Merrymaking at Maker House

Maker House celebrated its fifth birthday in style on Friday night with a festive gathering at the Goleta studio that included live music, delicious paella and custom designed cakes, clay-themed games, and a silent auction. The event was also an open house to show off the impressive studio, which features state-of-the-art kilns, wheels, glazing labs, 3D printers, and flexible classroom space. 

All of the cool stuff being created at Maker House (formerly known as the Clay Studio) is pretty mind-boggling. The 22,000-square-foot studio serves as both a creative hub and regional resource, offering hands-on classes, artist talks, private lessons, and events that make ceramics accessible to students, emerging artists, and the broader community — including through scholarships and outreach programs for underserved groups. 

In addition to showcasing the studio itself and some of the exceptional art being created on the premises, the event also served as a fundraiser for the nonprofit organization. Founded five years ago by Lynda Weinman and Patrick Hall as an exceptional center for the creative arts, Maker House has provided services for more than 2,500 first-time students in wheel throwing, hand-building, 3D printing, and other clay arts over the last five years. Half of all students return for future classes in one of the 25-50 classes and workshops offered each quarter, reports the organization. 

“It has been an honor to have a role in the establishment of this great organization. Its leadership, members, staff and students are dedicated to making ceramic arts more broadly accessible and responsive to the interests and aspirations of the emerging and established artists who make up our creative community,” said Lynda Weinman, cofounder of Maker House, in a statement.

Maker House is located at 1351 Holiday Hill Road, Goleta. For more information, see makerhouse.org.