POTTERY INSTRUCTORS
BETH WRIGHT
Beth Wright is the owner and operator of Claybird Studio. She is a wife, a mom of three beautiful girls and, of course, a ceramic artist and teacher who loves to get her hands dirty. Originally from NJ, Beth recently relocated with her family to Dryden, NY. She received her BA in 2004 with a focus in art and theater, and discovered her passion for the ceramic arts shortly thereafter. She was a studio assistant and apprentice at a private studio in NJ for many years, where she learned how to manage the ins and outs of a successful pottery studio. Beth taught art and ceramics in both public and private schools and conducted private lessons from her home studio before opening Claybird Studio. Beth sells her work privately and publicly at craft fairs and other venues. She has a deep passion for teaching and sharing the therapeutic benefits of pottery-making with others. She is also a lover of the great outdoors, hiking, long walks in the woods bird-watching, quiet time with God and in nature, and spending quality time with family & friends.
JOHN VORSTADT
John Vorstadt is a ceramic artist and illustrator from Dryden, New York. His ceramic work is focused on creating functional forms displaying process and materiality. In 2015 he graduated from Alfred University with a BA in Interdisciplinary Art and is the recipient of the Kiki Smith Fellowship. Following, John completed a post baccalaureate from the University of Florida and has been teaching and displaying work nationally for the past 8 years. John has taught classes at the University of FL, Gainesville, Flamingo Clay Studio, Lake Worth Florida and Open Arts Studio in Tacoma Washington. In his free time John likes to hike, swim, and listen to live music.
DARLENE ASPINWALL
Darlene Aspinwall is a homegrown artist with a passion for art in its many forms. Her passion has taken her from award winning, state recognized quilts and fiber art, to her laser focus on ceramic arts for more than fifteen years. She has studied under a wide variety of renowned ceramic artists such as Jessica Putnam Phillips, Lisa Nape, Paula McCoy, Bill van Gilder, Sunshine Cobbs and Tim See. Darlene specializes in hand-building with clay but is also very comfortable with the pottery wheel. She has her own home studio where she conducts private lessons in hand-building and wheel. She teaches both in Cortland and now in Dryden. Her deep understanding of the steps required to be a successful ceramic artist makes her an excellent teacher. Her fun personality and attention to her students makes her a class favorite. Her free time is spent on continued learning, sewing, reading and gardening.