Feet of Clay Guidelines

Feet of Clay Pottery
21 Station Street
Brookline, MA 02445
617-731-3262
www.feetofclaypottery.com

Studio Guidelines

Table of Contents

Section 1: Membership Fees……….……………………………………………2
Due dates, methods of payment, work exchange options, etc.

Section 2: Sharing Space and Studio Etiquette………………………………..3
What to expect in a shared community studio.

Section 3: Working at Feet of Clay…………….………………………………..5
Details about equipment, basic studio functions, etc.

Section 4: Storage……………………….………………………………………..7
Details about where to store your tools, pieces, clay, etc.

Section 5: Clean Up………………………………………………………………8
Slop room, recycling, clean-a-thon, etc.

Section 6: Clean-a-thon……………………………………………………….…..10
What to expect for our twice annual cleanups.

Section 7: Glazing………………………………………………………………..10
Available glazes, glaze run policy, measuring cubic inches, etc.

Section 8: Firing of General Members’ Work……………………………..…..12
Information on quantity fired as part of rental agreement, how to
measure pieces, frequency and temperature of firings, etc.

Section 9: Miscellaneous Information…………………………………………..14
Studio shows, use of telephone, classes, health hazards, etc.

Section 10: Leaving Feet of Clay………………………………………………….16
Procedures for ending your membership agreement.
Welcome to Feet of Clay! Please read these guidelines and feel free to ask if you have any questions. After you have come to work at Feet of Clay three times you may pick up a key from one of the managers.

SECTION 1: MEMBERSHIP FEES

MEMBERSHIP FEES:
MEMBERSHIP FEES ARE DUE THE FIRST OF EACH MONTH
Membership paid after the first of the month is subject to a late fee. You can pay your membership fees in one of three ways.

1. By check: Please leave your check in the metal payment mail box by the front door, writing on the check what it is for, particularly if you are paying for clay, glaze runs, etc. in addition to your membership fees. If membership fees are paid always write the month you are paying for.

2. Online: Under the membership page of the website there is an option to pay online. This is done through PayPal, although a PayPal account is not required.

3. Automatic Billing: If you complete the automatic billing form we will keep your credit card payment information on file. You can opt to have your membership automatically charged every month, or keep the credit card on file only for clay and other charges. Please indicate which on the form. If Feet of Clay will be charging your monthly membership, expect it to be charged anywhere from the 1st – 10th of each month. Any member on automatic billing will be given a $5 discount on the membership fees. This does not apply to those on a “student rate” membership.

DEPOSIT:
When you join, you are required to put down a deposit equal to one month’s membership fees. This deposit will be held against any outstanding charges, i.e. late fees, glaze runs, key replacements, or firing fees. The unused portion will be returned to you when you leave the studio, removing your belongings and returning your key.

NO CASH:
When using cash, please be sure to give it to Diana or Jenn in person so that it does not remain in the payment box. Feet of Clay is not responsible for lost cash in the box.

LATE FEE:
If we have not heard from you by the first of the month, we will assume you are continuing to rent at the studio and you are subject to the $10 late fee.

WORK EXCHANGE:
We have a limited number of monthly jobs available in exchange for a rent reduction of $11 per hour off of the following month’s rent. If interested, speak to a manager.

TEMPORARY LEAVE OF ABSENCE:
Often people know they will not be able to work for a month or two and want to take a leave of absence from the studio. Any member wishing to take a leave of absence must do so in writing by either completing the “Departure Form”, located below the payment box, or by written note or email. If you plan to come back, you can leave your deposit with us and keep your key.

A leave of absence can only be on a full month basis (not November 11 to December 10, but all of November or all of December) and we must know in advance of the month(s) you plan to take. Please don’t say on December 5th, “Oh by the way, I’m taking December off”; we need to know this no later than November 30th.

