Union Project

For your weekend listening pleasure, check out the Voice of the Arts podcast.

Jeffrey Dorsey and Sam Laffey from the Union Project sit down with the host to discuss their upcoming appearance at Family Fun Day in partnership with the . Learn about the Wheel Mobile, how it works, and what kind of art you can expect to make. This free event will take place on August, 25, 2024 on Federal Street, outside of PNC Park, prior to the Pirates vs. Reds game.

https://unionproject.org/2024/08/16/union-projects-wheel-mobile-on-the-wqed-voice-of-the-arts-podcast/

Don't let the fact that Fall classes are the star right now take away from the waning weeks of summer fun. We've got a few opportunities left this month including Clay Play Together, Teen/Tween Wheel 101, a Raku workshop, and a couple of Wheel 101s for you to get your hands dirty playing with cool clay in our community studio! Hit that Classes and Workshops link in our bio to grab your spot now.

PS- Our social media manager is out of the office this week, and this post is being made through the power of magic ✨️ Comments and messages will get responses after August 12!

Team PTL makes pottery on the go Crafting an dart projects are usually done indoors, especially on a rainy day. One company decided to take arts and crafts on the road. Union Project has a goal to get clay into the hands of as many people as possible.

"Art therapist Sonya Dugal says that through using clay with her clients, she’s seen magic happen."

How One Therapist Is Using Clay for Healing | Pittsburgh Magazine Sonya Dugal has set up shop at Union Project to help clients use art to process trauma.

Has your teen or tween always wanted to try their hand at the potter’s wheel? Join us for a creative afternoon of learning in the ceramics studio. Designed for youth ages 9 – 16 years old, students will learn the basics of centering clay and throwing bowls and cylinders on the wheel. Led by an experienced teaching artist, this fun and informative workshop is designed for those who are curious about clay or want to further their skills without the commitment of a class.

Check out the link in our bio to grab a spot in our next Teen/Tween Wheel 101.

"After narrowing the submissions, the three finalists presented their work to a board of community members and Steel City Squash representatives, who ultimately chose Alecia Dawn Young to create the mural."

Steel City Squash commemorating new Larimer facility with public mural Steel City Squash now has its own facility in Larimer complete with pro-grade courts. All that's missing is the art.

Deputy Director Michelle Clesse is away this week participating in a Leadership Transformation retreat with the Community Arts Education Leadership and Intercultural Institute (CAELLI) of the National Guild for Community Arts Education.

The Leadership Transformation cohort is a self-reflective, transformative cohort experience through which both seasoned and emerging leaders advance their leadership skills by engaging with top leadership trainers, nationally renowned practitioners, and a diverse cohort of peers. It’s a 6-month long cohort program and this in person intensive week serves to kick off the experience.

We miss her while she’s away but we’re excited for her to have this opportunity and find out what she learns over the next several months.

Posted • As we head into July, we’re excited to announce our Leadership Transformation Cohort for this year’s Community Arts Education Leadership Intercultural Institute!

Swipe and go to our link in bio to learn more about our cohort! 🙌

Meet our new Ceramics Education Coordinator, Maddie Salapow! She recently moved to Pittsburgh and will be managing the Wheel Mobile as well as custom programming for groups of all ages. She’s just started this week so she’s still getting acquainted to our big historic building, programming, and community.

We’ll be sure to share more about Maddie and what she’s up to in the coming weeks but if you see her in the building, please offer a warm and friendly Hello!

It's a unique gift to offer our community-centered ceramics programming all year round with this big, beautiful, historic building as our home or vessel if you will.

Phase 1 of our roof and masonry repair project is now complete.

This project is supported by a grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission's Keystone Historic Preservation Grant, a program funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Our team of Teaching Artists is a core part of our ceramics community and what keeps Union Project clicking right along. If you've taken a class or workshop from us in the last several years, the chances are high that you've met and learned from the smiling and friendly Vanessa Kettering!

She just recently unloaded a batch of work from our Bailey gas kiln with lovely results. Nicely done, Vanessa!

