Workshops & Friday Night Events

Our workshops enrich the Ruby's community by providing a forum for both outside and in-house artists to share their art-making process. We host several workshops each year and they are typically held on Sunday mornings. Past presenters include Vince Montague, Dick Lumaghi, and Miki Shim. 

Friday Night Lights are evening events where community members or invited artists give slideshow presentations about their clay adventures, including residency programs, travels abroad and fun local projects. These often include a demo. 

Email your workshop questions to workshop@rubysclaystudio.org

Upcoming Workshop:

Guinomi and Chawan Workshop: Hands-on Workshop with Yukiko Watanabe

Sunday March 2nd, 10am-4pm

Fee: $160*

Limit: 12 students**

This full-day workshop takes participants on a cultural journey of Japanese ceramic history, geology and firing technologies. Experience a unique opportunity to learn about 'Teaism' philosophies that permeate Japanese ways of life, while creating your own Guinomi and Chawan to fit your hands.

The workshop includes an informative lecture, hands-on making and homemade Japanese lunch. 

Yuki will demo and explain: Shaping techniques (tebineri/hand shaping, kurinuki), function and shape relationships, foot shaping and surface/landscape design, as well as guidance for glazing*. Participants will hand build a chawan and guinomi and work on creating a surface decoration that speaks to their artistry. The day ends with a review of the landscapes created on the pots over tea and dessert.

• Workshop runs from 10am to 4pm with a 45-minute break for lunch. 

• Homecooked Japanese lunch will be provided

• Studio will supply cone 10 sculpture clay and teaching artist will offer clay materials from Japan for surface texture

• There will be test tiles of the clay used and glazed with a few Ruby's studio glazes for students to use as reference

• Workshop does not include firing of wares; students are to arrange firing their pieces independently.

Questions? Email workshop@rubysclaystudio.org

Artist Bio: Yukiko Watanabe is a San Francisco-based atmospheric (wood, soda, etc.) firing ceramic artist. Her work incorporates clay dug from Japan and Northern California for surface decoration and glaze to honor the place she resides(d) and for users to feel connected to the earth. She is also an art educator teaching in multiple community ceramic studios in the Bay Area.

*2 spots offered at a reduced rate of 25% off. Contact Workshop Committee (Email workshop@rubysclaystudio.org) by 24 hours before registration opens to receive coupon code. First come, first served through honor principle.

**The studio reserves the right to cancel the workshop if there are not enough registrations, in which case refunds will be issued.

Refund Policy

Payments are non-refundable and non-transferable. Circumstances that may allow for refunds are:

1. A physician's note stating a condition that prevents the student from working in clay or at the studio.

2. Instances of extreme, unexpected hardship. This may include the death or serious illness of someone close. Exceptions are granted at the discretion of the manager. Changes in a student's priorities, job or vacation plans do not constitute the means for a refund. Having stated this, studio managers will attempt to assist students by granting partial refunds if a replacement student can be found for the class. When replacements are found (which must be before the third class), students are granted a refund equal to the pro-rated amount paid by the new student, less a $50 fee for accounting.

Registration & General Information

Please read this! it may affect whether you get into the workshop of your choice.

1. Ruby’s doesn't accept early registrations.

2. All registrations for the workshops will begin online.  We encourage you to make arrangements to register online when registration opens.

3. Please be aware that your choices on the registration form are binding and you will be charged for any workshop (including alternate choices that you make). Do not register for a workshop you are unlikely to take. If you must drop, please notify management as soon as possible. Review our refund policy.