If you have work in progress, it must be glazed and left on the appropriate shelves in the kiln room by the time you leave. Please include in your note any information about the collection of your work (as in “I’ll be in Tampa but my friend Bill will come by to pick it up. He’ll call first to be sure someone is there.”, or, “I’ll be away all of August, but will be back Sept 1, so please keep my pieces for me”). Other than work waiting to be fired, all other possessions, tools, clay, aprons, etc. must be removed.

A leave of absence means you will not be working in the studio at all, so please do not pop in to trim or glaze or otherwise “work”. It is not fair to those paying a full month’s rent.

LEAVING THE STUDIO
If you know you will not be returning for a long period of time, you can return your key and we will mail you back your deposit, less any outstanding charges. This must be done in writing by completing the “Departure Form”, by email or written note. The deposit will be returned to you within one month’s time.

DISAPPEARING:
Once in a while, a member just disappears. If two months have gone by with no word or no payment from you, we will assume you are gone. Your box and clay will be discarded or donated. If you do not want this to happen, please give us a call! Often we will send last emails to folks who still have their belongings here. This is a courtesy to members who have abandoned their belongings, and they are given a deadline. On the deadline attached to the email your items will be discarded.

SECTION 2: SHARING SPACE AND STUDIO ETIQUETTE

Working in a community studio is a blessing but requires special attention. A community studio is a wonderful place to exchange ideas and inspire one another. However, you must be very considerate of those around you in order to maintain a good atmosphere for everyone.

SETTING UP

When setting up, always take up as little space as possible, so that others can work around you. When a member approaches the room, always offer them the alternative space on the table if available. Kindly consolidate your work to accommodate them.

MUSIC:
Always ask each person in the room before turning on a radio. Remember silence always prevails, so if a member prefers silence please quiet the radio. You are welcome to use headphones so as not to disturb others.

CLEAN UP:
Clean every area that you touched very thoroughly (see specific details in cleanup section below). The tidiness of the studio depends on each member’s close attention to this matter. Clean the wheel completely, coming back with clean water afterward to get every last piece of clay. Wipe down the table thoroughly, making sure no clay remains on the table. Return all supplies where you found them. Never wipe small pieces of dry clay directly on the floor. This causes dust to track throughout the studio. Wipe the floor around you before leaving.

GENERAL COURTESIES:
In the front hall is a bulletin board where we try to post photos of all people using the studio so you can sleuth out other people’s names without having to ask over and over.

If you accidentally damage another person’s work, leave her/him a note.

When there is only one other person in the studio, let him/her know when you arrive and leave so s/he will know who else is rustling around and when s/he is alone.

CELL PHONE USE:
Cell phone use in the workrooms is not permitted if there are other members in the space. All members must go to the hallways to have their conversations, and use appropriate noise levels.

HELP AND ADVICE:
In general, being a member at Feet of Clay means you know how to work independently with clay. You should have a basic knowledge of how to manipulate clay, as well as glazing. Questions concerning studio operations, locations of materials, etc, are to be expected. But as a member you are not expected to teach others how to use clay or glazes, or give advice on projects.

Managers and other members can help you with studio questions such as “Where is the mop?” and “What’s that strange noise?” but if you want help centering your pot or designing your tile walkway you might want to ask one of our managers to set you up with a private lesson teacher. If a new member approaches you with a question about the facility, please offer advice in order to maintain a friendly atmosphere among the members. If someone is asking you too many questions, politely direct them to a manager.

FINDING YOUR WORK:
When searching for your work in the main rooms, please leave the pieces you are searching through exactly as you found them. Keep in mind a tiny opening in a plastic covering can dry a pot out completely, leaving the owner and the pot in a very bad state. Be considerate by labeling your work, with a piece of masking tape on top, so that you can easily identify your pieces, reducing the need to dig through the shelving.

Keep a journal of the pieces you are looking for. If you know the shape, size and type of clay, you will not have as much trouble finding your pots. When handling bisque, handle with extreme care.

