2025-P07/08 - The Great Beach Pottery Throwdown
August 10, 2025 @ 12:30PM — 2:30PM Eastern Time (US & Canada) Add to Calendar
Virginia Beach Art Center - Pottery Studio: 532 Virginia Beach Blvd Virginia Beach, VA 23451 Get Directions
The Great Beach Pottery Throwdown
The Great Beach Pottery Throw Down!!
Sunday, August 10th, 12:30pm - 2:30pm (1 day workshop event)
Come and show off your talents on the wheel or cheer for your favorite potter!
Each event has a separate entry fee. Spectators can buy a vote ($1) for their choice for winner! One person will win a private lesson!!
Winner and runner-up in each event!!
Grand prize winner for the day!!
EVENTS:
“Only You” platter event:
$15 entry fee per artist
With five pounds of clay and just 15 minutes, the competitors throw the largest diameter platter… THE PLATTERS, get it?!
An actual, legitimate platter must have a consistent thickness in the bottom and not be flopping down. We will wire them off… with the guideline that if we see the wire you’re done!!! Widest diameter WINS!!!
Team Mug event:
$30 entry fee per team (ONLY ONE PERSON ON TEAM SHOULD SIGNUP FOR TEAM EVENT)
Using 25 pounds of clay per team, throw as many mugs, complete with handles, as you can in 20 minutes.
3 person teams, 2 people will throw, and one person will attach handles, and aid in cutting and moving cylinders to the table. The completed mugs must have handles, be 4 inches tall with a bottom and the opening must be wide enough to fit a standard 12 oz. soda can. The team with the most completed mugs on the table in 20 minutes wins.
Blind Folded Throw:
$15 entry fee per team (ONLY ONE PERSON ON TEAM SHOULD SIGNUP FOR TEAM EVENT)
2 members on a team, 10-minute time limit, 5 lbs. of clay, time will be given beforehand to wedge the clay for throwing.
While blindfolded, throw the tallest hollow cylinder. Tallest hollow cylinder wins!
Form must have a bottom. One team member will throw the 5 lb. piece of clay as tall as they can. The assistant is allowed to help the thrower without touching the clay by communicating, adjusting wheel speed and dripping water on their hands with a sponge.
At the end of the time, the judge will measure and then cut open the vessel to see that it is hollow all the way through. Any part closed from collaring will have the measuring stopped there.
Dynamic Dinnerware event:
$40 entry per team (ONLY ONE PERSON ON TEAM SHOULD SIGNUP FOR TEAM EVENT)
In a 3-person team, using 15 pounds of clay, and one pottery wheel, complete a dinnerware set consisting of a 12-inch plate, a 6-inch diameter by 3-inch-tall bowl and a 4-inch-tall, handled mug in 20 minutes. Pieces will be measured and allowed ½ inch variance in each measurement. Team with the set that comes closest to specifications wins. The spectators will vote for the Runner-up Team!!
Astonishing Altitudes event:
$15 per artist
Given 10 pounds of clay and 10 minutes, throw the tallest vessel with a minimum of 5-inch diameter at the widest point, any shape is allowed!
Spectators can vote for the person they think will win before the competition begins. One person will win a private lesson!!
Contact Stephanie Stearns at pottery@artcentervb.org for questions about the class.
Supporter Tuition - Immediately qualify for Supporter Tuition with an annual donation of $50 or more.
Refund Policy: https://www.artcentervb.org/classpolicies.html