Odyssey Center for Ceramic Arts, located in the River Arts District near downtown Asheville, offers a variety of classes and workshops for children to adults at all skill levels. The mission of Odyssey Center for Ceramic Arts educational program is to promote understanding, appreciation and professional development in the ceramic arts.

Adult Winter Classes run from Jan 1-Mar 12  and Kids Winter Classes run from Jan 18-Feb 27. Enrollment is limited. Visit our website at www.highwaterclays.com or contact Cara Gilpin at 828.285.0210 for more information.
New offerings for winter include:
Clay Date Nights: You are sure to have a great night learning some slippery moves at this monthly event. Bring a date, come with friends, or meet someone new on a Friday night!
Teen Clay Class: Have your favorite teen learn basic techniques or build upon their knowledge of wheel throwing and handbuilding (Ages 13-17).
Martin Luther King Clay Day: Perfect for those looking for something to help shake off the boredom for their 6-12 year old on their day off from school.
Adult Classes (9 weeks):
Making Faces with Alex Irvine, Mon 10-12:30pm ($235+$30 lab fee)
Lips, Bellies, and Feet with Patty Bilbro, Mon 3-5:30pm ($235+$30 lab fee)
Dynamic Dinnerware with Gabe Kline, Mon 6:30-9:00pm  ($235+$30 lab fee)
Tile Designs with Cynthia Lee, Tues 10-12:30pm  ($235+$30 lab fee)
Beginning Wheel Throwing with Lindsay Rogers, Tues 6:30-9pm  ($235+$30 lab fee)
More Handbuilding with Barbara Perez, Wed 10-12:30pm  ($235+$30 lab fee)
Interpreting the Lidded Bowl with Becca Floyd, Wed 3-5:30pm  ($235+$30 lab fee)
Cone 6 Cosmetics with Jennifer Hoolihan, Wed 6:30-9pm  ($235+$30 lab fee)
Salt, Soda and Sass with Linda McFarling, Thurs 3-5:30pm ($250+$30 lab fee)
Masters of the Mountain with regional master potters Nick Joerling, Gay Smith, Akira Satake, Linda McFarling, Jon Ellenbogen, Rebecca Plummer, Steve Forbes-deSoule and Kyle Carpenter, Thurs 6:30-9pm  ($250+$30 lab fee)
Adult, Kids and Teacher Events:
Clay Date Nights on Fri, Jan 29, 6:30-9pm and, Feb 19, 6:30-9pm ($25 per person/$45 for two people, per session)
Martin Luther King Clay Day,  Barbara Perez on Mon, Jan 18 from 9-12pm, Ages 6-12 ($35)
K-12 Educators’ Workshop on Feb 26 from 6-9pm and Feb 27 from 9-4pm ($75)
Kids Corner (6 weeks):
Teen Clay with Atcha Turner, Tuesdays, 4-6pm, Ages 13-17, Jan 19-Feb. 23 ($95)
Captain Gabe’s Midwinter Mud Madness, Gabe Kline, Wed, 4-6pm, Ages 6-12, Jan 20-Feb 24  ($95)
Afternoon Art , Holly de Saillan,  Thurs,  4-6pm, Ages 7-10 (Jan 21-Feb 25)
Face Jugs, Mugs and More,  Atcha Turner, Sat, 10-12pm, Ages 6-12, Jan 23-Feb 27 ($95)

Two new art courses are being offered at the Yancey County Mayland campus-
Design  and Art History.
The Design course (Design 1 ART121-Y1) will cover 2-D and 3-D Everything from logo design to architectural design. The course will teach the fundamentals of design to use in many problem solving projects.
The Art History course (Art History Survey ART 115-Y1)  starts with the Renaissance to modern art. There will be many hands on activities. Free for people 65 years or older. For more info, call the instructor, Rhea Ormond 682-1630. To register, call Mayland at 1-800 462-9526 or go to www.mayland.edu

. Register by Jan 5.

ArtsCentered is offering a special session “MudMuffins-Parents Included.” Sat from 10-12pm beginning Jan 9 an 8-week class will provide families with instruction and materials necessary to create masterpieces in clay using both wheel thrown and handbuilt skills. Students young (+) and older are encouraged to design and make pottery, maybe even collaborate with their parent(s) on some projects.
While additional classes for adults are offered at a variety of times and days, may parents have expressed an interest in a family approach. Space is limited. For more info or to register call Jann at 688-9192 or email (AC info in “subject”) at jannwelc@aol.com.

2010 NC Artists Exhibition, Feb 28-May 4. at the Betty Ray McCain Gallery in the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts. Open to NC Residents, college and university students and faculty. Categories include painting, sculpture, ceramics and 3D work; photography; and graphic arts and mixed media. Deadline Jan 5. For more info, go to www.raleighfinearts.org

For the second year in a row, WNC magazine is putting out the call to Western North Carolina’s emerging visual artists. It’s a crowded field around here for talented people and sometimes it can be difficult to get your work seen by the public. That’s why we’re looking for painters, sculptors, ceramicists, photographers, mixed media artist, fabric artists, and any other type of local visual artist who’s looking for an opportunity to reach a wider audience.
We’re accepting submissions for On the Verge, a juried competition from now until Friday, Jan 15. The winners will not only be featured in WNC magazine’s Arts Issue in June, but will also have their work exhibited in a month-long show at Flood Gallery & Fine Arts Center in the heart of Asheville’s River Arts District.
New for 2010-WNC magazine is proud to partner with Phil Mechanic Studios and Flood Gallery & Fine Arts Center, for On the Verge. Phil Mechanic and the River District as a whole-are integral parts of this area’s flourishing arts community. This year, the On the Verge exhibit will be open to the public during the River Arts District Studio Stroll on Sat, June 12, meaning even greater exposure for the finalists.
We are also adding a People’s Choice category to On the Verge this year. In Feb, visitors to www.wncmagazine.com/otv

will be able to view samples from all the submitted artists and vote for their favorite. The top pick will be an On the Verge finalist. For more info, go to www.wncmagazine.com