Effective immediately, masks will no longer be required in the studio. Please refer to the Board memo dated 3/31/2022 for details on what COVID safety protocols remain in place.
Thank you, Barbara!
A HUGE thanks to Barbara Reeley for sharing her time, wisdom and stories with those of us lucky enough to score a seat at her workshop on November 6! For those of you who missed it, another HUGE thank you to Barbara Costanzo for taking video and staying up past her bedtime to edit and post these three discrete videos:
Clay Mysteries: A Potter's Journey
Making Miniatures and a Salter
Throwing a Large Pot
Can you tell from the smiles on all our faces that we had a terrific time learning, connecting and, of course, eating?
Welcome, Jamie!
Please join us in welcoming Jamie DiCesare to the working member team! Jamie’s been with Waterbrook since the beginning and is excited to get started in her new role. She knows her way around the studio and will bring enthusiasm and experience to our day-to-day operations. Her schedule will also expand WPS hours to include Monday hours. Check the contact page for details!
New COVID protocol starts October 1!
As of October 1, 2021, and based on updated CDC recommendations, the WPS Board has decided to reinstitute mask-wearing at all times in the studio (whether one is vaccinated or not), and has reduced the maximum number of people who can be in the studio at any one time to ten to ensure each person’s ability to maintain 6 feet of social distance.
The most recent guidance from the CDC given new evidence on the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant currently circulating in the United States, is for fully vaccinated people to wear a mask in public indoor settings.
The Sign Up Genius form has been modified to reflect the change in policy. We encourage you to check and see how full the studio is so that you can plan your visit according to your needs.
To read the comprehensive WPS COVID-19 Protocol, click here.
Welcome new working members, Eunseon & Kim!
Hop over to our “About” page and meet our newest working members, Eunseon Park and Kim Lange. The working member team could not be more excited to have them both on board.
Also, a big THANK YOU to Matthias Gaige and Emily Musial for their working member service to the WPS community. We’re sorry to see them go but are so grateful for all their past hard work keeping the studio running day to day. We are so lucky that when one of our members steps away, another steps forward.
Welcome, Eunseon and Kim!
Slab Roller Tutorial w/ Mary Pat Hopper
In case you missed it, check out this short video on how to property use the studio’s NorthStar slab roller. Shout out to Mary Pat for sharing her time and expertise and Barbara Costanzo for her expert video making skills!
Don't miss the 2021 Annual Meeting!
Annual Membership Meeting Sunday June 13 at 5pm.
Join us for a virtual Zoom meeting for the year in review! Agenda includes project and program updates from Board members and Committees, information about the budget for the upcoming year, and warm welcomes for our incoming Board.
A Zoom link to the meeting with an agenda will be sent by email to all members by Friday. Keep checking your emails for updates!
New COVID policy effective 5/25!
Effective immediately, the studio will now be open to 12 members at a time. Here’s the memo that was emailed to member on May 24, 2021.
Dear Members,
This past week, the CDC announced that people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no longer need to wear face coverings in
most public settings; as of May 19th, New York State adopted the CDC guidance.
In accordance with CDC and NYS guidance, Waterbrook no longer requires face coverings in the studio for members who are vaccinated.
Unvaccinated individuals, under both CDC and NYS guidance, must continue to wear face coverings in all public/communal settings.
More great news: We will now expand the sign up slots to 12. We are still required to maintain the 6 foot social distancing practices. The sign ups also allow you to see how full the studio is to help plan your visit according to your needs.
Even with this great news, while at the studio, we hope you will reach out to others in the area near you regarding comfort level with being maskless, as we share our community with persons with medical needs and risks.
We appreciate each member for your care and consideration of each other over the past 15 months. Thank you for keeping our studio safe!
Studio closed until 2pm on 5/28!
The LED lighting upgrade originally scheduled for Monday, 5/24 has been rescheduled for Friday 5/28 in the AM. We expect the electrician to be done by 2pm at which time studio operations will resume.
Questions? Contact Matthias at operationschair@waterbrookpotters.com.
Meet the 2021 WPS Board Candidates!
It’s election season and WPS has a full slate of candidates for the 2021-2022 term. You can learn a little bit about each of them on the 2021 Board Candidate document sent out to all members on May 17.
To get to know them even better, mark the virtual Meet the Candidates forum on your calendar. Link will be emailed prior to the meeting.
Have a question for one or more of the candidates? Email your question to Theresa Zubretsky, tzubrock@gmail.com.
Hope to see you there!
