Code of Conduct
Clay Life Arts Studio (CLAsS) and TheClayLife.com (TCL) created a code of conduct to communicate expectations to staff, assistants, facility participants, and guests in a clear and tactful manner. We can’t cover every single case of conduct, but we trust you to always use your best judgment. Reach out to the owner, David Paulley, studio manager, or anonymous feedback form if you face any issues or have any questions.
CLAsS/TCL has a mission to engage and build community through clay – one person, one neighborhood, and one experience at a time. Following this line of thinking, the relationships that develop at the CLAsS/TCL are important and to be tended with care. We hope that they are long-term and beneficial for everyone.
Though committed to a progressive approach to disciplinary action, CLAsS/TCL considers certain rule infractions and violations of standards as grounds for immediate termination of employment or participation.
- PURPOSE OF CODE:
The major purpose of this CODE OF CONDUCT is to promote an atmosphere of harmony and understanding at the CLAsS/TCL and events affiliated with these spaces, assuring participants and staff alike that the behavior of all in attendance will be guided by a common set of rules for the mutual benefit of all. - CODE OF CONDUCT:
To accomplish this purpose, individuals are asked to live by one basic guideline: “The Rights and Privileges of all persons are to be respected and honored at all times.” - VIOLATIONS OF CODE:
The following are violations of this Code of conduct and are prohibited at community facilities or CLAsS/TCL-sponsored activities:
- Conduct that disrupts or obstructs any program or activity that is a part of the overall facility operation.
- Failure to comply with lawful directions given by CLAsS/TCL staff acting in the performance of their duties.
- The destruction, damage, or theft of community property or the property of others.
- Unauthorized access to company property outside of business hours.
- Misrepresentations of CLAsS/TCL to a customer, a prospective customer, the general public, or an Employee (including but not limited to in-person exchanges, social media, digital correspondence, etc).
- Any action, which in the judgment of staff or owner, constitutes an attempt to inflict, or the actual infliction of, or injury to other participants and/or staff.
- Any conduct or expression that in the judgment of owner or staff, serves to intimidate or coerce others. Including shaming of someone’s artistic expression of wheel-thrown, hand-built or sculptural representations of the human form. Any conduct or expression, including profanity that personally attacks a guest, member, staff or owner.
- Any infringement on the rights of other participants or staff granted by Federal, State or Local statute or any other violation of such statutes.
- Failure to maintain a level of personal hygiene that is non-offensive in a social environment.
- ENFORCEMENT: The above Code shall be enforced by CLAsS/TCL staff whose authority shall prevail in all cases. Disciplinary action will be decided in the first instance by the CLAsS/TCL staff responsible for the event or program where the violation occurs. Violators of the Code that are deemed not to constitute an immediate and apparent threat to the safety of others or their property will result in disciplinary action including, but not limited to a verbal warning, suspension of the right to participate in some or all of the facility’s activities for a period of time, or permanent expulsion from the facility and/or program, depending upon the severity of the offense and whether the offense is repeated or habitual. Violations of the Code that are deemed to constitute an immediate and apparent threat to the safety of others or their property may result in immediate, temporary or permanent expulsion from the facility and/or the specific activity.
APPEAL OF ANY DECISION: An appeal of any decision may be made to the Owner.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Access Statement
As a business, we recognize our essential role in dismantling unjust and inequitable systems within our community. We are committed and dedicated to this lifelong process.
We believe that a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive community is a better community. We recognize our position of privilege in an inequitable, racist, and non-inclusive system. Through this lens, we are committed to making measurable and lasting changes that will foster racial equity, encourage diversity, and cultivate a more inclusive community.
Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com stands in solidarity against racism in the clay community and the systemic inequities and injustices that our BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities face. We endeavor to actively use the resources of CLAsS & TCL to facilitate sustainable change and foster a creative community that is safe, inclusive, and equitable.
Drama Llama Free Zone
TheClayLife.com and Clay Life Arts Studio has a zero tolerance policy for drama llama emotions. What is a drama llama emotion? A drama llama emotion is a toxically-charged, emotionally-based, conflict-response to an issue or a person or a problem. We’ve listed a few types of emotionally based drama llama reactions below. For the record, we’ve never met any of these emotional drama llamas and they aren’t based on any known llamas real or living. We’re all human here, imperfectly perfect as we are trying to get back to the garden. Treat everyone with kindness and gratitude until we have it all figured out. Being cruel or spiteful or arrogantly spiteful to the members, potential members, guests, staff or owner has no place here.
Going a step further, negatively complaining about art made in the studio that resembles various aspects of the human anatomy is not allowed. We are body positive here but there is a thin line. Shaming someone for referencing the human form as an art reference in relation to clay in any of its phases is grounds for membership termination. Episode 1, Season 1 of the Great Pottery Throw Down speaks of the sensuality of clay and how various stages of the clay process can mimic parts of the human form. That is okay. It’s an art reference. Crude references or jokes to/about someone pulling a handle is not. Someone making a sculpture of the human form and you don’t like the way they made the figure so you antagonize, ridicule and guilt them into changing it to suit your comfort zone? Unacceptable. They are making art. Their art. However, if someone is making you feel uncomfortable, do speak with the owner.
Respect people’s space and check the risque humor at the door and let’s be adults about boundaries. Just. Don’t. Go. There. It isn’t a bar. It’s a lonely world if you’re starved for affection and attention. These days, even jokes poking risque-debasing humor at one’s own self-worth has the potential to be misconstrued even though you may mean well and never ever cause someone harm. In today’s world, devastated by a deadly pandemic, we are all trying to reconnect and interface anew with our fellow travelers in an environment trying to redefine our humanity as best we can. It’s our community clay family. Ask for permission to hug. A tap on a shoulder or an elbow with a fingertip if you’re trying to pass through an area if there isn’t room.
If you have production type work and have a small show to do or a small order to fill that’s great! Glad TheClayLife.com can help make that happen for you as long as it’s in your allocated space. We’re rooting for your success always. Plan your work well ahead of time and scheduled deadlines. Sometimes exceptions can be made as long as you’ve communicated your needs in advance and the schedule permits. Work that has priority in the firing process is as follows: Children’s classes; Introductory classes; Bone dry member work; Bone dry member glaze work; Outside non-member firing. Kilns are loaded for efficiency, airflow and schedules. There is no first come, first fired policy. However, there is a first to dry first to fly policy – as long as it revolves around an efficiently packed kiln in accordance to keeping classes on schedule. Unusually shaped objects and tall objects might have to wait slightly longer to be fired with similarly shaped items.