How do I join the waitlist?

Use the provided booking link to add your name to the waitlist; the studio will email you if a spot opens.

What is included in the class?

Contact the studio for exact inclusions; the listing notes instruction and kiln firings are managed by the studio—confirm materials and fees when offered enrollment.

What is the minimum age?

Minimum age for participation is 16 years old as noted in the course details.

Is this class wheelthrowing or handbuilding?

This listing is for the Independent Projects - Handbuilding series focused on slab, coil, and pinch techniques rather than wheelthrowing.

Where should I park or how do I get there by transit?

Federal Street is served by SEPTA routes and there is street parking nearby; allow time for meters and evening traffic.

Does joining the waitlist obligate me to enroll?

No—joining the waitlist does not guarantee a spot or obligate you to register if a seat becomes available.

Hands-On Pottery in South Philadelphia: Black Hound Clay Handbuilding Evenings | Workshop

Black Hound Clay Studio South sits at 1701 Federal Street in South Philadelphia, a hands-on pottery workshop where local makers and curious beginners shape clay into usable objects and small artworks. This listing is for the waitlist to Independent Projects - Handbuilding: Tuesday Evenings, taught by instructor Madeline Mae Rothman. If you’re visiting Philadelphia and want a tactile, urban arts detour, this evening series offers direct instruction and sustained studio time. Inside the studio you’ll find the essentials for handbuilding: bench space for slab and coil work, shared glaze tables, shelving for drying, and kilns used on firing days. The class focuses on handbuilding techniques—pinch, coil, and slab construction—delivering practical skills that translate into functional bowls, cups, and small sculptural pieces. With a group cap of about a dozen, coaching is personal and steady; Madeline Mae Rothman guides students through technical checkpoints like scoring and slip, joining seams, and basic finishing for glaze-ready ware. What makes this experience notable in South Philadelphia is its neighborhood scale and the way making becomes a social craft. The studio’s address places it in a working-arts pocket of the city where muraled storefronts, market energy, and neighborhood diners give a gritty, creative backdrop. The course is a low-tech, deliberate alternative to gallery hopping: you learn workflows—prepping clay, scheduling firings, glazing decisions—that keep momentum after the class ends. Practical details matter here. Joining the waitlist does not guarantee a spot; Black Hound Clay will contact you if one opens. Minimum age is 16, and class sizes are kept small to preserve hands-on instruction. Bring clothes you don’t mind getting clay on and a willingness to focus; the studio environment is productive and task-oriented. For travelers, an evening class is an accessible activity after museum or market time, and you leave with something tangible. Email [email protected] with questions, and use the provided booking link to join the waitlist. Whether you’re a beginner drawn to clay’s methodical demands or an intermediate maker refining a personal project, this handbuilding series is a pragmatic, neighborly place to expand your craft.

Difficulty

easy.

Duration

2–3 hours per session (typically an evening class).

Fitness level

Minimal physical fitness required; sessions involve standing and light lifting of clay and equipment

Wildlife

Pigeons
Red-tailed hawks

History

South Philadelphia has long been a working neighborhood with strong market and craft traditions, making community studios a natural fit for neighborhood life.

Conservation

Ask about the studio’s reclaimed clay or scrap recycling policies; many community ceramics programs minimize waste by remixing trimmings and rehydrating scrap.

Black Hound Clay Studio South is a community-focused ceramics studio offering wheelthrowing, handbuilding, glazing, and open studio opportunities. The studio presents a structured curriculum alongside one-day workshops and members-only resources, with offerings that include Wheelthrowing 101, Wheelthrowing 102, Intermediate Wheelthrowing, Intermediate Handbuilding, and specialty workshops like ceramic sculpture and tile carving. Classes are taught by named instructors listed in course descriptions — including Sara Gallo, Veronica Mehl, Madeline Rothman, Isaac, and visiting instructor Jill Allen — and range from beginner Wheelthrowing 101 courses to intermediate-level sessions and focused surface design classes. Several Wheelthrowing 101 listings reference an eight-week format, while other options include single-session workshops such as Make Your Own Tile and One Day Wheel Workshop. The studio supports members with dedicated classes and orientations, including Kiln Orientation, Members Glaze Refresh, and Members Reclaim Refresh, as well as open studio time for students focused on wheelthrowing or handbuilding and glazing. Multiple offerings show active waitlists for in-demand classes, indicating consistent enrollment. Black Hound Clay Studio South appears in class listings tied to South Philadelphia experiences and emphasizes hands-on instruction, small-class environments, and opportunities for creative practice and skill progression.

Base locationPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania

Tours offered36+

Specialtyothers

StewardshipLeave No Trace