Sun's out, Mugs out ☀️

While Union Project is closed this week for a summer break, we hope you all are staying safe and cool while the outside continues to compete for the hottest hot. Remember that Union Project's studios are climate-controlled when you are making plans for the rest of this toasty season.

Multi-week classes that begin in July (next week) still have space available:

Tuesday Evening Intro to Ceramics (Starts 07/09)
Thursday Evening Firing Techniques (Starts 07/11)
Saturday Morning Beginner/Intermediate Ceramics (Starts 07/13)
Saturday Afternoon Beginner/Intermediate Ceramics (Starts 07/13)

Plus, workshops for young artists and families:

07/19 Teen Wheel 101
07/20 Clay Play Together
07/21 Fairy and Toad House Workshop
08/10 Clay Play Together
08/16 Teen/Tween Wheel 101

Union Project's Ceramics classes and workshops provide fun and meaningful opportunities to explore, learn, and practice creating in clay. Class sessions occur four times per year. Each class session includes basic to advanced multi-week classes, Wheel 101s, opportunities for Teens and Tweens, and seasonal ceramic offerings. Firing workshops also explore different firing methods like gas reduction, soda, and Raku.

Check out the link and grab your spot today! https://unionproject.org/calendar/

UNION PROJECT IS CLOSED FROM JUNE 30 - JULY 7.
WE WILL RETURN TO OUR NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS ON JULY 8.

Our creative art in the park fun with the Roving Art Cart continues this Friday. Join us so you and your young artists can smile this wide!

On June 28, the Wheel Mobile will be at Grandview Park.

The Citiparks Roving Art Cart is celebrating its 49th year, and Union Project is joining the fun with our Wheel Mobile!

Our clay studio to go will pop up at several parks on Fridays this summer, and everyone is invited.

Be creative in nature’s studio! Join Citiparks and Union Project for FREE, fun clay demonstrations and hands-on projects. Citiparks Roving Art and Union Project together bring an Arts in the Parks experience to regional and neighborhood parks every Friday, from 10 AM to 1 PM. Learn and play with clay in an outdoor setting all summer long!

Learn more and grab directions to where we'll be: https://unionproject.org/event/wheel-mobile-grandview-park/

This Wheel Mobile received a RADical ImPAct Grant from the Allegheny Regional Asset District (RAD). To learn more about RAD’s impact on our region, visit radworkshere.org.⁠
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Larimer residents! This is your LAST CHANCE to sign up for this class. Join us this Sunday, June 23, for a special workshop with artist Alecia Dawn Young as we get ready for her new mural at Steel City Squash in Larimer. Alecia will be taking over Union Project for a Tiles for Wellness workshop, where she will guide Larimer residents through making ceramic tiles that facilitate healing and positivity.

🎟️ This is a free class with limited space, so RSVP is required. To reserve your spot, click the link here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tile-workshop-for-wellness-tickets-907173048007

🚌 Transportation will be provided, please DM us to let us know if you’ll need a ride!

PH: Claire Brassil, taken at Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts

There are still several spots left in our Summer class session that begins in July!

Union Project's Ceramics classes and workshops provide fun and meaningful opportunities to explore, learn, and practice creating in clay. Class sessions occur four times per year. Each class session includes basic to advanced multi-week classes, Wheel 101s, opportunities for Teens and Tweens, and seasonal ceramic offerings. Firing workshops also explore different firing methods like gas reduction, soda, and Raku.

✅ Your place in a class or workshop is not reserved until you complete checkout.
📧 If you have any issues accessing the site or registering, please email [email protected].
🚪 Union Project will be closed for summer break June 30 - July 7. Classes and workshops will begin when we return on July 8.

Learn more and register here: https://unionproject.org/calendar/

The Citiparks Roving Art Cart is celebrating its 49th year, and Union Project is joining the fun with our Wheel Mobile!

Our clay studio to go will pop up at several parks on Fridays this summer, and everyone is invited.

Be creative in nature’s studio! Join Citiparks and Union Project for FREE, fun clay demonstrations and hands-on projects. Citiparks Roving Art and Union Project together bring an Arts in the Parks experience to regional and neighborhood parks throughout the summer. Learn and play with clay in an outdoor setting all summer long!

