Get Your Hands Dirty at Sip and Throw, Coming This Spring

Hands-on activities paired with drinking are a staple in the metro area. Denver is home to various sip-and-paint concepts but how many of these tipsy masterpieces end up gathering dust in the closet?

"With pottery, you can make something that has a little bit more meaning and value to yourself," says Aaron Cummins. "Whether it's a little bowl for your keys or jewelry or a new breakfast cereal bowl or whatever it might be, there's a lot of opportunity to be proud of your creation."

That's the idea behind his new venture, Sip and Throw, which is slated to open at 26th and Lawrence Streets in RiNo this spring. The studio will offer patrons the chance to roll up their sleeves for a guided pottery session paired with beer and wine. It will be outfitted with two firing kilns and will glaze finished works for guests. "I think a part of who we are as a culture in Colorado is about adventure and exploration, and this is included in the arts, as well," says Cummins.

Classes will be held in the evenings five days a week and include one glass of wine or beer for $85 (or $75 without the booze). Additional drinks are available for purchase throughout the evening, including non-alcoholic options.

"I'm really, really thrilled to find this particular location, because I think there's a lot of great presence for the community in that area, for walkability to the bars and restaurants nearby," Cummins says. "It's something for people to do that will complement what the neighborhood already has to offer."
Cummins has a background in business management and real estate; he has spearheaded four companies in total, but after some time, he found that those professional atmospheres were quashing his sense of expression. "I just kind of realized that I wasn't aligned with my passions in life, which were community in the arts and being a bit more creative in a space as opposed to the kind of uptight professional environments in real estate," explains Cummins.

He looked to his love of his home state of Colorado, and the signature crunchy childhood it provided, as a mode through which to enter the world of arts. He wanted to create something reminiscent of the state's natural beauty that requires people to slow down and reconnect with themselves in a unique way. "I grew up in the mountains, so I've always been getting my hands dirty, playing in the mud, playing outdoors, camping," shares Cummins. "I think it's ingrained [in] those of us who have had that fortunate opportunity to be outside to that degree; we feel that connection."

Cummins aims to immerse patrons in the world of pottery and facilitate a concept suggestive of an adult sandbox — a place to get messy, have fun and embrace the childlike pureness of creation. "When you're on the wheel, your hands are filthy, disgusting, muddy, but you don't care, because it's beautiful. It's a dance of clay on this wheel and you're creating something. Who knows what it will look like? You might not have the intention behind it, and you're just going with what feels good," he says.
Cummins aims to bring a new kind of pottery workshop into the mix — a contrast from most adult-geared pottery studios around Denver that require memberships or long-term enrollment. "It really is such a meditative activity that I think a lot of people don't necessarily have easy access to," he says. "Most studios offer big six-week courses, and there's not a lot of opportunity for people to just go try it once."

On the other end of the spectrum are pottery painting concepts that often host events like middle-school birthday parties. "That was part of the concept that I felt was missing a little bit in this industry. A lot of these pottery studios are so catered to kids," adds Cummins. "People love to get dirty, and they love to get their hands messy. I know there are a lot of adult studios out there that offer classes, but my connection to it, it's almost like reaching back in and being youthful again and getting your hands dirty and letting yourself explore."

The studio will also offer the opportunity to get a bit more involved with the Potter's Punch Pass. Patrons can purchase the pass in three different sizes: four, six or ten days. These days can be redeemed at any time, either to drop in and work independently or with guidance from an instructor, and the bundle amounts to a discounted price. "This is a really cool opportunity for people who want to kind of dabble a little bit more than just one class and throwing on the wheel, but not commit to monthly membership fees," Cummins says.

He emphasizes that the studio certainly will be a great place to hone your craft, but that the true purpose is to enjoy something meditative and fun. "The most common comment I get is, 'I've never done it on the wheel. I don't think I'll be very good.' But that's not the goal here. We're not trying to create pieces that are going to be in MoMA. We just want you to have fun and maybe find a new hobby and, at the very least, just have a really wonderful night with some friends and meeting some new people in the community," Cummins concludes.

Apart from the Sip and Throw classes, the studio will also offer introductory classes, advanced classes, private guided sessions and possibly personalized events.

For more information about Sip and Throw, visit sipandthrow.com.