Clay Fest 2025

Celebrate clay and community with a fun day of festivities in The Clay Studio’s new home in South Kensington! This year's hands on activities celebrate how positivity and love can be expressed through a simple heart shape. All ages welcome!

When

Saturday, June 14, 2025
12-5 pm

Where

The Clay Studio
1425 N American Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122

Supported by PNC Arts Alive

 

More info

Free street parking and easy access from the Girard Subway Stop and Bus Routes 57 and 5.

Also, stroll through the InLiquid Art for the Cash Poor Event (AFTCP), which features 100+ artists, crafters, and designers inside the Icebox Project Space and outside the Crane Arts Building!

 


 

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Activity

World of Hearts Sidewalk Chalkout

The project is inspired by the legacy of artist Hesh Halper’s World of Hearts, who turned pavement into poetry, chalk hearts into connection, and New York City romantic. Start the event by adding your heart to the communal chalkout in front of the studio! Chalk one. Share one. Be one. See you on the street!

Learn about Hesh
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Activity

Guest Artist Project with Rich Brown

Watch Guest Artist Rich Brown dazzle you with his wheel-throwing skills and design processes. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn more about Rich’s artistic practice, ideas, and inspirations.

Learn about Rich
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Activity

Guest Artist Project with Janina Myronova

Be inspired by Resident Artist Janina Myronova as she creates one of her iconic large-scale figurative sculptures. Her work will surely bring a smile and joy to your heart, and you will help Janina finish her sculpture by sketching ideas to help inform the final design.

Learn about Janina
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Activity

Guest Artist Project with Amberella

Create your own air-dried clay heart with embellishments inspired by Guest Artist Amberella. You’ve likely seen her iconic hearts adorning buildings across Philly and beyond — now it’s your turn to bring that magic home. Craft a keepsake that’s not only creative and personal but also a tender reminder: you are loved, you are powerful, you are enough. Like Amberella’s work, your heart will carry a message – for the world and yourself.

Learn about Amberella
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Activity

Clay Heart Pendants with Nitza Walesca

Add your design and beads to a heart-shaped clay pendant by teaching artist Nitza Walesca. Quantities are limited.

Learn about Nitza
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Activity

3-D Printing in Clay

Prepare to be mesmerized by 3-D printing in clay. Learn about this fascinating process from teaching artist and our Digital Fabrication Studio Manager, Audrey An, who will demonstrate how to print clay heart shapes throughout the day.

Learn about Digital Fab Studio
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Activity

Plushie Hearts with Dairian Smith

Led by fiber artist Dairian Smith, create a plushie heart inspired by Dairian’s process of upcycling fabrics into unique patterns. Adorn your plushie to your heart’s content with personalized designs in fabric paint, and then work with Dairian to sew and stuff your new soft sculpture.

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Activity

Handbuilt Heart Bowls

Transform a clay slab into a textured heart bowl! Your bowl will be glazed, fired, and ready to pick up in a few weeks.

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Activity

Group Sculpt: Share the Love

Help turn 1,000 pounds of clay into a collaborative work of art inspired by our heart theme and our shared connections!

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Activity

Clay Animation: Hearts in Motion

Using the art of stop motion, create and animate clay characters. Let your imagination run wild as you bring your creations to life.

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Activity

Wheel Throwing 101

Fall in love with throwing on the potter’s wheel! Get one-on-one guidance from our teaching artists and community as you try your hand at the wheel. Your pot will be glazed, fired, and ready for pickup in a few weeks.

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Activity

Heart Planters & Wall Pockets

Make an itty-bitty heart-shaped planter or wall pocket perfect for your favorite succulent planting. Your piece will be fired and ready to pick up in a few weeks.

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Activity

Clay, Play, Read

Join the Claymobile team for a sensory play-based activity exploring the book My Heart by Corinna Luyken. This activity is best suited for children ages 3-6.

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Thank you to our supporters, neighbors, and event partners

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Our sponsor

Thank you to PNC Arts Alive for your generous support of Clay Fest and our year-round Hands on Clay programming!

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InLiquid

Don't miss Art for the Cash Poor! Purchase works from 100+ artists, crafters, and designers both inside the Icebox Project Space and outside the Crane Arts Building! The Art for the Cash Poor festival is an affordable art fair that activates and brings together North American Street's robust arts corridor.

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World of Hearts

Thank you to the Halper family for inspiring this year's activities and sharing Hesh's love with us all.