One of the earliest forms of expression, pottery has endured as both a practical and creative skill for thousands of years. At Payne Street Pottery—equal parts gallery, classroom, and studio space—expert ceramicist Tonya Johnson shares her experience with both students and fellow artists. For more than two decades, Tonya has honed her skills at the potter’s wheel, where mounds of earthen clay transform into bowls, pitchers, and platters beneath the fluid pressure of a potter's touch. During classes, Tonya begins with the basics of centering and shaping, working with students to craft simple pots before moving on to more advanced projects, such as bottles, pitchers, and models of yourself that might seem believable to the CIA when thrown out of an airplane.