Today we’d like to introduce you to Tania Julian.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
We got started as a group in 2002 after ‘the Mudroom’ closed. A group of like-minded potters and glass artists decided to start a co-operative in Cabbagetown (Cabbagetown Clay and Glass Works). We had shared equipment to make everything.
A ceramic garden gnome was adopted as our mascot to raise funds for the studio. Small classes were taught and our annual holiday show began. When a bigger space next to Stone Soup Kitchen opened, we moved there. We continued growing, our work started to get better and individuals began to pursue their full time careers.
Membership varied from about 8-15 people. At some point, maybe about 2007 an EMT truck crashed into the side of our building and the facade needed to be repaired. We had to move into the empty space next door.
When the strip mall was sold to a large company most businesses were forced out of the building in 2016. Rents were increased drastically without improvements to the historic building. We had an eye on our current building in Kirkwood. The time was right and we were fortunate enough to get it. The back building needed to be brought up to date, it was just an empty shell with bullet holes and a pool table. A kickstarter campaign helped us fund the expansion. We are now able to host larger classes. Our name changed to Atlanta Clay Works.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Having to move a clay studio multiple times is a huge undertaking. Work is fragile, equipment is heavy. But we did it with enough help. Keep in mind that we are just a group of artists trying to make it work together. As in any relationship there can be drama. Somehow, the core group have managed to stay great friends through thick and thin.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
The business is set up as a not for profit organization. We teach classes regularly throughout the year in 8 week intervals. Every last Friday of the month we host “Clay Play’ were people with no or little experience can try making something with our instruction. We glaze for them and they come pick it up. We teamed up with Taproom Coffee every month (the second Friday) to make one small project in the coffee shop. This event is great for parents and kids alike.
Our space can be rented for parties and corporate events. We love our new gallery space and the wonderful business community in Kirkwood. We are teaming up with the Pullman Bar to create an Empty Bowl fundraiser next month and we have another annual event with Eventide Brewery. It is a gnome auction (about 30 of them) to help us create funds for the studio (Equipment maintenance, taxes, etc). There is no other business like ours.
What were you like growing up?
We were all interested in art and studied it in some shape or form. Me, personally, I grew up in Germany and loved going to museums and loved all 19th century modern art from expressionism onward. I always wanted to be a painter, but was too critical of myself. When I found pottery through a Japanese friend of mine, it was a liberating experience, since I had no preconceived notion about it. It had never occurred to me to try it.
Pricing:
- Clay Play $45 per person
- Pottery class (8 weeks) $250
- Taproom Coffee and Atl Clay Works $15 per person
- Gallery offering vary from $10 – $300
Contact Info:
- Address: 42 Howard St SE
Atlanta GA 30317 - Website: www.atlclayworks.org
- Phone: 678.778.7082
- Email: atlclayworks@gmail.com
- Instagram: atlclayworks
- Facebook: Atlanta Clay Works
Image Credit:
Tania Julian
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