Learn more and see links to where we'll be on each date: https://unionproject.org/calendar/

This Wheel Mobile received a RADical ImPAct Grant from the Allegheny Regional Asset District (RAD). To learn more about RAD’s impact on our region, visit radworkshere.org.

We’re excited to welcome back our friends from Q***r Craft Market this Sunday 5-8pm. Art, zines, decor, attire, jewelry, and more for q***r folks by q***r folks!

***rCraftMarket

Summer classes are online NOW ☀️

Union Project's Ceramics classes and workshops provide fun and meaningful opportunities to explore, learn, and practice creating in clay. Class sessions occur four times per year. Each class session includes basic to advanced multi-week classes, Wheel 101s, opportunities for Teens and Tweens, and seasonal ceramic offerings. Firing workshops also explore different firing methods like gas reduction, soda, and Raku.

✅ Your place in a class or workshop is not reserved until you complete checkout.
📧 If you have any issues accessing the site or registering, please email [email protected].
🚪 Union Project will be closed for summer break June 30 - July 7. Classes and workshops will begin when we return on July 8.

Learn more and register here: https://unionproject.org/calendar/

Have you seen our snazzy new purple aprons? We debuted them recently at MOAPS and TRAF. And our dynamic leadership duo of Executive Director Jeffrey and Deputy Director Michelle are kind enough to model them for you! While making each other laugh. And do you see that color match between apron and Michelle’s mohawk? That wasn’t intentional…or was it?!

Thank you for celebrating Clay with us!

The 2024 Mother of All Pottery Sales was a great success and would not have been possible without you. Thank you for coming out and supporting local ceramic artists.

We welcomed over 700 guests and hosted 42 ceramic artists.
Over $42,000 in pottery was sold.
Our TWO top sellers broke $3,000 in total sales.

Your feedback is so helpful.

48% of survey respondents were new to the Mother of All Pottery Sales.
91% of respondents said the event met their expectations. They liked the open spaces available to take a breather or regroup, and they found the layout easy to navigate. Visitors loved seeing the diverse array of techniques and approaches to clay.
95% of respondents purchased work from at least one artist, and 45% bought from three or more artists.
100% of the respondents said they would attend MOAPS again.

Union Project is thrilled to be a part of the Creativity Zone at TRAF this year - come see us with the Wheel Mobile on June 1 and 2, 12-6pm, both days.

See details: https://traf.trustarts.org/events/5869

Who is up for a little trivia? Or a guessing game?

Our Deputy Director Michelle made these clay medals for the Clay Olympics hands-on activity during this year's Mother of All Pottery Sales. She used three different clay bodies and left them unglazed to echo the look of Gold, Silver, and Bronze. One side of each medal has a ⭐️ (star) imprint, while on the other, letterpress tools spell out Union Project Clay Olympics.

⭐️What did she use to make the stars?⭐️

Introducing the Creative Business Boost Initiative, a program run by Hello Alice and the Global Entrepreneur Network (GEN) and supported by Etsy’s Uplift Fund, that will provide support to creative entrepreneurs! Through the initiative, 100 recipients will be selected from eligible entrants to receive a $5,000 grant and access to an exclusive business Boost Camp coaching program, helping creative business owners access capital and resources they need to grow.
Deadline: Jun 21, 2024 at 6:00pm EDT

Hello Alice The Year of YOUR Small Business Starts Now

Every year, we hold a retreat with our Board of Directors, which gives us the opportunity to dive deeper into our organization's big-picture strategy and plans than the typical meetings held regularly.

As part of our annual retreat, we invite board members to experience clay as team building, an opportunity to learn what we do, and an alternative way to learn about UP's plans, goals, and impact. In these photos, board members broke into teams and learned how to make coil pots together.