SECTION 2: WORKING AT FEET OF CLAY

There are several rooms available to members at Feet of Clay. Workrooms include the large front room, the small middle room, a glazing room, and a large workroom in the back. There is also a glaze mixing room, a photo-booth, a slop room for cleanup, and a long hall with assorted functions. Please look over each of their functions and specifics below before using any of the equipment.

SLAB ROLLER:

The slab roller is free for any member to use. Please make note of these very important things.

Large slabs of clay must be flattened before going into the machine. Do not force the roller with slabs of clay more than one inch thick. Use the correct color canvas mat with the color of clay that is being rolled. Brown with Brown and White with White. Always use both the top and bottom canvas when using the slab roller. The work table next to the slab roller is to be left clean of all work and tools when you are done using the slab roller. Please note the slab roller itself, as well as the table next to it, is not a workspace. Both need to be available at all times for members to use.

If the slab roller is making a grinding noise, please discontinue use and alert a studio manager.

GRINDING WHEEL (located in the glaze mixing room):
Sign into the room and mark what you are using the room for (Sign up is on the door). Always wear eye protection and a respirator. Clean up after yourself with a wet sponge.

POTTERS’ WHEELS:
Please clean your wheel and the floor around it; take special care to see that it is turned off when you are finished with it.

KILNS:
Only certain people are trained and authorized to load and fire kilns. Please do not enter the kiln room beyond the shelving area.

If a kiln is firing, the door between the renter room and the kiln room should be shut and the fan should be on. The switch for the fan is on the long wall opposite the kiln room If a kiln is firing or still hot and the fan has not been turned on, you should feel free to do so. Likewise, if no kilns are firing or still hot (no red lights lit and no fumes to be smelled), you may shut the fan off.

TABLES: There are different tables for working with white or brown clay. Please use the appropriate table for the clay you are using.

PLASTIC: There are several barrels of plastic located throughout the studio for general use. Please do not put clay bags in the plastic barrels. Instead put them in the trash.

SPRAY BOOTH (located in the glaze mixing room):
Sign into the room and mark what you are using the room for (Sign up is on the door). When you using the spray booth, you can line the box with newspaper to catch overspray and throw away the papers when you’re done. If you are not using papers, or have further cleanup, always start with water from the glaze slop room for the initial cleaning, dumping the slop water back into the bucket when done. The second cleaning should be with clean water. Always remember to clean up any spills from the floor as well. Always remember to wear a mask and use the vent when spraying.
If you wish to use the high pressure spray booth, please ask a member of management to get trained.

PHOTO BOOTH:
The photo booth may be used to photograph your work. Felt pads must be placed under the pieces to prevent scratching the graduated paper. The lights of the photobooth are put on by the power strip underneath.

PURCHASING CLAY:
Feet of Clay sells 25 pounds of white or brown stoneware clay for $18 (porcelain for $23). Clay for sale may be found in the hall and instructions for purchasing clay are posted on the wall above the boxes of clay. Be sure you put your name on the bag of clay in indelible ink and store it on one of the three shelves located in the middle workroom, as noted in the “storage” section. To pay for the clay, fill in the tag from the clay bag with your name and the date, and indicate how you are paying for the clay. Attach the cash or check (make out a check to Feet of Clay for the amount due (write “for clay” on the check) to the clay tag and put them together in the payment box. If you have completed the automatic billing form, you may pay by credit card by circling the “charge card” section. If you decide to bring clay in from another source, speak to a manager first and be sure you know what temperature your clay fires to. We ask that people limit their clay storage to 50 pounds, or two bags of clay, as we do not have a lot of space.

WEDGING:
There are two plaster wedging boards at the front of the renter room, facing the street side windows. One is for white clay; the other for dark clays. Scrapings from the wedging boards should be thrown in the garbage. Please leave the area clean for others.

If you are wedging on a normal worktable, always wipe down the surface afterwards.

MARKING YOUR WARE:
Sign or initial all your work and indicate your sign on the chart in the kiln room. Keep in mind work that is unmarked can easily be mistaken for others’ work and be taken home accidentally. If there is a problem with your work, or a specific question, we will not be able to contact you if your work is unmarked.

