| Clay
Cafe Inspires Artists of All Ages |
By Anne DeCecco
Observer Staff Writer |
| At the Clay Café Studios in Chantilly, artists young and
old have the opportunity to try their hand at activities such
as paint-your-own-pottery, mosaics and glass fusion. |
| "It's not just a place to come and paint," said
Herndon resident Grace Wolf, who recently purchased the shop.
"It's a place to come and get artistically inspired."
|
| The business is also one of the area's only art shops to
offer glass fusion. "It's a very artistic activity,"
Wolf said of glass fusion, which involves selecting glass
pieces that the studio will melt onto a plate or other object
for you. "It's nice because any age can do it."
|
| Wolf said she met the former owner of the shop, Helene Safford,
in mid-March and the two found they had a lot in common. Both
were active in their local arts groups (Wolf is president
of the Council for the Arts of Herndon), and they are both
artistic. Safford started the Clay Café in Falls Church about
10 years ago, and she opened the Chantilly location about
five years ago. While she planned to continue operating the
Falls Church shop, she wanted to find a new owner for her
Chantilly location. |
| "She had been looking for a buyer who was like her,"
Wolf said. And since selling her GNC locations last year,
Wolf had been looking for a new business venture. So after
talking for a while, she and Safford realized Clay Café could
be the ideal shop for Wolf. |
| "I was hoping to find a for-profit art business,"
Wolf said. So in early May, Wolf took over the Clay Café.
|
| "I like having a family-friendly store," Wolf
said, explaining that the store offers summer camps for children,
corporate outings for local businesses and "girls' night
out" celebrations, among other private functions. The
shop seats about 100 people, and participation is relatively
inexpensive. |
| Clay Café charges a $6 flat fee to visit the studio and
unfired bisques run about $5 to $10. "It's not a commitment
of supplies," Wolf said. People can visit the studio
on a drop-in basis and choose a project to create. |
| "Arts and crafts is something you always do as a kid,
and you never do as an adult," Wolf said. |
| "It's just like when you're little," she said.
"You take a lot of pride in things you make." |
| Wolf plans to hold an open house June 7 from 11 a.m. to
1 p.m. The event will include complimentary lunch and door
prizes. At noon, the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce will
have a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the shop. All attendees
will also receive a coupon for free studio time at Clay Café.
|
| The store is located at 13894 Metro Tech Drive in Chantilly
and is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.,
Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sundays from
noon to 5 p.m. Call 703-817-1051 and visit www.claywire.com. |
