Glazing & Firing
At Gasworks NYC, we have long been committed to offering a wide range of glazing and firing opportunities. We believe in experimentation and play that is grounded in materials science. We offer a variety of educational entry points into glazing, the chemistry and formulation of glazes, and the ins and outs of firing safely in a community studio.
Firing at our studio
The studio offers Cone 6 electric and Cone 10 gas firings. We are equipped with 4 electric kilns (3 Skutt and 1 L+L), and one Bailey gas kiln. We also offer luster firings every other month. Firing fees for members and students are 3.5 cents per cubic inch. Firing privileges are limited to current students and members.
The studio is stocked with cone 6 and cone 10 clay bodies. Any and all outside clay bodies, materials, glazes, kiln furniture, etc. must be pre-approved by our Director. We do not fire low-fire clay.
We are a community studio and service over 300 students and members every semester. We fire a large volume of work every week, and cannot accommodate production potters. Large-scale work needs to be approved by our Director before we can fire it at our studio. We define production as bringing more than 10 mid-sized pieces at a time, and large-scale work as anything over 12x12 in. If you are a member wanting to work in production for a limited period of time, or wanting to work in large scale, it is imperative that you speak to our Director so that we can work out a short-term plan to help you with your project. *These guidelines are more strict during the holiday season, and we do not accommodate high-production or large-scale work during the months of October, November, and December.*
If you are not a student or member and interested in firing with us, please see Tourist Firings information below.
Glazes and Glazing
Gasworks has almost 60 Cone 6 and Cone 10 glazes (more, if you count that most of our cone 6 glazes can be fired up to cone 10 with different results). Our staff are passionate about glaze chemistry and experimentation and are often offering limited batches of new glazes to students and members to try. Most of our staff have been trained by Rose and Matt Katz via Ceramic Materials Workshop classes online. We also have our in-house Materials Manager, Paul Distelzweig, who works with our Director to formulate and tweak our glazes.
Glazing is a crucial part of the process, and while we love and encourage experimentation, there are many factors to consider when practicing safe glazing in a community studio. Anyone who glazes at our studio must receive the proper education or have received the equivalent education at another studio.
Glaze education
We offer a variety of glaze educational experiences:
Please email hello@gasworksnyc.com to book private lessons. Any and all outside materials must be pre-approved.
The Layered Surface: Responsible Glazing with Multiple Glazes
Class includes a discussion on packed bed density, porosity, and gaming glaze application, as well as how to read test tiles and techniques for layering.
- 30 minutes ($50 plus tax): a conversation about glazing responsibly with multiple glazes in a community studio.
- 45 mins-1 hour ($75-$100 plus tax): a conversation about glazing responsibly with multiple glazes in a community studio, plus a guided demonstration and opportunity to practice glazing with supervision.
Scaling Up: Responsibly Glazing Large Work
Class includes a discussion on packed bed density, porosity and gaming glaze application when it comes to glazing large work. Specifically how scaling up can change the process of glazing, and how to avoid risks in community studios. *Any large work brought to the studio must be pre-approved by the Director.*
- 30 minutes ($50 plus tax): a conversation on how to glaze large work responsibly in a community studio
- 45 mins-1 hour ($75-$100 plus tax): a conversation on how to glaze large work responsibly in a community studio, plus the opportunity to practice glazing large work with supervision.
Glaze Formulation Private Lesson w/Paul Distelzweig
2 hours ($175/person): The basics of glaze chemistry, plus a guided demonstration on glaze batching and testing. Students get to keep their 100 gram test batch. All glaze recipes must be pre-approved by the teacher or Director.
How to be a Studio Tech
A 6-week semester course taking you through the ins and outs of studio teching, including glaze chemistry and kiln loading/firing, taught by Paul Distelzweig and Tiffany Saw. More info here.
Playing with Underglaze
A 6-week class focusing on all the ways to use and apply underglaze and surface design to your pots, taught by Tig Tucker. More info here.
Tourist Firings
During slower periods of the year, we can offer limited tourist firings. All tourist firings must be pre-approved. To receive a tourist firing application, please email hello@gasworksnyc.com. We accept projects on a case-by-case basis: any and all outside materials must be approved by our Director. We do not do kiln rentals. Firing fees for tourists are 10 cents per cubic inch. For regular firing access at our studio, please visit the Member page.
Glazes for purchase
We can batch, test, and mix pints or gallons of our glazes. Glazes are $18/pint and $110/gallon. Please email hello@gasworksnyc.com to purchase glazes. We are open for studio visits every day, 12-8pm.
Digital glaze wall coming soon!
More Info
Cancellation Policy
All sales are non-transferrable and there are no store credits or exchanges. There is no way to reschedule your purchase(s). You have purchased a specific spot(s) on a specific day(s) or night(s) and your purchase(s) can not be rescheduled or transferred to any other day, night or semester. There are no exceptions for any reason. You can call us at the main number (718 635 1394) to cancel your purchase for a refund if you call before the refund/cancelation deadline. The refund/cancelation deadlines, percentages and fees are as follows:
Weekly classes: Full refunds are available up to 15 days before the first day of the semester. From 14-8 days before the session starts we can offer a 50% refund. Unfortunately, we cannot offer refunds 7 days or less in advance of the first day of the semester. There will be no exceptions granted for any reason so please plan accordingly.
Summer camps: Full refunds are available up to 15 days before the first day of the summer camp session. From 14-8 days before the session starts we can offer a 50% refund. Unfortunately, we cannot offer refunds 7 days or less in advance of the first day of the semester. There will be no exceptions granted for any reason so please plan accordingly.