If you are making very delicate objects, ask a manager for a spare kiln shelf to work on. This way we can load directly into the kiln without handling.

GUEST POLICY:
As a renter, you are entitled to bring in one guest once a month to work with clay. If your guest is a child, the child must be working quietly under your supervision at all times.

CLOSING UP:
If you are the last to leave, please shut off all lights except the one directly above the front door. Take a quick look to be sure all wheels are turned off.

Do not lock the top lock (the deadbolt) but do give the doorknob a twist from the outside to be sure that the lock is engaged.

SECTION 2: STORAGE

There are specific places for storage at Feet of Clay. We have separated things for ease of use and to maintain a tidy appearance.

STORING TOOLS AND SUPPLIES: When you sign up at Feet of Clay, you will be given a cardboard box in which you can store your tools, clothes, etc. while you are a member at Feet of Clay. Put your name on the box, and store the box so your name is visible. It’s a good idea to have your name on everything you keep in the studio, including bats, tools, towels, etc. as there are plenty of opportunities for you to misplace things between the work area and the clean up area and one needle tool looks pretty much like another. Storage is limited to what fits inside your box.

We do not have a lot of storage space so please try to be compact and keep your ware moving along. Clay must not be kept in your box, but in the designated clay storage area in the middle workroom.

CLAY STORAGE:
Clay storage must be kept in the middle workroom, on one of the three shelves provided. Write your name very clearly with a permanent marker on the bottom of the bag of clay. Dried clay will be discarded, as well as clay that is unmarked. In order to maintain a tidy appearance, clay must be kept in a clear plastic bag and not in buckets or random containers. If you are on a leave of absence you may not store your clay at Feet of Clay.

Clay found in other areas of the studio will be placed back in the clay storage area.

WORKS IN PROGRESS:
Your works in progress can be stored in the front room, along the side and rear walls, or anywhere in the middle workroom. Always label your work so that it can be easily recognized by you and other members. Make a note of where you store your works in progress.

ABANDONED WORK:
Please keep your pieces moving along as quickly as possible. An excess of work left in the studio overcrowds the storage areas and bisque shelves, and can lead to breakage as members search for their pieces.

ALL WORK, WHETHER GREENWARE, BISQUE OR GLAZE, IS INSPECTED MONTHLY. Any old pieces are put aside to make room for more work, and is eventually discarded. Please read below carefully to understand the policy.

Bone Dry Work: If work is found in the bone dry state in any of the work rooms, it will be considered abandoned and placed on the “orphan shelf” located in the middle work room. After 30 days it will be discarded.

Bisque Ware and Glaze Ware: Your work could be discarded or donated after 2 months time. We date all bisque once per month. Any work more than one month old will be put on a shelf labeled to be thrown away one month later. The next month any work dated longer than 2 months prior will be discarded.

Please note glazing of discarded items is not permitted, except for studio use when holding fundraisers.

SECTION 3: CLEAN UP

For a healthier and more pleasant place to work, please take seriously your share in cleaning up the studio. Airborne particles can seriously damage your lungs.

WET CLEAN (I.E. SPONGE OR MOP AND WATER) WHENEVER POSSIBLE TO REDUCE AIRBORNE CLAY DUST. USE SWEEPING COMPOUND (WHICH IS STORED IN THE PLASTER ROOM) IF SWEEPING IS NECESSARY.

SLOP ROOM:
We have a separate room with a nice, deep settling sink for cleaning splash pans, tools, bats, etc. The sink has a long pipe and a special trap so clay will not go down the drain. Anytime you pour a large quantity of water into it, pour slowly so the trap does not overflow all over the floor. If it does, please clean it up right away.

The table to the left of the slop sink is for use while you are cleaning, but please don’t leave anything on it when you’re done.

Sometimes there is a crowd waiting for the utility sink but we have plenty of large buckets you can use for clean-up; just be sure to empty them slowly when you do get to the utility sink.

