A ceramics artist and educator is opening a retail space in Wheat Ridge. Out of Step Clay owner Joshua Margolis recently signed a lease for the 2,000-square-foot space at 7045 W. 38th Avenue to become a working studio, gallery space for his work, retail space for his and other local artists’ creations, as well as a spot to offer ceramics classes to the community.
The space will undergo renovations on plumbing, as well as electrical and lighting to brighten the space. “This is a whole studio space based around clay,” Margolis said.
“It’s been my dream to make this happen for many years now,” Margolis told What Now Denver. Margolis has been sculpting since he was a child. He moved to the Denver area from the San Francisco Bay area about a year ago, immersed himself into the local ceramics scene, and found the new space.
“Wheat Ridge seems like a really great accessible area for everybody in the Denver Metro area.”
Out of Step Clay classes, which are beginner-friendly, will allow students to handmake clay creations. “I’m really excited to bring a focus of ceramics education. I really want to create a space for the community to have impactful artistic change in the community and also highlight my work.” Ages four and up can take classes, which will include potter’s wheel and hand-building.
He also wants to restart his Monsters and Robots Project in which people can submit drawings of monsters or robots, and Margolis will select individual drawings to sculpt out of clay. “It’s a visual dialogue. It’s a really, fun creative process, and it gets people engaged in making art and seeing where their art can go.”
Margolis has also written a children’s book series about one of his ceramic robots. His first book was Melvin the Sad…(ish) Robot, and he has a third to be published this year.
Out of Step Clay is scheduled to open April 2 and will feature Margolis’ Urban Barn Owls exhibition. Classes are expected to begin April 5.
