Classes for Adults

This class is for playing with watercolor techniques with an emphasis on finding and developing your own personal style. Frequent subject materials include still life set-ups and photos for inspiration. Beginners and Intermediate levels welcome. 

Instructor: Bonnie Steinsnyder 

Tuesday 10:00 AM-12:30 PM 
Tuesday 1:00 PM-3:30 PM 
 

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This workshop is for beginners as well as those with some beading experience. Participants will learn a variety of popular beading stitches, which will then be applied to projects chosen by the instructor. You may purchase your own supplies through your preferred vendor. 

Instructor: Carole Horn 
*Returning in Fall 2024*

 Learn to create beautiful glass objects using this ancient craft. Students learn to create patterns, cut, foil and solder stained glass into a variety of useful and sculptural forms that include sun catchers, night lights, candle holders, jewelry boxes and lamp shades. Ample individual assistance enables each person to pursue their individual projects. Essential tools and equipment provided. Supplies such as glass, foil and solder are students responsibility after first project. (we will provide recommendations on locations to purchase). 

Instructor: Virginia Chakejian 
 
Wednesday 2:00 PM-5:00 PM 
Wednesday 5:30 PM-8:30 PM 
Thursday 5:30 PM-8:30 PM


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Open Studio is for those who are familiar with the ceramic process and feel confident working independently. Must have prior ceramics experience or must be enrolled in our instructional class. A studio monitor will be present to assist as needed. 

Students registered for an instructional class can choose one 4-hour open studio to attend each week in order to continue working on their works in progress independently.  

Any missed open studio can be made up before the session ends. 
Only one missed class can be made up with one open studio before the session ends.

Students can purchase an extra 4-hour open studio during the same session for $115.  A single extra open studio day pass is $18.
 

Monday 1:30 PM-5:00 PM  
Tuesday 1:00 PM-5:00 PM 
Thursday 12:30 PM-4:30 PM 
Thursday 4:30 PM-8:30 PM 
Friday 10:00 AM-2:00 PM 
Friday 4:30 PM-8:30 PM 
Saturday 1:00 PM-5:00 PM 
Sunday 1:00 PM-5:00 PM 

*Prerequisite to have taken at least one wheel or hand building class at the West Side YMCA required. 

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Open Studio is for those who are familiar with the ceramic process and feel confident working independently. Must have prior ceramics experience or must be enrolled in our instructional class. A studio monitor will be present to assist as needed. 

Students registered for an instructional class can choose one 4-hour open studio to attend each week in order to continue working on their works in progress independently. 

Any missed open studio can be made up before the session ends.

Only one missed class can be made up with one open studio before the session ends.

Students can purchase an extra 4-hour open studio during the same session for $115.  A single extra open studio day pass is $18.

Monday 1:30 PM-5:30 PM 
Tuesday 1:00 PM-5:00 PM
Thursday 12:30 PM-4:30 PM
Thursday 4:30 PM-8:30 PM
Friday 10:00 AM-2:00 PM
Friday 4:30 PM-8:30 PM*
Saturday 1:00 PM-5:00 PM
Sunday 1:00 PM-5:00 PM

*Prerequisite to have taken at least one hand building: beginners plus class at the West Side YMCA required.

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 Beginners will learn the basic skills of throwing on the potter's wheel and glazing techniques. Instructors will assist students with creating individual projects and developing skills. Demos and critiques will be given regularly.

Instructor: Kathleen Ginsberg
Sunday 10:00 AM-12:30 PM

Instructor: David Gibson
Wednesday 10:00 AM-12:30 PM

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 Beginner/Intermediate level students will learn the basic skills of throwing on the potter's wheel and glazing techniques. Instructors will assist students with creating individual projects and developing skills. Demos and critiques will be given regularly.

 Instructor: Julann Gebbie
Monday 6:00 PM-8:30 PM

Instructor: Nanette Ronner 
Saturdays 10:00 - 12:30 PM

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 Intermediate and advanced students will work on individual projects to further develop their skills and unique personal expressions. Demos and critiques will be given regularly. Students must have previous throwing experience. To be admitted to this level you must be able to wedge, center and be able to throw a cylinder. 

