry Working Area, Silkscreen Tables
-Utility Wash-Out Shower & Sink/Tub
-Silkscreen Darkroom
-Vertical Ferric Bath Holds up to x2 24x18” Copper Plates
-Epson 1400 Printer for 13x19” Silkscreen Films (ink not provided)
-Communal Space - Mat Cutter, Light Table, Copy Printer, Extra Working Space
-Drying Rack 48x30”
-Flat File & Bin Storage for duration of membership
-Studio Supplies: Emulsion, Strip-E-Doo Remover, Squeegees, Cleaning Supplies, Newsprint
-Silkscreen Darkroom
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-Ink
-Gloves
-Paper towels
-Tape
-Paper
-Silkscreen films
-Epson photo printer ink