Lily and the People Pottery School

September 04, 2010

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About Us

1988
I began my personal journey in clay with an invitation to research clay and glazes at a local community college. I was 39. One is never to old to play!

While researching, testing, firing pots inside the kiln and cooking good food on top of the kiln, I discovered my passion in life, in a deep and profound way – the medium of clay.

Vision
It was during this early period of research that vision and inspiration formed in my minds eye. A knowing and need to acquire a large space where people of all ages could come to play, discover for themselves, and find their own way with this medium of clay.

1994
My daughter Holly, and I started our first Summer Clay Camp for kids at my home studio in Ballard.

1994 – 1995
Lack of space to grow the program was solved by an appointment with the director of programs at our local community center in Ballard. She caught our vision and our program continued to thrive at the community center.

When the director of programs from Shoreline Community was visiting in Ballard, she caught the vision. Summer Clay Camps, after school classes and Teen Center programs were implemented in the Shoreline area.

Next
A volunteer program for a drug and alcohol center started on the East side, an unbelievably rich experience.

Studio History
1996 – July 2007
Space was leased on Sunset Hill in Ballard. After several months with help from family and friends, Lily and the People Pottery opened the doors to serve the immediate community and beyond, with continuing Summer Camp for kids, day and evening classes for adults, youth and teens, and preschool programs.

Community
Summer Solstice Raku – Winter Solstice – Gallery Openings are major events where communities, families and friends gather by the hundreds, to glaze and fire their clay pieces outside in the Raku kiln, to pot luck, enjoy one anothers company and to celebrate anticipated warmth and freedom of the Summer season.

December becomes Gallery month where we open to share and sell our pottery and other fine wares to people as they look forward to their special purchases for the holiday season.

Winter Solstice is our year end event where again community gathers together for visiting, feasting, wishing peace to all as we go – to embrace the slowing, sleepy stillness for the coming changes of winter.

Thank You To All The People
These events are deep felt, significant reminders of the value we place on communities and people that touch our lives, yourselves, your families, your children, our friends.

Change
August 2007
Change necessitated closing the doors at Lily and The People on Sunset Hill. Not goodbye – but something greater! This change brought a time to contemplate a larger vision, a future location to continue and broaden goals that will again reach out to immediate community and beyond.

Welcome to Change
April 2008
Our New location in Ballard – 7701 24th Avenue N.W.

Lily and The People Pottery is now housed in the Youth Building across the street from the Philadelphia Church. We are situated in a safe, happy, well built site with plenty of off street parking. We will continue to serve our communities – infusing love and art in our city and beyond.

Carrie Gustafson
Founder

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