Layering Colored Slip with Mary LaFleur
ICYMI, here's something to make your day! Mary LeFleur shares her special talents demonstrating how to layer colored slips. And thanks to Barbara Costanzo, recording technician extraordinaire, it's available for all of us to enjoy!
Another wonderful learning experience brought to you by the WPS Education Committee.
Watch here!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDdewgPyQ-M
Laguna Pro-X Spray Booth Raffle!
Time to expand your home studio? Take a chance on winning a spray booth! Waterbrook Potters Studio is selling a limited number of raffle tickets for a Laguna Pro-X spray booth equipped with a fan and stand. Flyer with raffle ticket purchase instructions is attached.
Learn more about the spray booth here: https://www.lagunaclay.com/spraybooths
If you have questions, contact Cherie Bramley at Mintzgirl@gmail.com.
Zoom Glaze Workshop Sun 2/21
Ever felt disappointed that your glaze work doesn’t come out the way you wanted? It’s a rare glaze fire that doesn’t deliver a surprise or two, but this workshop with Don Seymour of Clayscapes Pottery can help take some of the guesswork out of the process. So join the fun on Sunday, February 21 from 10am - 11:30am. A 1-hour demo will be followed by a 5-minute break and a 25-minute Q&A.
Registration is only $20 and all Waterbrook Studio participants will receive a 20% discount on their next Clayscapes Order! What a deal!
Advance registration is required by calling Megan @ Clayscapes, 315-424-6868. Workshop fee due at time of registration. Deadline is Friday, February 19. (Clayscapes closes at 5pm on Fridays).
New COVID-19 Protocol starts February 1
Due to the recent spike in the local COVID 19 infection rates and the ease of transmission, the Waterbrook Board has decided to strengthen safety protocols to better prevent community spread. These changes are consistent with CDC and NYS Department of Health guidelines, and will take effect Feb 1, 2021.
All members should have received an email with a request to review the new protocol, sign that you agree/disagree with the terms, and submit the completed form to Waterbrook. Only members who have agreed to the terms in writing will be allowed into the studio as of Monday, February 1.
Thank you for your cooperation as we try to reduce risk of COVID for all our members.
In case you missed it. . .
If you missed the workshop on Saturday, we've got video! Susan demonstrates sgraffito and surface design on her nature-themed pottery. . .beautiful work from a talented and generous WPS member. Thanks, Susan! And thanks to Barbara Costanzo for recording and editing. Watch, learn and enjoy!
Subscribe to Waterbrook’s YouTube Channel so you don’t miss anything. While you’re there, check out Lee Glasheen’s demo on applying decals.
All member conference call, January 10 @ 4pm!
WPS opened its doors in mid-January 2020. As our one-year anniversary nears, all members are invited to join a conference call meeting Sunday January 10th 2021 at 4pm. Look for an invite via email this coming week. We’ll be giving a full report on all the new developments. . .and there are lots of them!
If you have specific questions you’d like to be addressed on this call, please email them in advance by January 5, to board@waterbrookpotters.com.
Welcome, Emily!
Emily Musial has joined our working member team! Emily is a performance, martial, and visual artist from Troy, NY. With varied experience in art making and managing, Emily is excited to bring her skills to WPS and the clay community of the Capital Region and beyond. Follow her ceramics process on instagram at @em_ _ceramics and emilymusial.com!
Meet our working members!
WPS is excited to welcome Diana Bechdol and Toan Tran as our newest working members! They bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to WPS and expand our working member team to four, under the leadership of Operations Manager, Matthias Gaige. WPS working members are the backbone of studio day-to-day operations, keeping the kilns firing, the equipment operating and the space clean and safe. Learn more about Diana, Toan and all our working members on the About page.
Classes starting week of Oct 11. . .register now!
In-person pottery classes are starting soon! Hand building and wheel throwing classes with experienced teachers start the week of October 11 for six weekly sessions. Check out the flyer for details and share with friends and family!
Empty Bowls 2020 @ Troy Waterfront Farmers Market!
Collar City Clay Guild is gearing up for their 15th Annual Empty Bowls fundraiser to support local food pantries. While the event can’t be held in its traditional way, the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market has generously offered to host a booth where the Guild can sell locally made bowls on October 3, 10 and 17.
Your help is needed! Each bowl you make and donate to the cause will raise $20 which is enough to provide 125 pounds of food. So, please,. . .make bowls. Spread the word and share the dates with friends and family. Volunteer to help staff the tables during the market. Come on down to the market and choose a bowl made by a local potter to gift or keep. Questions? Email Beth Joslin @ joslins@earthlink.net.