About Café au Clay

A History Lesson

Café au Clay by Masque Powers is the brightest, most colorful new kid on the block of Oak and Joliet streets in the Riverbend neighborhood of New Orleans. A ceramic art studio, pottery paint place, and the production studio of New Orleans’ famous Masque Powers masque, it’s a half day outing you and your friends and family will treasure.

Learn the magic of slip casting and the process of glazing as you watch Masque Powers transform clay into streaming color. Then choose your own ceramic pieces to paint.

We fire up imaginations with stories of rainbow dinosaurs and polka dot fairies. Of snakes and spiders that can outrace pickup trucks and motorcycles.

We encourage a dinnerware set that features more splatters than a ketchup bottle gone wrong.

We lovingly imprint tiny hands and feet on to plates that will be dated and treasured for life.

And we give you tips and all the help you want along the way.

It’s fun, zany, and like no other paint place you’ve been to before. It is the arty, party pottery paint place of New Orleans.

Girls Night Out Gets Creative!

5 p.m. on Thursdays. Girls, make your way from work to Café au Clay for some FUN!!! BYO cocktail in hand; you’ll choose a pottery piece from the practical (e.g., mug) to the lyrical (e.g., high heel cell phone holder). Get some serious and some not-so-serious tips from Café au Clay artists, and have something more than just a hangover to mark your girl’s night out.




The Most Unforgettable Birthday Parties EVER!!!

At Café au Clay you get more than any other party venue!

We offer more than the dozen great birthday themes.

More than kids get to take home something precious that they painted.

It’s more than what they learned about slip casting and kilns.

It’s more than the giant Birthday Card decorated and signed by all the guests. . . .

It’s much, much more than a price tag starting at only $125 for 8 kids. (The most economical party in New Orleans!)

It’s the arty, party ceramic paint place birthday where you don’t have to clean up!

About Will and Kate

On a chance meeting in the mid-1980s, Will and Kate Powers’ first encounter was at a dinner party. It was another decade and many life changes later that they declared their love and were married. Kate left her home in Australia to become ‘Missus’ to the mask maker of New Orleans, whereupon she picked up a paint brush and got to work.

Collectively, they have 8 children who at various stages have populated their busy studio, but sadly have never aspired to become a part of it.

Throughout the years, Will and Kate have survived copy cats, imports, and most recently Hurricane Katrina.

It was Katrina that cemented their love for New Orleans and brought forth a regenerated commitment to continue to make the mask for which New Orleans is famous.

Most recently, they have expanded their studio to become Café au Clay by Masque Powers, located Uptown on Oak Street at Joliet.

It’s their way of making sure that this art form—unique to New Orleans—remains part of N’awlins culture, and that everyone can have a hand in making masks and other ceramic icons from New Orleans.

Products and Services

The Beginning

In 1980, New Orleans was a fascinating and wondrous conglomerate of secrets and art, stories and heroes, drama and heroines—all creating the mystery and magic that is New Orleans today.

Into this rich and vibrant community entered Will Powers—an artist whose affinity with clay inspired him to create a unique masque for New Orleans.

It was a masque that harked back to the pirot, yet captured the spirit of New Orleans with streaming color, exotic crown cuts, and full-bodied 24-karat gold lips and accents.

It became the masque of New Orleans and the face of Mardi Gras.

You will find Masque Powers beautiful work in shops throughout the French Quarter today.

Each piece is still hand cut and hand painted, often by Will and Kate Powers, ensuring that each masque is a unique, one-of-a-kind piece, valued by collectors from around the world.

Best of all, you can now see and be part of the making of the masque.

Masque Powers—The Tour

At 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday you can be part of the masque-making experience.

Starting with wet Mississippi mud (aka “slip”), you’ll follow the masque through all of its stages, trying your hand at cutting the greenware, cleaning the still fragile clay, and finally, painting a masque—your way.

Hailed by tourists as one of the highlights of a trip to New Orleans, it is important to book in advance (504-861-4400). Tours are limited to 20 people and include brunch and lunch at Oak Street’s best restaurants.

It’s easy to get here! Simply catch the St. Charles streetcar up Carrollton around the river’s bend, and get off at Oak Street. Walk past the famous Maple Leaf Bar and Jacques-Imo Café to Joliet Street and there you will find Café au Clay!

Contact

Café au Clay by Masque Powers
8438 Oak Street (corner of Joliet)
New Orleans, LA 70118-2046
504-861-4400
masquepowers@bellsouth.net

Hours

Sun.–Wed.
9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Thurs.–Sat.
9 a.m.–9 p.m.

Calendar

CREATIVE CAMPERS - A DAY-BY-DAY CAMP

It’s the end of summer, the kids are getting bored, and you’ve run out of ideas!!!

Well, bring them to Café au Clay, the arty, party pottery paint place, and we’ll get their imaginations and creativity all fired up!!!!

