A FREE FOR ALL. Introducing Clay Club, a free-to-attend meetup coordinated by Eau Claire's Half Moon Clay Center that has become everything from a social hang to a project workshop. Mark your calendars for Sunday, March 22 – the next installment of the club – where attendees can expect a space to learn, create and foster new friendship.

“If you’re a dirt person, we want to hang out with you,” a fluorescent pink flyer in downtown Eau Claire, pinned up just a few months back, reads. This is not your elementary school-level “show-and-tell” – Eau Claire's Half Moon Clay center (930 Galloway St., Eau Claire) has launched a free resource to uplift artists, shatter creative solitude and fuel new waves of expression.

Introducing Clay Club, the center’s latest initiative and free meetup that has become everything from a social hang to a project workshop.

Whitney Stuart, the founder of and an instructor at Half Moon Clay, said the motivation behind the new gathering is largely based on her own life experiences. Maybe her family doesn’t care about the “spodumene shortage” (forcing many studio potters to eliminate their signature glazes) or that perfectly pulled handle; but she knows her students at the studio might.

“It’s nice sometimes to just bring your physical art into a physical space and have real connection with people around it,” Whitney said. “Anytime you can expose yourself to other approaches… that is cool.”

As she took note of continued conversations and students' intellectual curiosity across various classes, Whitney recognized the need for a connection point beyond herself. Thus, the new social club was born.

“Art, a lot of times, is not just about getting stuff done – it’s about having a community of people.”

whitney stuart

founder and instructor, half moon clay

With this spirit in mind, Clay Club kicked off with a show-and-tell gathering at SHIFT (615 Graham Ave., Eau Claire) to encourage Half Moon Clay students to meet in a space outside of the studio in a cost-accessible format.

“I didn’t want (Clay Club) to be a paid thing because you’ve already got the resources you need and cost can be pretty prohibitive,” Whitney said. “We are just trying to use the space that we have, to help make it into a community (where) people feel comfortable – Clay Club is part of that.”

Most recently, Clay Club met in January for “Put A Handle On It,” a free demonstration led by Katie Jae, a fellow ceramic artist and instructor at Half Moon Clay. There, Katie led over two dozen locals through the foundations of handle building.

Tony Greenlee, a potter in the Chippewa Valley – and creative behind Zo-Flo Pottery – became a member of the Half Moon Clay community when his wife gifted him a class for a wedding anniversary.

The class led Tony to rediscover his passion for the craft – having not touched clay since his high school years.

“It had been 46 years since I sat at a potter’s wheel; it felt like I was home again,” Tony said. “I definitely identify as a potter. I love to throw on the wheel and push myself to make different things.”

While Tony finds himself most excited about the process of applying glazes – seeing what he can produce purely based on imagination and experimentation – he joined the “Put A Handle On It” workshop in January.

“I usually don’t do many handles because I like to throw bigger bowls,” Tony shared. “But (Clay Club) gave me a chance to back track and give myself a refresher.

“Clay Club is really a cool thing to have in our area; it gives all of us potters a chance to exchange ideas and ‘brag’ a little,” he continued. 

“It had been 46 years since I sat at a potter’s wheel; it felt like I was home again... I love to throw on the wheel and push myself to make different things.”

tony greenlee

potter, zo-flo pottery

Many of the students Whitney and instructors at Half Moon Clay work with, like Tony, are self-described “home potters”: pottery as a hobby, leisurely pass time, or home-based business. These potters repeatedly return to Half Moon Clay not just for access to the center’s kiln firing resources, but also to forge new friendships, Whitney said.

“That is the coolest part,” Whitney said. “The best way to make friends is to see the same people every single week, over a shared interest. Art, a lot of times, is not just about getting stuff done – it’s about having a community of people.”

As the club takes note from its first two gatherings, Whitney intends to encourage more access to “third spaces,” in her community – where folks can simply hang out without the obligation to be customers of Half Moon Clay, but may encourage a new student or two in the process. 

Katie Jae (pictured left) pulls a piece of clay in a downward motion, as attendees view her handle building demo during the January installment of Clay Club.

Based on insights from the first two Clay Club gatherings, Whitney intends to foster greater awareness of “third spaces” in the community.

Whether it’s through the social club or Half Moon Clay, she aims to combat the isolation that can come with being a creative person and offer a physical space for real connection around art.

Yet, there’s always the chance it will naturally attract a new student or two, Whitney added.

“I think (we are) continuing to build the reputation that Eau Claire is a place that supports artists,” Whitney said. “Obviously, my interest is in potters – but (I support) any kind of artist and having spaces like this available for artists to meet each other and collaborate and be friends.”

So, mark your calendars for Sunday, March 22, where attendees of the next installment of Clay Club – in a location yet to be determined – can expect an afternoon of hands-on ceramic work or simply a space to “just show up.” No matter what, Whitney and friends will be happy to see you.

To learn more about Half Moon Clay (930 Galloway St. STE 117, Eau Claire) and catch updates on the next iteration of Clay Club, visit halfmoonclay.com or follow along via Instagram (@halfmoonclay).