Mudfire Studio and Gallery — Attraction in Scottdale

Last year we did the 6 week summer special. This is the only place I found close enough (45+ mins away) that allowed full acess to a pottery studio with freedom to make just about anything we wanted. We began in June so that it ended right before we went on vacation. There are 8-10 wheels available for throwing and 3 long tables for building. You have access to just about any tool you would need including a slab roller and assigned shelves for your work. The "rangers" were somewhat helpful but some didn't seem very knowledgable (some of the bowls they demonstrated for my boyfriend ended up cracking & splitting due to poor construction). I couldn't demonstrate for him very well based on my past experience (2 years) because I learned to throw with long nails. Koko one of the studio residents was the most helpful with helping him learn. We went in just about 2x a week to get the most of our experience, sometimes we went in & our things hadn't been fired so we started calling ahead. The first week of July came along & we had about 12 items that still hadn't bisque fired because they said it was too hot (understandable but our time was running out). We then spoke to Dathney (owner)& told her we were going on vacation the next week & our session would be expired but our things hadn't been fired so we could glaze them. She told us not to worry about it, they would fire them by the time we got back & put them to the side so we could glaze them then, we just weren't allowed to make anything new after the experiation date... 2 weeks later we get back from vacation to glaze our things. The "ranger" on duty was Clay, we asked him where our pots had been stored & help helped us find them. As we were getting ready to glaze them he started questioning us on what we were doing, so we told him what Dathney was allowing us to do. He basically told us we were liars & needed to leave or he was going to CALL THE POLICE, without even speaking to Dathney about it. My boyfriend & Clay got into a heated argument in the middle of the studio still threatening to call the police, even knowing how far we drove. We eventually ignored him & continued to glaze our work. The police didn't show so we placed them out on the shelves with a note for Dathney. A week later we came to get our things, a flower from my pitcher had fallen off and been lost, the fish I made strategically placed on stilts with a note & a large cookie, came out &it was obviously displaced so the glaze stuck to the cookie and broke my fish, a ranger left a note saying I owed them money for the ruined cookie. Once your items go into the keln room you just have to hope they make it out alive or don't get "eaten" by the keln. Sign all or your work AND take pictures of them, small items may never be seen again. If it wasn't for our AWFUL EXPERIENCE WITH CLAY we would have been back again this year, despite lost...

I am new to pottery and taking their 101 throwing classes have been my only experience with pottery thus far.

The studio is spacious and classes are small - like 6 people max I think - and I love that kind of intimacy. The times I’ve been there the teachers go through the whole process of what making pottery looks like even though we only partake in a small part of it (throwing itself and glaze selection) which is also great. Then they do a tutorial where the teacher makes a thing in front of everyone so you get a close up look of the techniques you’re practicing.

The only downside for me personally would be that teachers do some of the throwing for you if you’re having trouble, instead of asking if someone wants the teacher to fix it or provide additional oral instruction instead. I get it - the class is geared toward people who might be initially overwhelmed by this experience and may be hesitant to do much of anything. And I understand this class in particular is geared toward “taking something home” so theres an almost frantic energy from folks to fix mistakes that could lead to cracks etc. but for me, I learn by doing and making mistakes (that I fix myself with some oral instruction, or maybe that I don’t fix and that’s ok, that’s part of the learning process). So having someone fix my center for me, or make the thing I was envisioning making and I just touch it up at the end, is not really instructive or satisfying.

I wonder what it would look like for teachers to build in a bit more consent into their classes - simply asking if someone wants a teacher to jump in when struggling or if they just want more oral instruction/be left alone for a bit would go far.

Otherwise good clases and...

Let’s start by saying we had a great time for our first time throwing! My original birthday plans backfired so MudFire was a quick fill in and I’m so grateful to TikToks and the availability! The classes are very intimate with a class size of 1:6. MudFire sparked my interest in wheel throwing! Excellent job and patience Lex as our class had a variety of unique skills sets. Seemed as if everyone needed her attention and assistance. She was able to provide everyone with verbal support, cues, and hands on models when necessary. Lex corrected sooo many mistakes during the class from everyone so kudos to her!!!

The session was very thorough although it began a bit overwhelming. Our class was supposed to begin at 1:00 however due to other people tardiness we began at 1:10 which obviously pushed everything back. I feel like class should’ve began and let them fall in due to their tardiness not delay the class.

Once we began our instructor Lex walked us thru the facility and lead us on a tour to view and explain the different components to creating our masterpiece. This included the different piece options for 1lb clay, kilm room, and colors. The overwhelming part came in as we watched her make a “sample” piece. My party and another person thought we were supposed to remember each step however that wasn’t the case. So don’t panic like we did cause she’ll be there every step of the way! Despite those two things, the class was 10/10! It also isn’t stated on their website, well that I could locate… but they do ship for the people interested but don’t live...