Slowfire Ceramics

Slowfire Ceramics: Ceramics and Art in Oak Park and Forest Park

Slowfire Ceramics is an art studio and foundation based in Oak Park, Illinois, that operates as an art education center. Its offerings combine classes, camps, and workshops in ceramics and other creative disciplines for children, teens, and adults. The company presents itself as a space with three distinct locations: Slowfire East, Slowfire West, and Slowfire Grove.

Slowfire East: Studio for Adult Members

Slowfire East is described as a ceramics studio exclusively for adult members, designed for independent potters. It offers studio access, premium cone 6 and cone 10 clay bodies, custom glazes, electric and gas firing, and a community of makers. It is aimed at those seeking their own workspace within a shared environment.

Slowfire West: Classes, Exhibitions, and Events

Slowfire West, the most recent addition, is located at 7405 Madison Street in Forest Park. It houses adult classes, workshops, exhibitions, private events, and the cone 6 to 10 electric and gas firing program. The space is presented as a hub for ceramic artists, with expanded studio space, additional shelving, dedicated work areas, and the opportunity to explore oxidation and reduction firing.

Slowfire Grove: Multidisciplinary Approach

Slowfire Grove is defined as a multidisciplinary creative environment encompassing ceramics, painting, drawing, and music. For this space, the company invites you to reach out for private lessons.

Programs for All Ages and Skill Levels

The programming includes wheel throwing, handbuilding, painting, and other techniques, adapted to all ages and skill levels. Camps combine art and fun, and one-off workshops and parties for celebrations are offered. Classes are also taught at Beye Elementary School, The Children's School, Lincoln, and River Forest, and camps are organized during the school year on days off.

Origin and Artistic Direction

Noelle Allen, owner of Slowfire, is a sculptor and full-time professor of sculpture and ceramics at Dominican University. She received an MFA in sculpture from the Art Institute of Chicago in 2004 and, according to her presentation, has shown her work in the Chicago area and across the United States for the past fourteen years. Allen states that she personally handles the throwing, building, glazing, and firing of the pieces, and that she works from her home in Oak Park and at the university. Slowfire began as a small custom ceramics business that combines artistic practice with the creation of functional vessels and custom sculptural pieces for the home.

Foundation and Shop

The company has the Slowfire Arts Foundation, a 501c3 entity to which donations can be directed. It also has a ceramics shop and gift cards, with published shipping and return policies, payment methods, and code of conduct.