Bring them in for 1 day or for all 12 sessions in August.
Cost per session: $45.00
Begins 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. each day.

Price includes all pottery supplies, paint underglazes, over glazing, kiln firing, art lessons, and lunch, drinks, and snacks. BOOK NOW!!! 861-4400 or 884-0271, or email cafeauclay@bellsouth.net.

Dates

Tuesday, August 5, 2008
“I love New Orleans”
You’ll hear stories about the fleur d’ lis and masks, and how they became important to New Orleans. Then make your own "I Love New Orleans" mask and plate with fleur d’ lis and paints.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008
“Start the Day Happy”
What better way to start the day than getting to the bottom of your cereal bowl and being greeted with “good morning sunshine.” You make up your own morning message to get you off to a great start each day, and paint it on your own beautiful bowl.

Thursday, August 7, 2008
“Fantastic Tales”
Stories of fairies and dinosaurs, snakes and spiders, inspire outlandish ways to paint your own fantasy pottery piece.

Friday, August 8, 2008
“I’m a Fan!”
Turn everyday items like plates, mugs, bowls, and boxes into your own LSU and Saints designed masterpieces.

Monday, August 11, 2008
“I’m a Super Hero”
Kids learn how they can help save the planet simply by turning off a light. We then paint a light switch plate that helps remind us that we can be super heroes every day.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008
“Once upon a rhyme! . . .”
Bring in your favorite rhyme, poem, or line from a song or saying! We’ll play some word games, listen to songs, and then paint poetry on pottery!

Wednesday, August 13, 2008
“It’s All in a Name”
We’ll find out what your name really means and where it comes from, and then paint a name tile for your bedroom.

Thursday, August 14, 2008
"I’m a Fan (2)"
Another chance to turn everyday items like plates, bowls, mugs, and light switch plates into your own LSU or Saints masterpieces.

Friday, August 15, 2008
“It’s Fun TIME”
Learn the tricks of telling the time and then paint your own amazing ceramic clock!
(Extra $5 to cover cost of clock movement.)

Monday, August 18, 2008
“School House Rocks”
Bring in some CDs and let loose to your favorite music. Paint your own guitar pencil holder and be ready for a surprise guest.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008
“I Love New Orleans (2)”
Another chance to learn the stories behind the New Orleans mask and fleur d’ lis, and paint your own statement about being a New Orleanian.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008
"Let’s play!"
A chance to play with some clay and paint your choice of pottery including high-heeled cell phone holders, motorcycles, race cars, spiders, snakes, fairies, dinner ware, and light switch plates.

Press

Coming soon!

Prices

The artist in you is about to be nurtured, polished, and coaxed into play ‘cause at Café au Clay that is what we do all day!
Regular Studio Fee
$6 plus price of piece (includes paints, glazing, kiln firing)

Mondays
Start your own New Orleans Ceramic Mask collection
Only $12 (includes studio and glazing fee)

Tuesdays
Our Green Light Project lets you paint a light switch that’ll help save the planet. We add the slogan “Global warming turns me off.”
Only $13 (includes studio and glazing fee with 15% donated to Greenpeace)

Wednesdays
Fleur de lis adorned napkin rings say everything about what you love about N’awlins when you paint them your way!
Only $10 (includes studio and glazing fee)

Thursdays
Ladies nights 5 p.m. ‘til 9 p.m. lets you paint anything for the price of the piece, plus $4 studio fee! BYO Beverage.

Fridays
Family Nights 3 p.m. ‘til 9 p.m. lets you paint anything for the price of the piece, plus $4 studio fee.

NOTE: A $1.50 firing fee is added for extra large pieces.

The arty, party ceramic paint place does the BEST birthdays ever!
1½ hours of paint pandemonium with an 8-person minimum.
Book in Advance
$50 Deposit
Choose your Theme
Add a $25 studio fee and we’ll do the balloons and artist berets!

$12.50 per person
Wild Side Party
Dinosaurs, spiders, and snakes make the party come alive.

New Orleans Pretty Face
The start of every New Orleans girl's mask collection.

Hello...o...o...o... Party Girl
A divine cell phone holder shaped in a “to die for” shoe.

Happy Vrrrooommm Day
Two trucks that will give them a run for their money.

$16.50 per person
B.F.F. Birthday
Friends will always be remembered with this picture frame.

Material Girls
An absolutely divine purse doubles as a money box.

It’s Precious
A beautiful Fairy-adorned jewelry box that they’ll treasure.

Café au Clay also offers:

Bridal showers

Earned Scout and Girl Guide Badge Projects

Clay Building

Claymation Parties

School Field Trips

Baby Print Plates

Wedding Plates

Gift Certificates

Slip Casting

Customized Gifts

Bookings: 504-861-4400

Tour

Read a Virtual Tourist writeup. Other reviews coming soon!