.png)
TAOS CERAMICS CENTER
STUDIO INFORMATION & GUIDELINES
PLEASE READ
See STUDIO SCHEDULE for information on hours of use
See FIRING FEES / AGREEMENT for kiln firing at the TCC
This information is provided to all new students and new members so they may become familiar with the Taos Ceramics Center’s Studio Information and Guidelines. We want to ensure that things run safely and smoothly for all in the studio so that we may provide you with the most satisfying experience possible. We are so happy to have you with us at Taos Ceramics Center and hope that you have a great time!
It is very important to keep the studio workspaces and glaze areas clean. Clay and glaze left on the floor will dry and become a fine, nearly invisible silica dust, which is circulated and suspended to float indefinitely in the air. This dust is a serious health hazard to all who use the studio. This is a WET CLEANING studio. NO SWEEPING ALLOWED. Wet mop the floor around your work area if needed. Always use a wet sponge to clean up clay dust. Do not do any scraping or dry-sanding in the studio as it creates hazardous silica dust. We encourage wet-sanding. Any dry-sanding must be done outside and with the appropriate safety equipment (respirator). If you are working with any dry materials you must use a respirator.
This is a community studio – please be aware that your actions
affect everyone around you!
• All new students and new members must attend a brief orientation, thoroughly read and acknowledge receipt of the TCC Studio Information and Guidelines and sign the TCC Waiver of Liability prior to their first class or when signing up as a new member/new student in the studio.
• Please leave your workspace cleaner than you found it.
• Do not hesitate to ask on-duty staff if you do not know something. Ceramics is a highly technical art form and even the most experienced ceramicists need help sometimes!
• Treat everyone with respect. Do not use offensive, hostile, intimidating or vulgar language. Sexually explicit language or sexual harassment is expressly prohibited. Any disrespect, harm, or harassment to TCC instructors, resident artists, interns, or fellow studio members will not be tolerated. Please do not create a hostile or negative environment! Repeat offenders will be permanently barred from the using the studio.
• Respect instructors and studio staff when they are working on their own work. Please direct your questions to the “on-duty” studio staff.
• Please do not offer unsolicited advice or opinions.
• Absolutely no eating in the studio. Use picnic area outside or kitchen.
• TCC is a smoke-free and drug-free facility.
• If you appear to be visibly intoxicated you will be asked to leave.
• Please practice cellphone courtesy while in the studio. Please turn your phone off or to vibrate while in the studio and take your phone conversation outside.
• Proper attire is required at all times. No long, loose-fitting, or flowing clothing. For your safety, please do not wear open-toed shoes. All long hair must be securely tied back. Wheels, slab rollers, kilns and other equipment can be a safety concern.
• Do not handle or touch other people's work, tools or belongings unless invited to do so. If you accidentally damage another person’s work, leave a note.
• You may not enter someone's private studio space unless invited to do so.
• All members and current students will be assigned a storage shelf or cubby for work in progress, personal tools and materials.
• Lockers are free to annual membership holders. The TCC will provide the lock. Students currently enrolled in a class and short-term membership holders may rent a locker for $15/mo based on availability.
• Be sure to sign or uniquely mark your work legibly before placing on green-ware racks.
• Do not use any sharp tools on the plaster wedging tables. Plaster chips can become embedded in clay and can cause the fired piece to explode in the kiln.
• Please place only bone-dry work on green-ware racks for bisque-firing and glazed work on the appropriate glaze carts for glaze firing. Separate glaze carts for cone 5/6 and cone 10 – please pay close attention! Do not place low-fire work on mid- or high-fire glaze carts – it will melt and can cause damage to kiln, shelves and others’ work.
• Do not stay past the end of the Open Studio hours. Plan your time so that you have time to clean up before the end of Open Studio hours.
• Members must not give their individual door entry code to anyone else, nor let anyone into the studio outside of Open Studio hours. This is to ensure everyone’s safety. When a member leaves the studio empty at the end of their studio session, they must clean up after themselves, turn off all lights and be sure that the door closes firmly and is then locked by pressing the button on the keypad that resembles a lock. (See full Closing Procedures posted on Studio exit door.)
• TCC is not responsible for the loss or damage of work or personal property. Please leave your valuables at home.
CLEAN-UP PROCEDURES
It is very important to keep the studio workspaces and glaze areas clean. Clay and glaze left on the floor will dry and become a fine, nearly invisible silica dust, which is circulated and suspended to float indefinitely in the air. This dust is a serious health hazard to all who use the studio.
This is a WET CLEANING studio. NO SWEEPING ALLOWED. Wet mop the floor around your work area when you are finished. Always use a wet sponge to clean up clay dust.
