The Story

Hello! My name is Nolan Wagner, owner and operator of THE CLAY SPACE community ceramics studio. In my experience there is something special about clay that brings people together.

Ever since college where I studied ceramics, I have missed the creative community that comes from working alongside other artists - sharing ideas, techniques, information, and meaningful conversation around the pottery wheel or work table.

When I moved back to Lewis County I built a small, very small, pottery studio in my home, where I worked for six years. While I loved making pottery, I realized that creating on my own wasn’t nearly as fulfilling as being part of a community and helping others discover and grow their own creativity and skills.

I also spent several years as a high school art teacher, but teaching in a traditional classroom wasn’t quite the right fit for my introverted self. At the same time, I became increasingly aware of the lack of creative opportunities in the Chehalis and Centralia area, particularly opportunities to work with clay.

Slowly, I began to dream of opening a community ceramics studio—a place where people could come together to create, learn, share, and connect. Little by little, things started to fall into place, and with the support and encouragement of so many wonderful people, I was able to open The Clay Space!

Art Saves Lives

Another important motivation for opening The Clay Space is my desire to provide a safe and creative space for disadvantaged and at-risk youth.

One of my colleagues when I was teaching used to say frequently, “ART SAVES LIVES.” I believe that. Art gives us a way to express ourselves, explore ideas, build confidence, and sometimes simply find a place where we belong.

It is my hope that The Clay Space will be accessible to people from all walks of life and that everyone who walks through our doors can experience the joy, creativity, and healing that can come from working with clay.

If you are interested in helping make this vision possible—whether by volunteering with a youth class or financially sponsoring a child—I would love to hear from you. Please reach out and be part of the Clay Space community!

The Studio

The Clay Space is equipped with everything you need to create pottery and other ceramic work from start to finish. 

Our studio currently includes several pottery wheels (with plans to add more!), a slab roller, an extruder, large work tables, and two large kilns. We also have plenty of hand tools for throwing on the wheel, handbuilding, sculpting, and everything in between.

We fire our kilns to Cone 6 (approximately 2,220°F). The studio is stocked with both white and orange/brown stoneware clay, along with a beautiful variety of Cone 6 glazes.

Whether you are brand new to clay or an experienced ceramic artist, The Clay Space is a place to learn, experiment, make, and connect with others.