Overview
Perhaps you were one of the many folks who turned to clay to knead out their lockdown frustrations last year, or maybe you're just looking for a new creative outlet to add to your repertoire. Either way, newly-opened ceramics teaching studio Clae Space is destined to be one of your new happy places.
A bright, friendly space situated in the leafy pocket of Research in Melbourne's northeast, Clae is the brainchild of ceramicist Daisy Cooper (Daisy Cooper Ceramics) and partner Joseph Smaje.
Daisy Cooper & Joseph Smaje, by Catherine Elise
The pair has transformed part of their label's light-filled warehouse studio into an inviting teaching space. Here, on the doorstep of the Yarra Valley and Warrandyte, budding ceramic artists can disconnect from the world to immerse themselves in the practice and hone their skills. Under some expert tutelage, no less.
Clae Space currently runs a handful of classes, including a six-week Intro to Hand Building course that guides students through the fundamentals of the art, dives into different techniques and sees them each creating their own personal ceramics project.
By Catherine Elise
If you'd rather just get your hands dirty and blow off some steam with a one-off workshop, you'll also find regular 90-minute Taster Sessions, plus themed workshops, and the odd Clay, Wine and Cheese night.
Cooper's also hosting regular workshops in the ancient Japanese art of kintsugi, which is centred on the idea of emphasising or celebrating an object's imperfections. In this class, you'll be taught how to use the practice to artfully repair broken ceramics pieces with bold golden seams, creating some unique new homewares for your own pad.
Various private classes are available, too, if you fancy a mates' activity that's a little more creatively charged than bottomless brunch.
Find Clae Space at Unit 6, 1625 Main Road, Research.
Images: Catherine Elise