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The Studio. The Clayspace Co-op is a cooperative ceramics studio and gallery located in the historic river arts district of Asheville, North Carolina. The Clayspace is a 1200 square foot main facility with an adjacent outdoor area for clay processing and materials storage that provides working space and showroom opportunities for its four members. Situated on the street level of the Wedge building, a converted warehouse that is the home to a variety of other art studios, a dance company and a brewery, the Clayspace is a creative environment that reflects the energy of the arts community in the river district and the greater city of Asheville.

The Mission. The main aim of the Clayspace Cooperative is to provide an environment that promotes the artistic growth and success of its members through cooperation and education. The Clayspace provides a place for its members to share ideas, equipment, and their individual experiences to achieve this common goal. By promoting a sense of community and cooperation in the studio, each member receives the benefit of the diversity of skills and interests possessed by the whole, which in turn increases their potential for success. The Clayspace also provides a place for all of its members to show case their work and an opportunity to interact with the public in the studio environment

The History. The Clayspace was founded in 2003 by Josh Copus and fellow founding members Matt Jacobs and Sean Fairbridge as a place for them to work while attending the University of North Carolina in Asheville (UNCA). The Clayspace was originally conceived as an alternative to the crowded ceramics studio at UNCA and a place to crank the music up and work in complete freedom with all-hours access. While the initial interests for starting the studio were fairly simple, it did not take long to realize the complex benefits of working in cooperation. By pooling together the resources and talents of three people, the young artists were able to accomplish more than any one of them could have individually. They salvaged materials and equipment to build the necessary infrastructure for the shop and spent countless hours turning the large open warehouse into a comfortable working space that reflected the character of the tenants.

The early years of the Clayspace were a huge learning experience for everyone involved. In addition to serving as a workspace, the Clayspace also became a place where these young artists learned valuable lessons about the realities of studio development and management. Building or salvaging most of the studio equipment and infrastructure was a financial necessity, but it also sponsored a environment of ingenuity reminiscent of early American folk-potters, who had to make everything from the bricks for their kilns to the wheels that they turned on. It was with that same independent spirit in mind that Josh, Matt, and Sean began turning old couches into work tables and old pallets into shelves, effectively launching the Clay Space in October of 2003.

Over the years the Clayspace has undergone many changes, while still maintaining the character of its humble beginnings. Improvements to the studio were made as time and money allowed, while Josh, Matt and Sean were finishing their degrees at UNCA. The membership of the studio was increased in order to maintain the affordability of the space and the faces of those people involved with the Clayspace have changed somewhat over the years. The current gallery space, which originally served as a practice space for the Scrappy Hamilton band, was remodeled into an apartment that both Josh and Matt have on separate occasions called home.

While the Clayspace has evolved and adopted a more professional feeling within its confines, there are still plenty of reminders of those early days found around the studio. Pottery quotes are scrawled on the walls, along with old phone numbers, and plenty of old pictures and show cards pointing towards past events. Most importantly, the core principles that made the Clayspace what it is still remain. Regardless of the changes that have occurred at the Clayspace, the chances are still high that you can find the lights on, the music cranked up, and someone working late into the night.