About Us > The Studio > Studio Etiquette

Xiem™ Studio Etiqutte

We suggest you wear comfortable, washable clothes and bring a hand towel to aid with your personal clean-up.

Clean Up

Allow 20-30 minutes for clean-up at the end of your work session. Please be thorough. Clean-up is part of the clay experience.

• Wedging Table - Scrape and sponge the surface after every use. Check the floor for clay scraps and dust.
• Tables, Chairs, Floor - Wash down with clean sponge after use and sweep up any clay debris.
• Your Wheel and surrounding workspace - Use clean water to sponge all areas sponge after slip has been emptied into the slip bucket next to the sink. Check for trimming scraps, water or slip spills on the floor. Remember to empty the bucket under the wheel.
• Bats and ware-boards - After use they must be scraped clean, washed and returned to the proper shelves.
• Sinks - Check labels (one is for washing up clay, one for glazes)!
  • Clean sink surround each time it is used. Floor pedals are delicate so use with care.
  • Use water sparingly. Do not let water drip or leave water running.
  • Do not dump scrap clay or slip into sinks.
• Glaze Area and Glaze Buckets - Make sure you clean glaze residue off paddles, buckets
• Spray Booth - The spray booth must be scraped down and washed after use.

Work In Progress

• The damp room is not a storage area. It is only to be used for work in progress.
• No piece may remain in the damp room for more than one month.
• Avoid touching anyone’s pots without their permission.
• Handle your own work in progress with care, always using both hands.
• Members receive 4500 cubic inches of firing space per month; students receive 2750 cubic inches per session. Measure and record inches on firing slips before bisque firing.
• All work must be identified at every stage of the making process: green-ware tags in the damp room and firing tags for bisque.
• Any item without initials or an identifying mark will not be fired and will be placed on the reject shelf in the kiln room.

Tools

• Studio equipment must be cleaned and returned to its proper place after use.
• We suggest you mark your tools.
• Check the Lost+Found drawer for missing tools.

Contamination

• To avoid contamination of clay and glazes, check labels on wedging tables, slab boards, canvas and glaze buckets.
• Check labels on sinks: one is for clay and one for glazes.
• Dispose of waste clay and slip in respective scrap bins, read labels.
• Sanding must be done outside. Clean any sanding dust from patio area after use.
• It is advisable to wear a face mask while sanding to avoid breathing in dust.

Glazing

• Stir glazes thoroughly before use. Using the paddle alone is not enough; the best way to check to see if the glaze is mixed thoroughly is to use your hand to feel for any sludge at bottom of bucket.
• Do not leave glaze buckets open.
• Do not add water to glazes.
• Check label on lid before returning it to the bucket.
• Avoid contamination by using only clean utensils.
• Clean shelves, paddles/whisks, floor and buckets after glazing.
• Students are required to fill in a Glaze Info tag for each item placed on the glaze firing shelf.
• Members should use these tags when they have special requirements to communicate. Pieces ready for glaze firing must be placed on the designated shelf in kiln room.
• Make sure bottoms of pieces are free of glaze and also that a quarter of an inch up the sides is glaze-free. Pieces that are not properly cleaned will be placed on the Reject Shelf in the Kiln Room.

Classes

• When classes are in progress, the communal space is divided - Members use the wheels and table nearest to the kitchen.
• Please avoid playing music or using the spray gun when classes are in progress.

Storage

• Shelves are available for clay storage but storage is limited to 1 bag per student and 2 bags per member. Label your clay with your first and last name.
• Additional clay or other items must be stored in lockers.

Glaze Lab

• Access to the glaze lab is limited to students registered for glaze calculation class.

Kilns

• Kilns are off-limits to Members and Students
• The kiln room is not a storage area. Bisque fired pots should be glazed immediately and placed on the designated shelves for firing. Bisque fired pieces will be discarded if they are not claimed after 2 weeks.
• Loading and unpacking of kilns is to be done by Xiem staff members ONLY.

Kitchen

• Clearly label and date any food stored in the refrigerator.
• Everyone that uses the kitchen is responsible for clean-up. Whatever you use, please wash well after use and put back in its proper place.

Finished Work

• All finished work must be taken home as soon as possible.Check the loading and un-loading scheduleplaced above the bisque kilns.

Parking and Security

• Evening Students may not remain in the studio after class is over.
• The last Member or Instructor to leave the studio must turn off all lights except over the sink, close all studio doors, lock the main door, turn off the air coolers and close the outside gate.

No Smoking or Loud Noise in the Studio

• We aim to keep the noise level down though somesounds (the sprayer, paddling of clay, throwing slabs) are inevitably part of the working process.
• Please keep conversation low and local out of respect for other members.
• Cell phone calls should be taken outside or in the clay storage walkway.
• If you want to listen to music, we suggest headphones.

Assistance

When in doubt, please ask!

Xiem staff are available in the Gallery during business hours. Classes and Private Lessons are available for formal instruction.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION. WE TRUST YOU WILL ENJOY YOUR TIME AT XIEM™. YOUR FEEDBACK AND SUGGESTIONS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME.