The Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge (CCLCF) is spotlighting its ceramics program as it celebrates more than 60 years of operation. Founded in the 1960s by educator and ceramist Helen Jean Taylor, the studio continues to serve as a hub for arts education, providing year-round access to equipment, instruction, and workshops for all ages.
Taylor noted ceramics as a discipline that builds patience and skill, a philosophy that continues to shape the studio’s approach today. Program leaders describe her vision as the foundation of a community that connects generations through the shared act of making.
The ceramics studio operates across three dedicated spaces and is outfitted with 16 wheels, 5 kilns—including 3 Cone 10 reduction kilns—2 slab rollers, and a glaze lab with over 40 unique glazes, many of which were developed by Jean Taylor. Classes are offered for all ages starting with pre-school, jr. and teen ceramics to adult independent classes. Instruction is organized into eight-week sessions, with workshops that include specialized techniques such as Raku firing and guest artist demonstrations.
The program recently drew national attention through PBS’s “Art Happens Here with John Lithgow.” The segment featured Lithgow working with teen students alongside our youth instructors, underscoring the studio’s role as a cultural anchor in La Cañada Flintridge.
The studio is led by a dedicated team guiding a curriculum that stresses technical skill, creative exploration, and community participation. In addition to ceramics, the studio has now introduced glass flameworking and glass fusing classes, which are unique to the area. The flameworking classes are the only community classes of their type in Los Angeles.
The studio is currently planning for its annual ceramics sale which takes place on December 6th & 7th from 10am – 4pm. It features pottery and sculpture produced at CCLCF from over 35 studio members.
Enrollment remains open for upcoming introductory and intermediate wheel and hand building classes, as well as specialty workshops. Registration is available through the center’s portal at cclcf.org.
