Mac Clay Team
Matthew HawkinsFounder / Teacher / Student
It was a combination of love, wine and pottery that brought me to McMinnville in 2022 -- and since those first days, I've been wondering why the town that has everything doesn't have a ceramics studio. Mac Clay Pottery started as an idea, then moved to the garage. Now we're on 1st Street.
Clay brought me back to to myself after a traumatic experience, and in the years since I've been exploring what a life intertwined with ceramics looks like. Turns out, it’s all about the process of renewal, community building, and learning self-sufficiency. In my own work, I looked to the great folk-potters of Northern Georgia and the Carolinas, just as I'm inspired by Japanese folk traditions. Once the studio is up and running, I'll be teaching classes ranging from “Highwater Marks of Prehistoric Pottery” and “Folk Pottery: Face Jugs and Ash Glazes.”
Cindy HoskissonTeacher
Cindy Hoskisson has worked in clay for more than 35 years, and currently directs the ceramics program at Linfield College. Over the years, she has worn many hats - ranging from establishing her own production line with her husband to manning the East Creek Anagama community as the kiln master for over a decade. She's a legend, to put it lightly. She produces both functional and artistic works, ranging from Raku, pit fire, and gas-fired pieces, but she thrives as an educator and mentor. Her teaching practice centers a solid understanding in the traditional techniques from a global perspective, while seeking out opportunities to build problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
We are blessed by Cindy's presence at Mac Clay Pottery. If you have a question about ceramics, Cindy knows the answer. She'll be teaching wheel throwing classes at the studio a few times a week, but her experience and expertise make her a valuable teacher for any student.
Michelle BlumenthalTeacher
Michelle Blumenthal developed a mid-life pottery obsession during her cancer treatment— and she might tell you that it saved her life. Her wheel-throwing and hand-building skills have been refined by self-study, experimentation, classes and workshops (as the student and the teacher), as well as countless hours exploring clay’s never-ending mystery. Michelle is guided by intuition, curiosity and honesty. Plus, she’s a ball of fun and a guiding force for the studio.
In addition to creating her own unique range of work (from ocarinas to characterful planters to refined dinnerware), Michelle is passionate about sharing the transformative power of ceramics with her students. She leads workshops for beginners and seasoned makers alike, creating a welcoming space where students can learn, experiment, be inspired and discover their own creative voices. But first — fundamentals!
Michelle has a home-studio in Amity, Oregon, where she continues to develop her clay craft. She also keeps a garden and a barn-full of critters, knits, cooks, and reads. By day, she is an Office Manager/ Bookkeeper for Morokot Foods in Salem, Oregon. By night, she is Bat Girl.
Nikki SvarverudTeacher / Glaze & Kiln Queen
Nikki Svarverud was introduced to clay in a 9th grade art class and caught the bug immediately. While she went on to double-major in chemistry and biology, she spent every spare second in college at the ceramics studio. After graduation, life pulled her away from clay, and she didn’t make pottery for over a decade.
That changed in 1997, when Nikki moved to Oregon, and a clay center opened in Salem. She began volunteering, taking classes, and eventually became the studio tech, where she fired kilns, mixed glazes, and taught both wheel-throwing and handbuilding. Over nearly 25 years Nikki honed her craft and gained a deep understanding of the technical side of ceramics.
Nikki loves making functional wheel-thrown pieces—especially bowls and mugs—and with handbuilding, she gravitates toward work that’s full of character, from masks to wall hangings to garden art. Her teaching style reflects both her technical expertise and her creative spirit, helping students make pieces that aren’t destined to sit on a shelf, but to be used, lived with, and loved. With her mix of practical know-how and playful imagination, Nikki brings decades of experience and a genuine passion for clay into every class.