Mudflat Pottery School

My hubs and I drive by Mudflat every day on the way to and from Sullivan. Every time we would pass last year he would say he wanted to make something there. Well, I surprised him with a Date Night class for Christmas and he was thrilled! We went in late January and it was awesome!
Our instructor, Kate, was wonderful — thorough, clear, patient, friendly, warm, encouraging. We were total newbs but she made us feel completely comfortable and confident. The class was 2 hours so she gave us a quick demo and just let us play/​learn by doing for 2 hours. It was really great because I felt like I got enough guidance but also the space to be creative and find my own comfort zone. At the end of the class we got to pick our favorite creation to keep. We left them at Mudflat and Kate dried and glazed them. Three weeks later we got an email that our bowls were ready for pick up. I LOVE mine! It came out so beautifully and every time I look at it I remember an awesome experience! I would go back to take any class they offer.

I studied and did ceramics at Mudflat from 2008 until 2013. So I had experienced the old facility before the fantastic new studios opened at 81 Broadway. I found the teachers wonderful, patient, talented, and experienced. The fees are very reasonable compared with similar facilities and faculty. After working in ceramics from 2002 to 2013, I have shifted to watercolor painting so that I can work at home, useful as I am now 77. Otherwise I would be enjoying the atmosphere, equipment, fellow students and faculty at Mudflat.

I wish I had done more research into studios before I spent the crazy amount of money for classes at Mudflat.
Pros: great facility and I was lucky enough to have an amazing teacher for my first ever beginner wheel class. Lots of glazes to choose from! Love the open studio sale twice a year!
Cons: although it was a beginner class, I was one of only two actual beginners in the class. Most other students there had taken the class at least twice already. I definitely felt a tad out of place. Also, parking is AWFUL in that area. Everything remotely close to the studio is permit only or meters (that run until 8pm) and the closest free parking was 10 blocks away at the Stop & Shop. If I were taking an evening class I wouldn’t have felt safe walking that far alone. I applied for the scholarship my first class and received it, however, compared to other studios I was still paying more than I needed to. When I decided to take the beginner class for a second time, I was not eligible for any discount and also could not get into the awesome teacher’s class… Took an evening class and did not like the instruction for that one. I ended up just coming on my own during open studio hours and so didn’t learn much that semester. Also, I made the mistake of coming for studio time on a day that actually wasn’t designated as «open studio time» even though the facility was open and a few people working (I live in the south shore and am going thru chemo so my brain just didn’t remember what day it was). I was just about to glaze two pieces of work and then leave when I was rudely told to «Leave. You don’t belong here» by a resident artist. I tried to reason with the woman and she just interrupted me and proceeded to be a huge b*tch about me being there. I feel I should mention that I had just paid the last portion of my tuition downstairs right before that. There was no need to be rude.
Overall, I am not going back to this studio. I know many people who enjoy it, however, I did not have such a great experience here.

I started taking an Advanced Beginner Wheel Throwing Class a few weeks ago, and can’t say enough about the studio.
It’s fabulous!
The staff, instructors and facility are top notch.
I’m really looking forward for my first round of work getting fired and to get into glazing.
I am also hoping to attend one of the many evening potluck dinner artist lectures.

Mudflat is great for hobbists! Great people, nice place. Drawbacks: one shelf of storage per person, can’t make your own glazes, a little crowded at times, limited hours. If you live a busy life, but want to work a couple days in the studio, Mudflat is the place!!! They also have a limited number of private spaces.