Youth and adult ceramics classes for the winter term will start in January at the Roswell Museum and Art Center. Registration is now available through the museum’s website at roswellmuseum.org. Students may also register by phone at 575-624-6744 or in person at the museum during hours of operation, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
Youth classes will focus on coil and slab building techniques, creating textures and decorating with colorful glazes to create one-of-a-kind pieces. Additionally, working with clay can help children improve hand-eye coordination and overall self-confidence that comes with a sense of accomplishment. The winter term for youth runs Jan. 18 through Feb. 22; classes meet weekly on Tuesday afternoons. Classes for children ages 6 to 8 years are held from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Classes for youth ages 9 to 15 years are held from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Enrollment is capped at a maximum of 14 students per session. Cost for children of museum members is $70; the non-member rate is $80. All supplies are included in the course fee.
The Roswell Museum and Art Center offers four clay class sessions for adults to explore the clay medium. Each term explores a theme through projects and demonstrations that students may elect to follow or explore their own independent interests. First-time students are always welcome and are provided with a series of hand-building projects to develop confidence in the medium over time. The winter term for adults runs Jan. 18 through March 8. The four class sessions are held once per week, offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon and 6 to 9 p.m. Enrollment is capped at a maximum of 16 students per session. Cost for museum members is $160; the non-member rate is $195. Tools and clay are sold separately.
Housed in a spacious, modern studio, the museum’s ceramics program is designed to provide a supportive environment for beginning through advanced students to explore the ceramic arts and nurture individual interests and ideas. The studio is equipped with hand-building tables, a slab roller, an extruder and 12 wheels (eight electric and four kick wheels with electric assist).
Instructor Aria Finch holds a BA degree from the University of Texas at El Paso and has attended graduate school at North Texas State University and Texas Women’s University. She is a 2013 recipient of the New Mexico Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts. In 2009, her work was chosen for the 5th World Ceramic Biennale in Icheon, South Korea. She has managed the Roswell Museum and Art Center ceramics program since 1979.
Instructor Anna Edwards has been involved with ceramics for almost 20 years. Studying with her mentor, Aria Finch, she has been involved in teaching children and adults at the museum and has worked with the Roswell Independent School District. Anna has also studied at the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts (Tennessee), Potters Council (Ohio) and Santa Fe Clay.
To become a museum member and receive the reduced registration fees, prospective students may join online via the museum’s website or in person at the museum prior to signing up for classes. Members who want to verify their status should contact Guest Services Manager Amber Smith at 575-500-0363 or ad.smith@roswell-nm.gov.
The Roswell Museum and Art Center is located at 1011 N. Richardson Ave., just north of the Roswell Convention Center. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit roswellmuseum.org or call 575-624-6744.