NEVER RINSE FOOD IN THE SLOP SINK! Dishes and cutlery can only be washed in the Bathroom sink, and never in the Pottery Sink Room.
DO NOT USE THE BATHROOM SINK FOR CLAY CLEAN-UP! It will destroy the plumbing.

RECYCLING:
Please do not dump excess slop, unwanted pots and other hunks of clay into the sink. There are two alternatives:

You can recycle it for yourself, using a plaster bat from the back classroom.
You can recycle it. Outside the bathroom, and in the back classroom, there are large buckets for clay recycling. Put white clay scraps in the bucket for white clay recycling, and all other clays in the bucket marked for all other clays.

Whichever you choose, please do not dump goop in the sink as someone else will have to scoop it out. Yuck!

WHEELS:
Clean wheel head, all surfaces around wheel, including the floor; spritz and mop up trimmings and wash up spills. Remove splash pan, wash in utility sink and return to vicinity of appropriate wheel (never store splash pans on top of radiators; the heat will cause them to warp or become brittle and crack or break). Put down newspapers on floor before trimming to facilitate clean up. Turn off the wheel when you’re done.

TABLE TOPS, FLOORS, WEDGING BOARD, BATS ETC.:
It goes without saying that you should wipe off surfaces, clean and put away buckets, tools, etc., mop up spills and generally leave the area where you were working even cleaner than you found it. Clean all bats and boards free of clay.

CLEANING IN GENERAL:
If you see someone hurrying off and leaving debris behind, please remind them that they need to take care of their mess.

NO ONE LIKES TO CLEAN UP AFTER OTHER PEOPLE.
The cleanliness and order of the studio depend on the generosity and fair-mindedness of those who use it.

SECTION 3: CLEAN-A-THON

Twice a year there are entire studio clean-a-thons in which you will be expected to participate if you have been working at Feet of Clay. These generally occur in April and November and take about 3 hours on a weekend morning. If you are absolutely unable to attend the clean-a-thon you can do a job in lieu of the clean-a-thon, or pay $50. Here is what to expect.

About a month before the clean-a-thon you will receive an email asking you to RSVP to the clean-a-thon. Complete the RSVP form by choosing between attending, not attending and paying the fee, or not attend and do a pre-clean-a-thon job instead. You will also receive a reminder email. Those signed up for an alternate job will be instructed to come into the studio the week before the clean-a-thon. The clean-a-thon alternate assignment list will be available. You can choose which job you would like to do (first come/first serve) and work for 3 hours, writing on the sheet which jobs you completed.

SECTION 4: GLAZING

There are helpful glazing hints posted around the glazing room that you can refer to if you’re new to this.

SETTING UP IN THE GLAZING ROOM:

Use as little clean water as possible when setting up in the glazing room. Any clean water you use must be discarded into the slop buckets and never into the sink. Start with water from the actual slop buckets, located in the glazing room. If you must use clean water, use as little as possible.

Don’t fill up a whole area of a Glazing Room Table with more than a few pieces at any given time as the Glaze Room space is very busy thus sharing is imperative.

AVAILABLE GLAZES:
Test tiles of the glazes we offer are displayed on a board in the glaze room. See posted instructions nearby and if you have any questions, speak to a manager.

All test tiles show cone 6 oxidation firing; each tile shows two thicknesses. Single glaze tiles show one dip and two dips. Tiles showing two glazes overlapped are dipped in this order: “Olive/Cream” means Olive over Cream, i.e. dipped in Cream first and Olive second. You can also see if a glaze has a tendency to run. If it got thick or dripped at the bottom of the tile it will do the same on your piece.

Please be considerate of others in using glazes. If you want yours to be thinner than it is in the bucket, do not thin the entire bucket but remove what you think you will need and thin that separately. Return the unused glaze to the bucket when you are finished. If you are going to double dip, wait until the first dip has dried enough so it will not contaminate the bucket of the second glaze.

LIDS:
Be sure to replace the correct lid on the right bucket!

