When I was growing up, my father would bring me to work with him on the weekends sometimes. He was a high school art teacher in Huntington, NY, and while he prepped his classroom for the upcoming week, I would play on his pottery wheel for hours. I never made anything close to a pot, but I remember loving making the clay spin around and the feeling of squishing it with my hands.
I was first introduced to Queen City Clay (QCC) when I signed my daughter up for a kids’ summer pottery class. She had a great experience, but my main take away was, “I need to take a pottery class here!” I was amazed at the size of the facility and the diversity of classes being offered; wheel, handbuilding, sculpture, alternative firing techniques, surface design, and more. I started my first class in March of 2014 and I’ve been taking classes ever since. (My daughter has also been back to take lessons as an adult.) I still gravitate toward wheel throwing, but have enjoyed taking handbuilding and other classes as well. In fact, next session, I am signed up for an alternative firing class that I’m very excited about.
On any given day at QCC you can walk into the building and see something exciting happening. Clay enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels can be found enjoying the space and as one of the largest public clay studios in the country, there is truly something for everyone. The retail store has beautiful gift items and craft supplies for purchase, the pottery painting area is a great place to bring kids on a rainy day or to come and make a personalized gift for a friend. The lower level is full of children participating in classes and summer camps and the upper level is where the professional and resident artists have private booths. The ground floor has a gallery that hosts exhibitions as well as a huge workspace that holds adult classes, business retreats, school field trips, special workshops, and social events.
I sat down with Ben Clark, owner and director of QCC, to ask him some questions about this amazing facility.
You have done an outstanding job of creating an environment at QCC where people feel comfortable and part of an open and supportive community. In fact, community is one of the three pillars of QCC’s mission. Can you tell me more about how you foster community here at QCC and how you give back to the greater Cincinnati community?
Well, when I started in clay I kind of had a life changing moment where I realised I could make something out of a pile of nothing. This wasn’t like fine wood work or painting. This was messy and very physical. I loved it instantly. The moment a person centers a piece of clay on the wheel, by themselves, for the first time, is incredibly satisfying and mind altering. I wanted EVERYONE to get that feeling. Queen City Clay became a place for me to accomplish that goal on a larger scale. This driving force creates a space where shared experiences are celebrated and the fear of failure seems to slip away. Students want to help each other and the staff wants to help everyone achieve their own personal goals. We have created a community that wants to say yes to opportunities and outreach. Because of this, we are constantly looking for partnerships that help more people get that feeling of creating something. We currently work with Visionaries and Voices, Be Well, The Ronald McDonald House, Happen Inc., the Contemporary Art Center, the Cincinnati Art Museum, WavePool, and several other non-profits in order to bring clay experiences to as many people as possible.
I know that for me, QCC has been a wonderful place to spend time with really interesting and kind people but also to stretch myself creatively. What would you say to someone who might want to try an open wheel or take a class but is hesitant because they think they are not creative or artistic?
I can’t draw to save my life. I thought that the kids who could draw naturally were artists and those who couldn’t just didn’t have that in their future. I was wrong. When you are learning to work with clay, you are simply learning a technique. Just like learning to bake or do repairs to your house. Once you learn the basic technique, you can make recognizable things like bowls and cups. At that point something changes. You will start to get ideas about how you want YOUR bowl to be. You will start to develop your own style with the work. And before you know it, original ideas will pop out of your head and into your hands. Make bad pots! It’s the first step to making good pots.
I know that QCC is more than just a business for you. What are the top five things you are most proud of and want people to know about QCC?
- Queen City Clay has given over 100,000 people great clay experiences over the years.
- We have created a safe place for people of all backgrounds to try, screw up, laugh, and succeed.
- We have trained countless local and regional art teachers so they can run clay programs at their schools. Most teachers are trained in 2D but running a kiln and knowing all of the technical clay information needed can be really daunting. This outreach ensures that future generations get the clay experience early.
- We have worked very hard to create a studio that feels like extended family even as our numbers grow. I truly think that our students and staff will do anything for each other. That is a major reason that people feel a positive energy as soon as they walk into the shop.
- We aren’t done growing and innovating. Most of our staff spends time mentoring younger artists and helping smaller businesses like ours succeed. We are always open to new ideas and partnerships and always looking to give back in any way we can.
Plan Your Visit
Come check out QCC! The gallery is open from 9 AM to 9 PM Monday – Thursday, 9-5 on Friday and Saturday, and 12 – 4 on Sunday. You are free to visit the studio during those same hours.
You can also go to their website to check out upcoming classes, events, workshops, and special events. QCC is on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Please call the front desk (513) 871-2529 if you have any questions.
Photos courtesy of Queen City Clay Facebook
See more insights from your neighborhood guide, Jennifer Klafter.
