Step inside and you’ll find a bright space decked out with wheels aplenty, hand-building tables, and shelves lined with in-progress pieces: mugs, bowls, planters, plates, and whimsical one-offs. The studio’s namesake, Olive (the most adorable dog ever and official Queen of the Slop), can often be seen wagging about the studio; the studio’s owner, Jackie Ose, also circulates around to provide tips and tricks to patrons.
The studio regularly hosts workshops that make the perfect date night, team outing, birthday activity, or solo treat yo’self experience. These sessions are beginner-friendly and each participant gets a self-made souvenir.
I—being a spooky season enthusiast—signed up for one of their seasonal workshops to hand-build ceramic ghosts. Jackie worked hands-on with the class and demonstrated different techniques to form our ghoulish creations. We were given our own pre-rolled clay to work with, along with a robust selection of instruments to use. Because the bisqueware process already fires the clay to a festive off-white, we didn’t need to select a specific glaze color; we only needed to focus on perfecting our forms. For those looking to go the extra mile (guilty!), they offered a variety of underglazes to add a little extra pizzazz—naturally, I took the opportunity to splash some yellow and orange on my piece for the autumnal vibes. When class was over, we spun the studio’s gumball machine to get premade miniature tchotchkes.
After the pieces are glazed and fired, we were invited to drop by and pick up our finished friends! As per Jackie’s recommendation, we kept our ghosts nice and hollow so we could add in some flickering votive lights as the cherries on top (or, rather, inside).
For the intermediate to advanced ceramicists, Black Olive also offers monthly memberships that grant unlimited studio and equipment access, reserved shelf space, and even your own clay! With holiday season rapidly approaching, you can also snag a gift card for the hard-to-shop-for friend or the one who already owns too many mugs… and still wants more.
What we love most is how naturally the studio fits into a Concord day; start with coffee on Main Street, wander to nearby galleries and murals, then join a workshop to complete an artistic day. Whether you’re chasing a new hobby or just craving a tactile, screen-free hour, Black Olive Pottery Studio is a beautiful addition to the Capital City’s creative network. Bring your curiosity, roll up your sleeves, and let Concord’s newest spot help you shape a memorable memento!
Dillon Clark is the Creative Director at the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce. You can often catch him walking downtown, visiting Concord’s restaurants, buying a sweet treat, or petting a passing dog.
Visit Concord NH is an initiative of the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce. This website and accompanying social media profiles showcase the best of NH’s Capital Region to travelers, new residents and long-time fans of Concord. Learn more about the Chamber at concordnhchamber.com.
Is this list missing something? There’s always new businesses, menu items and endless places to find great food in the Concord region. Email dclark@concordnhchamber.com to submit your suggestion for this blog!
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