• Please, no clay down the drain! Put all clay scraps and clay slurry into the appropriate reclaim bucket (^5/6 or ^10, DO NOT MIX), being sure no sponges, tools, or other foreign objects enter reclaim bucket.
• Pre-rinse hands, tools, sponges and throwing bucket (after emptying) in pre-rinse buckets located adjacent to clay sink before final washing in sink. This preserves our plumbing and our environment. Please return all tools, buckets and sponges to their proper location after cleaning up. Never use kitchen or bathroom sinks for clay or glaze clean-up.
• Thoroughly clean/wipe down wheels, catch pans, stools, worktables and bats, again being mindful of washing any clay down the drain. Mop up any spills or splatters promptly using wet mop or sponge. Use a bucket and sponge for this clean-up and empty into clay-rinse bucket or appropriate reclaim bucket. Be sure wheel is turned off. Place stool upside down on wheel head. Place all wheel catch pans, bats, sponges and tools back in their appropriate place. Double-check the sink for tools and sponges, and wipe down the area around the sink.
GLAZING
Please seek guidance from Studio staff if you are new to ceramics for advice on glazing materials and technique. Do not hesitate to ask on-duty staff if you do not know something. Ceramics is a highly technical art form and even the most experienced ceramicists need help sometimes!
• Be sure that your hands are clean and free from any oils, wax, or lotions that may leave a residue on your work and lead to glaze defects.
• Prepare your bisque-fired piece for glazing by either quickly rinsing or wiping with a clean damp sponge. This removes any dust that may lead to glaze defects.
• Allow the piece to dry while you record your glazing information in your notebook.
• It is generally best to glaze the inside of a piece first.
• Be sure to thoroughly mix the glaze before using. This keeps all of the ingredients in suspension for best results. Many glazes tend to settle causing uneven distribution of ingredients which can lead to glaze defects. If you have not used the glaze for several minutes, give it a quick stir before using again.
• Please pay careful attention when several glaze buckets are open at the same time or when there are multiple people using glazes to be sure there is not any cross-contamination of tools or glazes and that the proper lids are placed back on the appropriate glaze buckets.
• Use wax sparingly to prevent glaze from adhering to the bottom of a piece. Any glaze that beads up on the waxed surface must be removed thoroughly prior to firing.
• Be sure to use only brushes labeled “WAX USE ONLY” when applying wax and wash brush promptly with detergent to keep the brush in good working order. Place wax brushes back in the container labeled “WAX BRUSHES ONLY” to prevent contamination of glaze brushes.
• Be sure to check and clean the bottom of your piece thoroughly of any glaze that may cause your piece to stick to and cause damage to kiln shelf – and your piece!
• If your work is deemed to have flaws that may cause damage to the kiln or another’s work, such as too-thick glaze application or flaking glaze, it will be placed on the “Oops” shelf. Please see the Studio monitor on duty for help.
• Please pre-rinse all glaze tools such as sponges, brushes, cups, whisks, spatulas and tongs in the appropriate glaze pre-rinse bucket adjacent to the glaze sink before final rinsing in the sink. Do not pour glaze rinse-water down the drain; empty it into the glaze rinse bucket. If this bucket is full, please see the studio monitor to assist you in starting a new glaze-rinse bucket. This keeps glaze chemicals from entering the environment through wastewater. Return all glaze tools to their proper location after cleaning up.
• After glazing, be sure to clean any glaze drips from sides and top of glaze bucket, and clean any glaze drips off floor or counter surface using sponge or wet mop. Replace the correct top securely back on the glaze bucket.
FIRING FEES
• All members’ work fired at TCC is subject to the Studio’s firing fee policy. All work must be weighed during posted Firing Fee Processing Hours (TBD).
• Each piece must be weighed and paid for to receive a paper “firing ticket”. Work must then be placed on the appropriate ware cart together with its ticket that has been stamped “paid” before it will be loaded into a kiln. Firing fees will be posted and are subject to change.
WAIVER OF LIABILITY
The student/member agrees, without exception, to indemnify, protect and hold harmless Taos Ceramics Center LLC (d/b/a Taos Ceramics Center) and its agents, successors and assigns from and against any and all losses, damages, suits, claims, demands, costs, and charges that Taos Ceramics Center LLC may directly or indirectly suffer, sustain or be subjected to, by, or on account of (i) the student or member's entry upon, occupancy, or use of the facility and/or its equipment; or (ii) the student or member's conduct in the facility – whether such losses or damages are sustained by Taos Ceramics Center LLC directly, or by other persons or entities (including employees or independent contractors associated with Taos Ceramics Center LLC), who may seek to hold Taos Ceramics Center LLC liable. This indemnification shall not apply to instances attributable to the gross negligence or willful misconduct of Taos Ceramics Center LLC.