This month marks the sixth-month anniversary of our Nude Pottery collaboration with Pottery NYC. Through a chance encounter, Natural Pursuits added a new, regular event that offers people another opportunity to come together, get naked, and create something. 

I wanted to share a bit about the origins of this event and what it’s like for attendees. While these classes typically remain camera-free, I have occasionally captured moments with the consent of all participants, which will accompany this piece. 

HOW IT STARTED

Last December, I attended a pottery class at Pottery NYC alongside a group of friends. Instead of getting dinner or going to the bar, we decided to do something new and thought a little pottery class would be fun. We arrived and were greeted by Pete Ramirez, the talented owner of Pottery NYC. 

We’re both pretty chatty, so while giving me guidance on my [very poor] technique, he asked what I did. I told him about Natural Pursuits. He was a bit taken aback and for a moment I thought he was scandalized. Instead, he revealed that hosting a nude class in his studio was a dream. Without hesitation, I let him know “I can make that happen.” Pete looked at me VERY intensely and said “Let’s do it. I’m serious.” 

Pete and I wasted no time in planning our nude pottery class for the next month and it sold out within a few days. 

HOW ITS GOING

From the first class, an event rhythm emerged. People arrive, the studio curtains are drawn and clothes shed. Once naked, we share our names and our pottery experience. Pete gauges the levels of expertise in the room, taking notes on who might need a little more attention. This simple act fosters a sense of camaraderie, we’re all in this together.  

Pete then starts his lesson, demonstrating the basics of throwing a pot in a 30-minute lesson. Pottery terminology is full of innuendos, which Pete and I use set the tone for the event. We discuss the importance of keeping things wet  to prevent any unwanted friction, as we open and manipulate holes. As we all laugh, people get a little more comfortable, ready to try out something new. 

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Pete makes it look easy and when people sit down at their work stations, they quickly realize that just centering the clay on the wheel can take several tries. Pete moves through the room, offering one-on-one attention and guidance, while participants support one another, sharing the techniques that prove successful for them. Laughter and conversation begin to fill the room. 

After crafting two to three pots, people have to choose their select our favorite creation. The rest of our clay babies are returned to the communal pile at the center of the room, ready to be reborn in the hands of another. As people wipe down their stations, they begin to realize that clary is all over their bodies. A shared sentiment emerges, cleaning up clay splatters is easier when naked and this is how everyone should make pottery.