Shape Your Own Tablescape: Beginner Pottery Class in South Philadelphia

On Monday evenings at Black Hound Clay Studio South, at 1701 Federal Street in South Philadelphia, Creating a Tablescape offers an eight-week beginner pottery class that turns raw clay into a set of functional table pieces. Taught by instructor Madeline Mae Rothman, the course runs June 1 - July 20, 6–9 pm, and welcomes students age 16 and up in a wheelchair-accessible back classroom. Over eight sessions you'll shape, decorate, and glaze plates, bowls, candlesticks, jars, cups, bud vases and more, learning both wheel and hand-building approaches—pinching, coils, and slabs—to craft a cohesive collection suited to an evening meal. The studio provides all instruction, tools, glazes, firing, and 25 pounds of clay per student; one free open studio session is included so you can refine pieces between classes. Group size is limited to 12, which keeps instructor feedback personal and the kiln schedule manageable. The meeting point is 1701 Federal Street; expect worktables, a communal kiln, and the class held in the back classroom where drying racks and glaze swatches live within arm’s reach. What makes this offering stand out in Philadelphia’s maker scene is its focus on functional design for the table—students leave with not just a single project but a coordinated tablescape. The emphasis on underglaze and glazing techniques means color and surface treatments are part of the curriculum, so your finished pieces are ready for firing and display. This program fits beginners: no prior experience is required, and the curriculum scaffolds skills from simple pinched forms to more composed slab and coil constructions. Practical notes: classes include a payment-plan option for certain registration windows; additional clay can be purchased online; email [email protected] with questions and consult the What to Know Guide before your first meeting. The class sits within South Philadelphia’s active arts neighborhoods, an easy walk or short ride from transit and local cafes where you can photograph finished work or test a tabletop arrangement. If you’re curious about ceramics as a craft or want to build a small collection of handmade dinnerware that reflects your aesthetic, this is an efficient, mentor-led path. Small class size, comprehensive materials, and a clear finished-goal—your own tablescape—make Creating a Tablescape a practical and creative way to connect with clay and leave with tangible, usable art. Beyond technique, the class cultivates practical habits: keeping a sketchbook for glaze ideas, testing underglaze samples on scraps, and using the included open-studio time to iterate between firings. Finished sets make thoughtful gifts or starter pieces for a household kitchen; many students return for advanced workshops or book extra open-studio hours. Questions about materials, accessibility, or the payment plan go to [email protected], and the studio’s What to Know Guide is the best pre-class read.