RISKY GLAZES:
Some glazes are more likely than others to run and should therefore be used only on the inside of pots. Read the information on the glaze buckets – it will identify which glazes are not food safe.

CLEAN BOTTOMS:
All pieces to be glaze fired should have the bottom surface completely sponged free of glaze as well as 1/4” up the side of the piece. We will not fire anything which looks like it might stick to the kiln shelf. See ”glaze run policy” below.

GLAZE RUN POLICY:
You will be charged $5 per glaze run on those runs which require shelf scraping and rewashing. If the run is so severe as to ruin the shelf, you will be charged the cost of a new shelf which is $22 or $55 depending on the shelf size. You will find a note about any glaze run with the offending pot and will be expected to leave your payment in the payment box. (Include the slip or a note so the bookkeeper will know whom to credit).

GLAZE PROBLEMS AND REPORTING:
If there is a problem with a glaze, always report it on the clipboard in the glazing room. Examples of problems are: too thick, too thin, has chunks of material in it, etc. We will work to correct the problem as soon as possible. Always fill in your name so that we can consult you if needed.

PANCAKES (aka “cookies”):
You may take additional precautions against a glaze run by making a very thin “pancake” of clay to fit under the bottom of your piece and extend a bit beyond the edge to catch any runs or drips that may occur. You will not be charged for any run that does not damage the kiln shelf.

SIGNATURES:
We must sign your work. Keep in mind that unmarked work can easily be mistaken for others’ and be taken home accidentally. If there is a problem with your work, or a specific question, we will not be able to contact you if your work is unmarked.

GLAZE SLIPS:
We have a pre-printed slip which we ask that you fill out and include with or in your glazed piece, telling us the date you put it in the kiln room, the cubic measurements of the piece and information about the glaze(s) you used. In the glazing room, there is a large box marked off in a 1” grid and an instruction sheet to help you with your cubic inch calculations. (As explained on the page about FIRING, you are entitled to 4500 cubic inches of glaze kiln space per month; anything above this is charged at 3 cents a cubic inch).

Please write the names of the glaze(s) you have used clearly on the slip, and indicate whether they are on the inside or outside of the pot. This way we can try to protect your piece against potential glaze runs or flashing and place your piece in the most advantageous spot in the kiln. Any glaze labeled “for inside pots only” or “runny glaze” must be taken seriously or we will all regret it. Leave your glazed ware in the kiln room on the shelf unit nearest the hall door.

CLEANING UP and the GLAZE SLOP BUCKETS:
Everything you use in the glazing room must be cleaned thoroughly. Use the slop buckets located nearest the side entrance, rinse anything that came in contact with glaze. This includes sponges, measuring cups, tongs, buckets, paint brushes and hands. When finished rinsing everything rinse it again with clean water and return to its proper place. Throw away any newspapers spread on table and floor. Wipe down surfaces. Clean up the extra odd thing someone else forgot to take care of and everyone will appreciate the effort.

Glaze should never be put directly in the sink, as it is hazardous to our water supply!

RECYCLED GLAZES:
On the side wall there is a selection of recycled glazes. These are made from the slop glaze bucket that you use for rinsing glaze. Some of them are quite nice and can be repeated, but others cannot be repeated. Use the good ones while they last!

SECTION 5: FIRING OF GENERAL MEMBERS’ WORK

Feet of Clay has 4 electric (oxidation) kilns which we routinely fire to ∆06 and ∆6. General members’work is fired for them by studio volunteers and managers.

When ware is ready to be fired, place it on the appropriate shelf (bisque or glaze) in the kiln room. Please do not leave your work on a ware board, but put it directly on the shelf, cleaning the ware board and putting it away. Do not touch anything in the kiln room! This is for everyone’s benefit. If something needs to be moved, please ask a manager. (For more information on firing, read on…)

Work placed in the kiln room will be fired as soon as possible. Feet of Clay does not guarantee quick firing, so please expect your work to be fired in 1-2 weeks time. If your piece has been sitting on the shelf for two weeks or more, speak to a manager about it. Often pieces will get overlooked out of chance, as we load what happens to fit into the kiln that day. However, if you are in need of a piece quickly, always write a note asking for immediate firing. We are very conscious of other potters’ needs and will respond if it is possible.

