Moore, a 2013 graduate of Fort Dodge Senior High School, is the owner of Nathan & Clay, a traveling pottery art class. He will host three sessions this Saturday in Fort Dodge.

Classes will take place at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. at Soldier Creek Winery, located at 1584 Paragon Ave.

“I’m excited to be offering my first classes in my hometown,” Moore said. “I’ve been back to the Blanden Arts Festival earlier this summer to let people try the wheels out, but have never offered a class here and I think Soldier Creek is the perfect place to offer one.

“The Secors have been nothing but great to work with,” he added, referring to the family that owns the winery. “Since learning ceramics my senior year at Fort Dodge Senior High, it feels like my education is coming full circle and it’s a great feeling giving that back to the community.”

-Photo courtesy Emily Moore/A Couple Moore
Nathan Moore, center, a graduate of Fort Dodge Senior High, is the owner of Nathan and Clay and will be hosting three classes this Saturday at Soldier Creek Winery.

Moore’s initiation into ceramics came under the teaching of Jillian Svendsen (Knutsen) his senior year. From there, a passion developed and grew.

“Her class definitely piqued my interest and I later took more classes my sophomore year of college which solidified my choice in pursuing ceramics,” he said. “In 2021, I got a job at Gilbert High School and Middle School teaching ceramics and other exploratory art classes where I still teach during the academic year. After my first year of teaching at Gilbert, I taught wheel throwing at the Ankeny and Ames community art centers in the summer and following that experience, thought it might be possible to offer classes on my own.

“I was not in a position to start an entire ceramics studio, so that is where the idea came from to try to offer it on the go. I pitched the idea to the Iowa Arts Council for their Creative Catalyst Grant which offers funding for Iowa artists looking to bring their vision to life. I got the grant which led me to buy eight portable pottery wheels, tools, clay and everything needed to offer a pottery class on the go.

“I have since received two other grants over the course of two years that have helped me vinyl wrap the trailer that carries the equipment and have helped with the marketing of the classes,” he added.

It has been a busy summer for Moore, who has held events in Story City, Algona, Dubuque, Hampton and Gilbert over the past two months.

-Photo courtesy Emily Moore/A Couple Moore
Nathan Moore, the owner of Nathan and Clay, center, will bring his traveling pottery art classes to Fort Dodge this weekend. Moore is a 2013 graduate of Fort Dodge Senior High.

“I would mostly like to continue offering a quality education to those who would like to learn it,” Moore said. “I see the classes in the future evolving to other aspects of ceramics such as handbuilding with slabs or coils and offering longer form classes by pairing up with organizations such as camps or arts organizations.

“I’m definitely excited to see where it all goes.”

Each of Moore’s classes will be two hours long and paired with two glasses of wine or beverage of your choice. Every piece created will be fired, glazed and ready to be enjoyed.

“If they have ever been interested in learning wheel throwing, seen it online or just been curious on how clay is able to be moved while still retaining its shape, this is a great opportunity to come learn and try it out,” Moore said. “Ceramics education in Iowa can be difficult to come by, so come join if interested.”

Tickets for the classes can be purchased on the Soldier Creek Winery website. Further information on Moore can be found at his website: nathanandclay.com.

-Photo courtesy Emily Moore/A Couple Moore
Nathan Moore, the owner of Nathan and Clay, will bring his traveling pottery art classes to Fort Dodge this weekend. Moore is a 2013 graduate of Fort Dodge Senior High.