Ceramic Hand-building with Rachel "RJ" Jaffe

Adults (16+)
6 sessions
Rachel Jaffe

Get inspired by the art on view in our galleries, and work with exhibiting artist Rachel Jaffe to create your own hand-built ceramic artworks.

In this all-levels hand-building class, we’ll create more than just mugs, bowls, or sculptural forms—we’ll also make space for reflection, connection, and creative transformation. Whether you're envisioning a full set of handmade dinnerware or simply seeking a creative reset, bring your ideas and curiosity to the table—Jaffe will guide you through the rest.

Together, we’ll explore clay as a medium for resilience, process, and play. Through guided exercises and hands-on exploration, you'll discover how working with your hands can become an act of care for yourself and your community.

This is real-world transformation through making because the creative act is one of resistance, and collective creation is how we heal.

All materials are provided. Works created during this class will be kiln- and glaze-fired. Students will be contacted by the Museum for later pickup of finished artworks.

Level: All levels welcome
Tuesdays, November 4–December 16 (skip Tuesday, November 25)
6:00 PM–9:00 PM
Members $250; Nonmembers $265

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Rachel Jaffe (RJ) is a coastal craftswoman based in Virginia Beach and the creative force behind 23 Beans. She celebrates resilience, embraces curiosity, and engages with play even amidst adversity. Her practice is shaped by immersive learning, familial legacy, and the balance between respect and rebellion.

Rachel’s inviting, personable ceramic forms reflect her deep reverence for life both above and below sea level. As a passionate teaching artist, RJ shares her love of ceramics at Virginia MOCA, the Hermitage Museum, and through Tidewater Arts Outreach. She is currently a studio artist at The Creative Well Arts Foundation in the ViBe Creative District.

You may also like the following events from Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art:

• This October, 1st October, 06:30 pm, Ceramics: Exploring Texture on Clay with Anna V. Freeman in Virginia Beach
• This October, 18th October, 10:00 am, Oil Painting: Color & Composition with Nicole Santiago in Virginia Beach
• This November, 8th November, 10:00 am, Natural Pigments & Relief Printing with Nina Doerr in Virginia Beach

Also check out other Arts events in Virginia Beach, Workshops in Virginia Beach.