The existence of prehistoric pottery shards paints a clear picture of ancient artisanal practices while highlighting ancestral clumsiness. Leave behind traces of your own civilization with today's Groupon to Allen Stoneware Gallery in the Colony Plaza. Choose between the following options:
- For $46, you get an introduction to pottery class (a $95 value).
- For $10, you get $20 worth of pottery, sculpture, jewelry, and more inside the gallery's retail store.
Helmed by sculptor, teacher, and all-around pottery guru Vickie Allen Shea, Allen Stoneware Gallery unites budding artists with clay canvases and shoppers with elegant, kiln-fired creations. During eight-person introduction to pottery classes, students craft two pieces fit for everyday use, from cooking casseroles and displaying flowers to hiding stashes of embarrassing baby photos. Skilled instructors will share tips on clay construction and glazing over the course of two hours before putting the finishing touches on each piece and arranging times for students to pick up their brand-new coffee mugs, plant pots, and gladiator helmets. Home delivery is available for an additional cost.
A colorful collection of sculpture, jewelry, and pastel prints infuses the gallery's retail store with the creative, whimsical vibe of its art studio. Ceramic pieces include a glossy blue-and-brown pie plate ($24) and fruit-shaped apple-crisp dish ($18), which make baked goods even more enticing, and a shiny, sapphire-hued soap dispenser ($18) puts plastic hand-sanitizer bottles to shame, sending them into hiding beneath kitchen sinks.
Allen Stoneware Gallery
In the studio of Allen Stoneware Gallery, nine pottery wheels stand still, each waiting for a student to throw his or her first project. When pupils pour in, these wheels spin into action. Hands get messy, brows furrow, and vases spin into their intended shapes. After a trip to the kiln and a quick rub to free any accidentally trapped genies, the dishes are ready to be taken home.
This is just one type of class offered at the gallery, where artist Vickie Allen-Shea draws upon 38 years of art-making and art-teaching experience to make the community a little more vibrant. In addition to throwing and sculpting lessons, as well as casual BYOB workshops, her studio serves as a boutique. Shoppers can take home one-of-a-kind dishes and figures, or commission a custom-designed piece made to match their vision.