About Us
Linnell Hinchey, New Owner
Matt Popp, Manager & Pottery Instructor
Matt Popp, Manager & Pottery Instructor
Linnell had been coming to the Clay Connection for over ten years to do mostly wheel throwing. When she found out that the former owner was selling the business, she saw an opportunity to preserve the supportive, creative environment that she so values. She could have created her own studio at home years ago, but realized there was no s
Linnell had been coming to the Clay Connection for over ten years to do mostly wheel throwing. When she found out that the former owner was selling the business, she saw an opportunity to preserve the supportive, creative environment that she so values. She could have created her own studio at home years ago, but realized there was no substitiute for the atmosphere and flow of energy at the Clay Connection. As the owner it is her constant goal to increase products for sale to meet all the needs of potters in the region as well as welcoming more voters awns sculptors to our wonderful community.
Matt Popp, Manager & Pottery Instructor
Matt Popp, Manager & Pottery Instructor
Matt Popp, Manager & Pottery Instructor
Born and raised in Spokane his artistic side was encouraged by his father. His father was an artist whose passion was in clay, drawing and painting. His artistic outlet was in music. After high school, like most of us, his art took a back seat to the daily grind.
In 2010 he was missing art and joined the Clay Connection Community, where h
Born and raised in Spokane his artistic side was encouraged by his father. His father was an artist whose passion was in clay, drawing and painting. His artistic outlet was in music. After high school, like most of us, his art took a back seat to the daily grind.
In 2010 he was missing art and joined the Clay Connection Community, where he fell in love with the pottery wheel. Since then he has developed his own unique style both in hand building and wheel throwing. His class offers basic to intermediate skills in both hand building and wheel throwing.
Sean Benson, Pottery Instructor
Matt Popp, Manager & Pottery Instructor
Sean Benson, Pottery Instructor
With over 20 years experience having his hands in clay, Sean Benson is an avid experimenter and curious about the visual language of the art we use in our daily lives. Sean allows freedom for individual expression, while at the same time being willing to show different ways of solving creative problems. In this class you will be able to
With over 20 years experience having his hands in clay, Sean Benson is an avid experimenter and curious about the visual language of the art we use in our daily lives. Sean allows freedom for individual expression, while at the same time being willing to show different ways of solving creative problems. In this class you will be able to choose your own adventure, pursuing either wheel or handbuilding, to develop your skills working with clay.
Peter Glarborg, Pottery Instructor
Louise Schollaert, Hand Building Instructor
Peter Glarborg, Pottery Instructor
Peter Glarborg first encountered the fascinating world of ceramics in 1976 in a college course. To his surprise, he received a couple of honorable mentions in an undergraduate exhibit. He took additional ceramics courses in 1985 during a brief return to academia, but his life experiences led him away from clay until 2009, when he built a
Peter Glarborg first encountered the fascinating world of ceramics in 1976 in a college course. To his surprise, he received a couple of honorable mentions in an undergraduate exhibit. He took additional ceramics courses in 1985 during a brief return to academia, but his life experiences led him away from clay until 2009, when he built a raku kiln and started making pots again. His years away from clay were spent working in Spokane's broadcasting industry, He is now retired, but you can still hear his announcements on Spokane Public Radio. Pete is mostly interested in functional ceramics - cups , bowls, and pots that people use - but he has also made many decorative pieces.
Susan Dordal, Pottery Instructor
Louise Schollaert, Hand Building Instructor
Peter Glarborg, Pottery Instructor
Susan feels creating functional ceramic art allows her to combine the beauty of art with everyday life. She loves the thought of infusing art into homes around the world. Her biggest inspirational source is our natural world and the internal states they evoke.
Training in ceramics started in 1998 when she took my first clay class at a l
Susan feels creating functional ceramic art allows her to combine the beauty of art with everyday life. She loves the thought of infusing art into homes around the world. Her biggest inspirational source is our natural world and the internal states they evoke.
Training in ceramics started in 1998 when she took my first clay class at a local community center in Olympia, Washington. From that point she was hooked! After that, she studied under phenomenal instructors at Green River Community College and Tacoma Community College. In Hawaii she studied under a couple of amazing ceramicists refining her technique.
Louise Schollaert, Hand Building Instructor
Louise Schollaert, Hand Building Instructor
Louise Schollaert, Hand Building Instructor
"Louise has been obsessed with clay since high school, and for the past two decades has made this obsession more than a hobby.
Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Louise graduated from Ohio University with a BFA in Sculpture and Graphic Design. She moved to the Pacific Northwest in 2000 for the arts, culture and wilderness. During her time in
"Louise has been obsessed with clay since high school, and for the past two decades has made this obsession more than a hobby.
Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Louise graduated from Ohio University with a BFA in Sculpture and Graphic Design. She moved to the Pacific Northwest in 2000 for the arts, culture and wilderness. During her time in Seattle she studied under many inspiring ceramic artists. Louise was a resident artist at Seward Park Clay Studio and a member of Rat City Studios. Louise has also worked as a studio tech at Pottery Northwest and Seward Park Clay Studio. Louise now lives in Post Falls, where she has a ceramic studio (LMSdesign) and personal training studio (Boost Fitness).
To see some of her work: www.lms-design.com
Annie Gietz, Kids Class Instructor
Annie Gietz, Kids Class Instructor
Annie Gietz, Kids Class Instructor
Annie’s introduction to pottery was in high school, where she fell in love with the medium. Shortly after her first child was born, she started rediscovering her passion for crafting and slowly built her own studio. She started running her own ceramics business, Stories N’ Stoneware, in 2017 and is now selling her art at local art show
Annie’s introduction to pottery was in high school, where she fell in love with the medium. Shortly after her first child was born, she started rediscovering her passion for crafting and slowly built her own studio. She started running her own ceramics business, Stories N’ Stoneware, in 2017 and is now selling her art at local art shows, shops and online. In addition to having 8+ years of experience in clay, she also has seven years of experience in teaching children and is excited to share her love of clay with a new generation.
Dean Davis, Pottery Instructor
Annie Gietz, Kids Class Instructor
Annie Gietz, Kids Class Instructor
“Dean Davis has been an art collector for over 30 years, with a special appreciation for ceramics, amassing a collection of hundreds of unique pieces. Three years ago, he turned his passion for collecting into creating, diving into wheel throwing and exploring the craft hands-on. Dean brings his enthusiasm for ceramics and decades of art
“Dean Davis has been an art collector for over 30 years, with a special appreciation for ceramics, amassing a collection of hundreds of unique pieces. Three years ago, he turned his passion for collecting into creating, diving into wheel throwing and exploring the craft hands-on. Dean brings his enthusiasm for ceramics and decades of artistic experience to the ClayConnection, inspiring others to discover the joy of making art.”