Instructor: Nanette Ronner
Tuesday 6:00 PM-8:30 PM

*Prerequisite to have taken at least one hand building: beginners plus class at the West Side YMCA required.

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 Intermediate and advanced students will work on individual projects to further develop their skills and unique personal expressions. Demos and critiques will be given regularly. Students must have previous throwing experience. To be admitted to this level you must be able to wedge, center and be able to throw a cylinder. 

Intermediate and advanced students will work on individual projects to further develop their skills and unique personal expressions. Demos and critiques will be given regularly. Students must have previous throwing experience. To be admitted to this level you must be able to wedge, center and be able to throw a cylinder. 

Instructor: Julie Knight
Tuesday 10:00 AM-12:30 PM
Wednesday 6:00 PM-8:30 PM

*Prerequisite to have taken at least one hand building: beginners plus class at the West Side YMCA required.
 

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 During this class students will learn the basics of hand building. Coiling, pinch pots and slab techniques are taught. Students with some experience will be given more challenging projects with these techniques.

Instructor: Abigail Regner
Monday 6:00 PM-8:30 PM

Instructor: Ellen Gelber
Wednesday 10:30 AM-1:00 PM

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 Develop further skills and techniques in hand building through an exploration of advanced projects and surface techniques.Develop further skills and techniques in hand building through an exploration of advanced projects and surface techDevelop further skills and techniques in hand building through an exploration of advanced projects and surface techniques.

Instructor: Kate Missett
Friday  2:00 PM-4:30 PM

*Prerequisite to have taken at least one hand building: beginners plus class at the West Side YMCA required.

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Advanced hand building:  Explore your individual artistic direction in a supportive environment. Class includes slide talks & demos of contemporary clay work.

Instructor: Kate Missett
Monday  11:00 AM-1:30 PM

*Prerequisite: Students who have had several years of experience in hand building: beginners plus class.

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 Independent Study is for advanced students that would like to explore projects on their own. There is no assistance from an instructor so you must have full knowledge of our studio. Prerequisite: one year of hand building classes in our ceramics studio.

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Do you have an idea for a stage-play, television pilot or screenplay? Or perhaps you’ve written a full or partial draft and now you want some constructive feedback to inspire you toward completion? Or maybe you don't have any ideas at all and just want to get inspired and have fun learning something about writing for the stage and screen? In this workshop, writing prompts and in-class writing exercises tailored to individual needs will address Dramatic Writing craft fundamentals, including: story, conflict, character, dialogue, visual action, and revision.  Students bring in new pages of their script-in-progress to class and hear their material read out loud.  In-class writing exercises tailored to individual needs help students develop skills and write scripts. All levels welcome.

Instructor: Charlie Schulman
Tuesday 1:00 PM-3:00 PM 
Tuesday 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Session runs from May 7-June 11
 

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Everyone has a story to tell. This class will focus on elements of "creative" prose writing - plot, character, setting, voice and beginnings and endings - through weekly prompts and detailed critiques. Both fiction and nonfiction will be considered. Exercises and works in progress will be reviewed in class in a friendly, supportive atmosphere. Each writer will receive one-to-one attention. The workshop is open to everyone. No manuscript submission required. Maximum of 10 students.

Instructor: Thaddeus Rutkowski
Monday 6:30 PM-8:30 PM 

Session runs from April 29-June 17
No Class on 5/27 or 6/10

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Anybody can write a poem. Let's explore the art & craft of poetry; learn how to express your feelings, sculpt your ideas, and share your stories, with musical language. Make your words sing. This workshop, suitable for both beginning & advanced writers, is a safe space to explore the tools & techniques of writing poetry. We will examine the poet's toolkit, in a supportive atmosphere, through in-class writing prompts & exercises. We will go over the hows and whys of line-breaks, repetition & rhyme, poetic forms, using metaphor, poetry as performance, etc. Students will learn the art of revision & will workshop poems with both the instructor as well as each other. Every student, whether beginner or long-time writer, will get the same level of attention. This class is open to everyone and anyone. Logistics & desire, permitting, there will be a poetry reading as a culminating event, for the students to perform a selection of their work.  

Instructor: Matthew Hupert
Wednesday 6:30 PM-8:00 PM

Session runs from May 15-June 19

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