Statesman Journal’s ‘What’s that?’ feature shares construction news
To submit a “What’s that?” idea, email Statesman Journal reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.com with the project location.
Location: 248 Commercial St. NE
Description: A new spot in downtown Salem is offering a space beginner and experienced artists can go for hand-building, wheel throwing and kiln firing.
Clay & Kiln Collective held a grand opening earlier this month for its ceramic arts studio on Commercial Street next to the Art Department and Style House & Co. The studio will offer classes and workshops, including a class designed for homeschooled kids ages 8 to 14, artist memberships, and team building and private events.
Husband and wife duo Brody and Simonne Shelby said recent development activity on Commercial Street, at The Forge to the east and the history of the building that houses their studio drew them to open the space.
Clay & Kiln Collective patrons will enter via an elaborate decorative gate and go up stairs to a light-filled studio. The building, dubbed the Greenbaum building or South Eldridge Block in some records, was built in 1889 in the Italianate style. It has been a home to a hardware store, Maccabees lodge, Beaver community hall, an early 1900s European medical expert office, a psychic, a Russian-American ballet school and photography studio.
Simonne previously opened a children’s art studio in Portland six months before the pandemic. When the couple moved to Salem, they kept their eyes open for the right space.
“We’re both artists and creative people,” Brody said. “We really fell in love with the space and wanted to restore it, because it was not being used … and was going to take a bit of work.”
The Shelbys transformed the former photo studio’s dark room into a storage space for people’s projects and supplies. The studio includes lots of natural light from west-facing windows and a skylight.
The studio has electronic check-in, which will also be used to track pieces as they are kiln-fired.
Simonne said ceramic arts often involves big, expensive equipment like pottery wheels, kilns and slab rollers. People either have to invest a lot of money on their own equipment or seek out studios like Clay & Kiln.
A room will also be available for private parties and birthday parties.
Is there something under construction you’d like to tell us about or find out more about? Contact reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.com
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