If there is a problem with a glazed piece or a greenware piece, it will be placed on the “OOPS” shelf in the main hallway, on the plastic shelf. Your work will be placed there if there is a greenware crack, if the piece is over-glazed, if the piece is not wiped ¼” up the side, not wiped on the bottom, if someone accidentally broke one of your pieces, or if your piece is not measured. Work more than one month old will be discarded.

BROKEN PIECES:
Every so often a piece will get broken during loading or unloading, or broken by another member who was handling it. This is a very unfortunate experience for both the person whose piece was broken and the person who broke it. If you broke a piece while handling, always leave a note out of courtesy to the artist.

SCHEDULE:
The kiln schedule is on the door of the kiln room in the form of calendars.

Semi-private and private renters are required to fire their own kilns after being trained, but they must sign up on the schedule in advance.

QUANTITY:
Your rent includes 3500 cubic inches of glaze firing per month. There is no charge for bisque firings.

How to calculate cubic inches? In the glazing room is a large box marked off in inches, with instructions taped to the table next to it. Also on the table, is a stack of blank firing slips onto which you should write the cubic inches of each piece. Put your name, the date and the type of glaze both inside and outside and leave this slip in your piece when you put it on the shelves to be fired. (See “Section 4: Glazing” for further details).

KILN SAFETY:
Please note the location of the fire extinguisher in the kiln room.

Please do not go beyond the shelves into the area of the room where the kilns may be firing and dangerously hot. Never place pots (or anything else) on kiln lids; if you are trying to hurry the drying of a piece, try putting it in an open window or under a lamp or in the Hot Box.

KILN VENTING:
During a firing, the door leading into the renter room should be kept shut and the venting fan turned on. (Ask where the switch to this fan is if you can’t find it). You may turn the fan off when the kilns are off and cool.

FIRED WORK:
Fired work will be unloaded and placed on the shelving in the hall. Please remove fired ware from these shelves as soon as possible, to free storage space.

SECTION 9: MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

LOCATION:
We are located at 21 Station Street in Brookline Village, MA 02445. Our building is directly across from the Brookline Village “T” stop on the MBTA Green D Line (Riverside). The numbers 66 (Harvard – Dudley) and 65 (Brighton – Kenmore) buses stop around the corner; the number 60 (Chestnut Hill – Kenmore) bus stops 2 blocks away.

EMERGENCIES:
An emergency contact list is located by the front door of the studio, on the bulletin board. If it is a true medical emergency always call 911! Call each manager phone number, starting with Jenn.

FIRST AID KIT:
A first aid kit is located in the bathroom, in the shelving on the left wall. Use as necessary and inform management if we are running low on anything.

COATS AND PERSONAL BELONGINGS:
There are coat hooks located in the front hallway of the studio, as well as on the door to the plaster room in the back classroom. Belongings can either be hung on the hooks, or brought into the workrooms. If bringing belongings into workrooms, always put them to the side, so as not to take up precious working space.

dogs:
Feet of Clay is a dog-friendly studio, however, if you bring your dog, please keep an eye out to make sure your pet is not disturbing others working nearby. Dogs that don’t get along with others, either people or other dogs, should be contained in a work space that keeps them from being disruptive or noisy. If that is not possible we may ask that you leave your dog at home.

TELEPHONE:
The studio phone number is 617-731-3262.

Managers generally answer the phone when it rings; if no manager is there please let the answering machine pick up the phone. Sometimes someone is calling to ask if anyone is there to let them in or to do a kiln turn-up. If you hear them asking someone to pick up, please feel free to pick up the phone.

INTERNET:
Free wireless is provided. The network is Feetofclay1 and the password is 6177313262.