TryNights and Muddy Moons: Full refunds are available up to 15 days before the class, after which a 50% refund is possible until 24 hours before the class. Unfortunately, we can't offer refunds within 24 hours of the class. There will be no exceptions granted for any reason.
Private lessons: Full refunds are available up to 7 days before the lesson, after which a $50 processing fee per person applies until 24 hours before the class. Unfortunately, we can't offer refunds within 24 hours of the lesson. There will be no exceptions granted for any reason.
Parties and private events: Full refunds are available up to 7 days before the event, after which a $100 processing fee applies until 24 hours before the class. Unfortunately, we can't offer refunds within 24 hours of the event. There will be no exceptions granted for any reason.
Workshops and studio events: Full refunds are available up to 7 days before the event, after which a $75 processing fee per person applies until 24 hours before the class. Unfortunately, we can't offer refunds within 24 hours of the event. There will be no exceptions granted for any reason.
Membership: After the initial 3 month minimum, members must give a minimum of 1 month advance notice in writing in order to cancel their membership. There will be no exceptions granted for any reason.
Membership Lite: After 3 months minimum of membership, member lites can cancel their membership with 15 days notice.
FAQ
A lot of answers to questions can be found in the Student/Member Handbook, but here are some of our frequently asked questions:
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When are you staffed? Staff are working in the studio every day 12pm-10pm.
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How do I know when the next registration for classes will be?
Once we know our dates, we will post them in the front page header of our website.
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How do I get on the waitlist for membership?
You can go to our membership page here and apply or email hello@gasworksnyc.com and ask for an application.
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Do you offer firings for non-students or members?
If you’re interested in firing as a non-student or member, please email hello@gasworksnyc.com for an intake form and we will see if we can accommodate you.
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What do I do if I want to bring in outside materials into the studio to work with?
No outside materials are allowed in the studio without first running them by the director (cor@gasworksnyc.com) for approval. This is how we keep everyone’s work and our equipment safe.
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How long before my pieces come back from the kiln?
We tell folks to wait at least a week before looking for your piece after submission. However, there are ebbs and flows to the studio – during the busiest times of the year, such as the end of a semester or during the holiday season, it may be 10-14 days before you see your piece come out of the kiln (especially if it’s cone 10).
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Why are all my pieces not out at the same time if submitted to be fired on the same day?
We do not always fire work at the same time. If you put five pieces to get fired, they might all get fired at different times depending on their size and shape.
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How often do you discard work?
We do monthly purges on the last Monday of every month. For example, at the end of February, all work fired in January will be discarded. -
What do I do if I don’t want my piece?
If it’s greenware (meaning not yet fired), it can be recycled in our reclaim bins. If it’s bisqueware (meaning fired once), it can be thrown away – give to staff to put in our sharps bags or it can wait to be tossed with the purge.If it’s glazeware (fired twice with glaze), it can be thrown away (given to staff), tossed with the purge, donated or put on the sidewalk. Alternatively, Dave Zackin (beloved studio member) will take discarded greenware and bisqueware and transform them into new pots/sculptures.
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What do I bring to a trynight or private lesson?
I’ve never worked with clay before. The clay provided for private lessons and trynights is a non-toxic, non-staining clay. It washes out of clothes. We also provide aprons. If you’re going out afterwards, you might want to bring an extra set of clothes, as clay is messy. We provide all necessary tools, materials, equipment and even offer prosecco for Trynights but students are always welcome to BYOB.
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What’s the difference between an Open Level, Beginner, or Intermediate/Advanced class?
Open level classes are a mix of returning and completely new students. You can expect your teacher to do multiple demos catered to both complete beginners and more advanced students during a single class. Beginner classes are geared towards folks who are newer to clay. The teacher will focus on introductory demos and techniques. Intermediate/Advanced classes are catered to potters who have taken 3 or more full semesters of classes, can center and throw basic forms, and who want to improve their techniques or work on specific projects. If you want to talk to us about which class might be right for you, please give us a call or email hello@gasworksnyc.com.
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How do I know if the studio will be closed due to weather, holidays, or vacations?
If the studio is closed due to inclement weather, we will send an email studio wide. If you’re wondering if we’re closed for vacation or a holiday, you can view our calendar.
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Do I put firing chips in pieces for the glaze kiln?
No, thank you. They will be glued to your work forever. Chips are only used for bisque firings.
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How do I find lost pieces?
First things first, make sure you are signing all of your work with a distinctive maker’s mark. Our studio management system Kilnfire asks students and members to take pictures of all of their work when submitting for firing, so you will have a log with photos of your pots in your Kilnfire account. If you are missing something you fired, show staff a picture and we can help you look.
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Can I take clay home?
Yes. Zoom students can take clay home. Other students can take a little clay home at a time. If you don’t use it all, you’re responsible for making sure it is broken up into small pieces to be reclaimed. Students and members are not allowed to take bags of clay home.
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Is there a lost and found?
Yes, in the front of the classroom underneath the window bench. We keep electronics and jewelry locked at the desk, and you can ask a staff member to help you find those. -
Is the studio wheelchair accessible?
Much to our regret, our studio is not wheelchair accessible. Some of the rooms in the studio are only accessible via stairs and we have no elevator. All of our pottery wheels are Shimpo Whispers and require use of a foot pedal. Someday we hope to have a studio that is all on one floor. Please reach out if you have any questions about accessibility in the studio.