get dirty, tacoma
A casual, inclusive, and supportive studio for beginner and advanced potters, or those that just want to get dirty.
We love you and you are safe at SPUN
Mary teaching a wheel class
A super fun field trip to Bonney Lake High School
We love you and you are safe at SPUN
aboutSPUN
Since 2014, SPUN has been providing a fun, creative, and affordable space for anyone that wants to work with clay. We are an all-ages, full-service studio that caters to all levels of potters and hand builders/sculptors.
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Make something at home? No problem! We can fire it for you! Looking for an activity but don't have experience? Take a Sit 'n' Spin class, join a Workshop, or Adopt a Pot to glaze. We provide classes and workshops, tools for you to use and clay for you to purchase, Amaco glazes a plenty, and firing services. We believe that everyone should get an opportunity to try pottery without large financial investments.
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While we are not art therapists, clay is definitely a therapeutic art and we've been so lucky to work with some amazing groups of people who benefit from pottery in so many different ways! Some to improve their hand-eye coordination and motor skills. Some to reintegrate into society after trauma. Some for self-discovery, or to meditate!
We have existing partnerships with local retirement homes, active living communities, children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, schools/home schools, and Veteran support organizations to name a few. We are always looking to make new friends! Contact us for collaboration opportunities.
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The community at SPUN is here to encourage and support you on your artistic journey!
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(Oh hey! We were featured in the Apartment Guide!)
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Meet The
spun Team
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April
Sanders
OWNER
Why did you two open SPUN?
"Our initial reason for opening SPUN was selfish; we wanted to work for ourselves doing things that make us happy. It naturally morphed into filling a need of having an affordable, come-as-you-are, fun and safe place for folks to learn pottery. All ages, all skill levels, all makes and models of humans (and sometimes dogs) can benefit from art and we wanted to provide that. When we look back all these years later, it's nice to see we've stayed true to our mission."
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jennifer
english
OWNER
What's your favorite thing about SPUN?
"I love that April and I have created the favorite 'high school art class' vibe...(without the censorship and drama) especially since we met in a high school art class almost 30 years ago. We love watching strangers become friends. Yeah, SPUN is a supportive and encouraging space, but not just from April and I. It's from everyone that's in here. What does Olive Garden say? When you're here you're family? That."
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lloyd warnes
Spunbassador
Do you have a favorite piece that you've made?
"There's a black bowl with a beautiful colored drip around the outside. It's a piece where everything comes together...shape, weight, foot, and glaze. Throwing the vessel is just the beginning and when all those steps come together, it's pretty much magic."
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When you're working in your MicroStudio, what's a shape or design that brings you joy to create?
"I think you figured it out... bowls. Larger bread bowls or cooking-size bowls. I'm enamored with those classic kitchen bowl looks with the thick rolled rim. Something that will get used for years and years."
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mary peterson
STUDIO
ASSISTANT
What's your favorite clay body to work with?
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"My favorite clay body is Laguna Speckled Buff! It has such a sturdy but cozy feel, and when it's fired I love the way its speckles interact with glazes."
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Tell us about your life outside of working at SPUN!
"Well, it's hard to get rid of me because I love to spend time at the wheel here through After Hours - a lot of times with my dog Clover! She's also been in training so she can come to my day job where I teach elementary students. When I'm not working with kids, clay, and Clover, I'm reading at coffee shops, going to People's Pilates with friends, and spending time near the water!"
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MICI BAKER
STUDIO
ASSISTANT
Tell us about your pottery journey so far!
"My dearest friend Amy brought me to SPUN in 2022 - proving the positive grounding effects of playing with mud. I learned how to throw weird little bowls and accidental pitchers. Eventually, the bowls got better, less weapon-like and more delicate."
Do you prefer wheel throwing or handbuilding?
"When I grow tired of re-wedging soggy fails, I sit down at a table and smoosh clay with my fingers. But no matter how it's created, I really enjoy using my tools to carve and scratch patterns for glaze to settle in. The entire process of this lovely hobby makes me happy. Even when it breaks and I get to start over!"
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jerome mehrman
STUDIO
ASSISTANT
When did your pottery journey begin? ​
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"Art has been in my blood from day one. I've been passionate about clay and sculpture since I was really young; my grandmother would buy my Sculpey and I became obsessed with making little pigs.
However, my creativity really took off with clay. I got my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ceramics from Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Throughout my years there, I concentrated on handbuilding only. It wasn't until I found SPUN and started taking wheel workshops with you guys that I actually started to grow as a potter."
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You were our intern for so long! How does it feel to be back at SPUN? ​
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"I'm so excited to be back, and am looking forward to teaching some fun new workshops! I'm hoping to teach advanced throwing on the wheel. I also have some mixed throwing/handbuilding projects in mind that I'd love to share with a class!"​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
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