If you are interested in learning more about board service, check out this link: https://unionproject.org/work-with-us/volunteer-board-member/

Overview: Union Project uses the art of ceramics to build meaningful community connections. As an organization, we value inclusivity, art and artists, collaboration, and joy. We believe that through ceramic arts, everyone can transform their lives and communities. Union Project accepts proposals on a rolling basis from experienced ceramic artists for classes or workshops they may be interested in teaching in our community studio.

Topics: Ceramic artists are welcome to propose teaching any clay topic, technique, or project that works within our studio facilities (more information below.) Options that don’t involve direct hands-on clay work, such as something related to professional development, marketing yourself as an artist, finding inspiration for your ideas, etc, are also possible. Proposals may be aimed at any level of student, but it is worth noting that our largest audience is beginners with little or no clay experience. We also have a robust community of intermediate students interested in deepening their abilities with certain skills you may specialize in.

Learn more: https://unionproject.org/work-with-us/work-with-us-call-for-teaching-proposals/

If you can't get enough of our beautiful space and creative community, check out this Community Clothing Swap this Saturday, May 18, presented by . Clothing for all genders and all sizes, plus creative upcycling stations to spruce up some of your older pieces - learn how to stamp, dye, and mend your clothing items to give them a new lease on life!

We are always so grateful for the support of the Allegheny Regional Asset District, which uses a percentage of county tax dollars to fund general operating and special projects for arts and cultural organizations throughout the region—including us!

The 10th annual Mother of All Pottery Sales will take place on Saturday, May 11, 2024, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm.⁠
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The Mother of All Pottery Sales (MOAPS) is a celebration featuring over 30 ceramic artists selling their ceramic artwork, clay demonstrations, and a hands-on Clay Olympics!⁠

Pre-registration for MOAPS is now closed, but walk-ins are welcome at the Negley Avenue entrance. Join us for this joyous celebration of clay art in our region!

The Mother of All Pottery Sales 2024 is made possible with support from Duolingo, UPMC Health Plan, Climatech Inc, Simpson-McCrady, Standard Clay Company, Independent Mechanical Inc., Bridgeway Capital, Cintas, 4th Economy, GBBN, KeyBank, Remake Learning, and Maher Duessel CPAs. ⁠

There are over 1.2 billion people learning a language and the majority are doing so to gain access to better opportunities. Unfortunately, learning a language is expensive and inaccessible to most. Duolingo created their technology so that everyone could have a chance. Free language education – no hidden fees, no premium content, just free. Duolingo is used by the richest man in the world and many Hollywood stars, and at the same time by public schools students in developing countries. They believe true equality is when spending more can't buy you a better education.
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Thank you to Duolingo for sponsoring Mother of All Pottery Sales 2024 at the Raku level. Sponsorship makes an impact! Corporate sponsorship dollars support art educators, demonstrating artists, and promoting the event, among other things.⁠
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The 10th annual Mother of All Pottery Sales will take place on Saturday, May 11, 2024, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm.⁠
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The Mother of All Pottery Sales (MOAPS) brings Pittsburgh’s ceramics community together for a celebration featuring over 30 ceramic artists selling their ceramic artwork, clay demonstrations, and a hands-on Clay Olympics!⁠
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MOAPS is a fun way to meet and support local artists and find unique, handmade gifts for mom.⁠
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Visit unionproject.org (link in bio) to learn more and to pre-register for your $20 Early Bird Ticket or free general admission. Pre-registration is encouraged but optional. Pre-registered folks can enter and check in to the event via the Fast Lane to shop, play, and have fun faster! PLEASE NOTE THAT PRE-REGISTRATION CLOSES AT NOON ON MAY 10. WALK-INS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME!⁠
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Union Project is wheelchair accessible via the entrance on Stanton Ave. ⁠
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The Mother of All Pottery Sales 2024 is made possible with support from Duolingo, UPMC Health Plan, Climatech Inc, Simpson-McCrady, Standard Clay Company, Independent Mechanical Inc., Bridgeway Capital, Cintas, 4th Economy, GBBN, KeyBank, Remake Learning, and Maher Duessel CPAs. ⁠ ⁠
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Union Project’s programs are supported in part by the Allegheny Regional Asset District.⁠
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