FRONT DOOR:
The front door should be kept locked at all times. Even if you are just running out to feed the meter, bring your key.

If there is a class, the front door may be unlocked during that time for students who are not issued a key to have access.

If the doorbell rings, feel free to answer it. It could be a member who has forgotten their key, a student trying to pick up their finished work, or just someone who happens to ring the doorbell out of curiosity. In that case, you can either show them around the studio yourself, or ask them to call/email the studio for an appointment. If you show them around the studio it is recommended you walk with them.

BOOK LIBRARY:
The library of books in the hallway is for everyone’s use. Please borrow and return the books in a timely manner. Please do not take the books out of the studio without manager approval.

KITCHEN AREA:
We have a very small kitchen area for member use. Feel free to use the refrigerator, microwave, espresso machine and water filter jug, cutlery and pottery. All items in the fridge should be labeled with your name. Anything not labeled will be thrown away during random times. Alcohol may be kept in the fridge, but food always takes precedence.

HOW TO DO DEAL WITH DISHES:
If you have a dirty dish that needs rinsing or washing, first scrape any food waste in the bin labeled for food, next to the slop sink room. Then rinse all food residue from the plate in the bathroom sink. Empty the bathroom sink screen into the scrap bin as necessary. Never put food waste or even residue in the slop sink!

CLASSES:
Classes are generally held on weekday evenings and on some weekday mornings. They are held in either the front or back workroom. When entering the studio take note of the class calendar hanging in the front entranceway. This tells you which class is being held where, so that you can plan where to set up. Please recognize that the students have priority when it comes to work space and equipment during class time. It is the instructor’s preference if they wish to have/not have members working during their class.

LOST AND FOUND:
There is a small lost and found located in the front room at the bottom of the metal shelving, next to the slab-rolling table. Anything left around the studio will be placed there and kept for a maximum of one month’s time.

WEBSITE:
Information about the studio and upcoming shows is available on our website www.feetofclaypottery.com. Each member can have their work displayed on the website, along with an artist page and links to your site or blog. Forward photos of your work to the studio.

STUDIO SHOWS:
We generally have two shows a year and all renters are invited to participate. Look for notices which are posted well in advance of the shows. Keep in mind studio show availability is on a first come/first serve basis. Sign up is always February 15th and September 15th. Be here promptly to sign up, or you may lose your opportunity!

SEMI-PRIVATE STATUS:
After you have worked at Feet of Clay for a month or more, you may wish to take on semi-private status. This entitles you to your own shelving unit and training in kiln loading. You pay a small rent increase, a non-refundable fee (equivalent to one month’s rent), take on a three hour a month job and are expected to load and fire your own work, once your training is complete. This option is subject to availability of openings.

RISKS:
There are certain risks involved in the manufacture and firing of ceramics, in the materials and use of equipment. Please exercise care in using materials and equipment. If you have any questions about safety procedures, be sure to ask. The management assumes no liability for any injury you might sustain.

DISRUPTIONS:
Feet of Clay shall be permitted to terminate the membership agreement at any time we deem that a member is causing disruption to the studio or any others using the studio, or member fails to follow the Feet of Clay Guidelines.

NO SMOKING. NO LEAD. NO BARIUM. ANYWHERE IN THE STUDIO.

SECTION 7: LEAVING FEET OF CLAY

When you decide to leave us altogether, please complete the Departure Form, telling us which will be your final month. Leave it in the metal payment box. We need to receive your notice BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTH.

Remove all tools, clay, work and any other possessions before you leave.

If you have unfired ware, talk to a manager about when this will be ready and when you will pick it up.

Return your key (and be sure we know it is your key) and the Departure Form, being sure to complete the address section of the form. We will mail you the deposit back, less any outstanding charges, within one month.

Remember, if you do not let us know that you are leaving, we will continue to expect your rent. If we have not heard from you in 2 months, we will keep your deposit toward back rent, late fees, etc. and absorb or discard your possessions, so please keep in touch with us.