Art Galleries in Ann Arbor, MI

“I've been taking handbuilding pottery classes at another space in town but I wanted to try out wheel throwing before committing to a full semester. My hand/eye coordination is not great (which is why I tend to gravitate towards sculpture and more controlled building) but wheel throwing is such an amazing artform I wanted to give it a shot, but I knew if I didn't enjoy it right off the bat that I didn't want to be stuck for weeks doing it. Luckily, Yourist offers a "try it out" wheel throwing session once a month and I was able to sign up for the May session along with my husband, cousin, and aunt. It was so fun to do this experience together with my family and I surprisingly took to the wheel pretty easily. During this session you're given a tutorial on the equipment then a demo with explanation of how to throw your own bowl, including posture, hand positioning, and tips for success. Then you're given three balls of wedged clay and are let loose to practice on your own as they instructors work the room to help you if you're struggling and cheer you on if you're doing well. You're then welcome to keep any three of the bowls you make and they'll fire and glaze them (based on your choice of glaze for each piece) for you for pick up a month later. First piece is $10 with every additional piece $5. I'm proud to say that I made 2 very nice bowls and one bowl that turned into more of a sake cup after I got too ambitious and the top of my bowl collapsed. But they all looked nice in their own way so I decided to keep all three. The glazes they have are really lovely, too, and make any piece, no matter how wonky (like my sad sake cup) look beautiful. I also found I loved the experience so much that for my next class I signed up for a hybrid wheel throwing and handbuilding class so I could get better at both. I also really enjoyed my time at this studio and have bookmarked several classes I'd like to take there in the future, including day workshops focused on specific topics. Once I feel confident enough in my foundational education I hope to also join the community workspace where, for a monthly fee, you have access to their studio to work independently. It's such a welcoming environment, I highly recommend checking it out!”

“I’ve never been to a frame store before and the wall full of endless options felt daunting to me - until the fabulous sales associate Emily helped me navigate through the many details of how to customize my frame for my diploma. She was kind, knowledgeable, and guided me in the right direction without being overbearing and still letting me learn/pick for myself. Emily made the experience enjoyable! Cheers to the shop and their great staff”

“Incredible venue for music - the sound is astounding and you are so close to the musicians that you feel their passion! Also love the central location - easy to walk and eat great food and drinks after the concert!”

“A few weeks back I needed to have some custom framing done, and it was a rush job. Pierre Paul Gallery she’ was extremely helpful and responsive. They worked with me on a custom matte to draw out the color in the artwork and it came out looking beautiful!”