Prince Of Petworth » Neat Neighborhood Find: Hinckley Pottery

Neat Neighborhood Find: Hinckley Pottery

I love stumbling upon places like this. Granted when I was buzzed in and started politely asking questions one of the proprietors looked at me as though I was crazier than Howard Hughes…but l can forgive them that because this place is pretty damn cool. It has been open for 15 years and Ms. Jill Hinckley has been teaching for over 40 years. If you dig pottery you can get some great info on classes from Web site. The gallery/shop is located at 1707 Kalorama Road.

The brochure says “Hinckley Pottery is a privately owned studio. The studio is furnished with 14 electric wheels and a treadle wheel. Ed. note: I’m not familiar with a treadle wheel but I assume it is pretty bad ass. There are two electric kilns, two gas kilns and a propane fired raku kiln. Stoneware, porcelain, and raku clays are available, and students are encouraged to work in a variety of clay bodies. Hinckley’s gallery is adjacent to the classroom. It displays and sells works by Jill Hinckley and visiting potters.” Class schedule after the jump.

Day	Morning	Afternoon	Early Evening	Late Evening

Monday			6:00-8:30 beginner	8:30-11:00 beginner
Tuesday	11:30-2:00 mixed		6:00-8:30 intermediate to advanced	8:30-11:00 beginner to intermediate
Wednesday			6:00-8:30 beginner to intermediate	8:30-11:00 mixed
Thursday	11:30-2:00 mixed	2:30-5:00 mixed	6:00-8:30 beginner	8:30-11:00 beginner
Friday			6:00-8:30 beginner	8:30-11:00 beginner
Saturday	10:00-12:30 intermediate to advanced	12:30-3:00 beginner to intermediate	3:00-5:30 beginner

Category: Adams Morgan, art

By: Prince Of Petworth | 06 August 2008 12:00 PM | No Comments

Katie

Hinckley Pottery is great. I’ve been taking classes there for several years and it’s a great community of interesting DC folks. The Student Pottery Show is held every spring around May 1, and it is a great opportunity to buy beautiful handmade pottery at rock-bottom prices.

August 6, 2008 at 12:17 pm
DCDireWolf

I know someone who takes a class here, she LOVES it. This place is great.

August 6, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Kevin

A treadle is a foot press that you use to spin the wheel. They also have them for sewing machines, looms, and everything else. Techincally, a bike is a treadle bicycle!

August 6, 2008 at 12:45 pm
JnDC

Is this a pay as you go kinda deal, or do you have to sign up for a series of classes? What is the pricing like? Looks very cool.

August 6, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Katie

Classes are once a week, 2.5 hours. You sign up for a 10-week session. It costs $350 and that includes all materials.

August 7, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Not Impressed

I took a class at Hinckley Pottery a while back. I love pottery, but what a waste of time and money this was! I am a semi-beginner and took a ten-week class. Got NO help whatsoever–in fact I was ignored as the regulars, all advanced potters, gossiped about their sex lives and made their pots. I felt not only ignored but positively unwelcome. After ten weeks I had learned NOTHING about making pottery. Learned more at a class I took years before in Japan–and this class was conducted entirely in Japanese, a language I barely speak.

If you’re into the twentysomething gay & lesbian pickup scene, this place might be for you (especially if you’re already an accomplished potter). If you wanted a pottery LESSON, go somewhere else.

March 27, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Carol Herwig

A followup on Hinckley Pottery.
A group of Hinckley Pottery students (including this 20-year student) show our work this Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The line starts well before 11 a.m. at 1707 Kalorama NW because this is known as a great place, time to shop for gifts. Hope to see you there. Carol Herwig

April 22, 2009 at 2:57 pm