Whidbey Clay Center, located at 1664 Main Street in Freeland, was opened by Cara Jung in 2019. The Whidbey Clay Center has evolved into a unique place for people who want to work in a pottery studio, and offers classes for people who want to learn more about the art of pottery making. The studio operates on a membership model and has grown from 15 potters at the beginning to more than 70 now. Members pay $135 a month and gain 24/7 access to the studio, a personal shelf for storage, access to shared equipment, community glazes, and unlimited firing services. Members need to purchase clay, but everything else is included in the membership. Members work independently on their own projects, though there is a community atmosphere where people inspire, advise, and help one another.
Whidbey Clay Center (WCC) offers many enrichment activities for beginning potters as well. WCC typically offers wheel throwing and hand building classes, and occasionally, offers more specialized classes including mask making, pit firing, raku firing, and wild clay. WCC also has a gallery where studio members and local potters can sell their work on consignment. Anyone who would like to know more about the current opportunities and classes can find more information on the website: www.whidbeyclaycenter.com.
Owner Cara Jung’s love for pottery and ceramics started more than 20 years ago. She went to a small college in Iowa called Luther College and studied Art. After graduation she apprenticed with potters in Door County, Wisconsin and worked in production pottery at a studio in Minnesota. Cara then went on to earn an MFA in Ceramics from PennWest in 2008. Cara and her husband Robert first visited Whidbey in 2017, and they agreed they would like to move to the island with their three children (now 17, 13 and 11). Robert is part owner and veterinarian at the South Whidbey Animal Clinic.
Whidbey Clay Center is a member of the Washington Clay Arts Association (WCA), Whidbey Island Arts Council (WIAC), and Freeland Chamber of Commerce.
Pictured work created by: Karen Abel, Denise Rothman, Corinna Inmann, and Cynthia Gerdes
People in the picture: Studio members Lindsey Strand-Polyak, Jill Lipoti, and owner Cara Jung
Picture of Cara Jung and her work, WCC interior facility, Exterior of WCC
