Beth Weninger, Education Director:
We’ve always been better together. Over 40 years ago, a small group of committed volunteers and artists came together to expand and create a pottery studio in the basement of our old, dirt bottom building. This was no easy task. In fact, these amazing community members spent hundreds of backbreaking hours digging out the dirt basement with only shovels, buckets, and wheelbarrows. Over two feet of dirt and concrete were removed, lowering the floor. Concrete was poured, and the unique, multi-level, multi room labyrinth of a space was created. For many years, this eclectic, funky space did the thing it was intended to do. It brought folks together for a shared experience and to create thousands of pinch pots, mugs, vases, plates, beer steins, platters, bowls, and more.
Through the years, more wonderful community members came together to help us with just a few things like making clay, wedging clay, recycling clay, hauling clay, mixing glazes, organizing tools, removing garbage, repairing kilns, repairing electric wheels, fixing faucets, managing water main bursts, and mopping flood clean up. And then there were the clogged drains, ballast repairs on our antiquated light fixtures. There was no hesitation when we needed help with outreach: open house/open studio, wheel throwing demonstrations to school groups and to the general public, and at the Octagon Art Festival.
Time took a toll on our old building and the basement Ceramic Studio. The multi-levels meant the space was not accessible to everyone. The air quality from the decades of ceramic dust and water damage could no longer be ignored. In the fall of 2019, we campaigned to YOU…our members, our community to help us finance and move the Ceramics Studio to the second floor. Together, with your help, we were able to reach our goal. The new Ceramics Studio is complete with a fully accessible space, new electrical outlets, new air filtration system, new pottery stools, ceiling extension cords for the electric wheels, shelving, tables, and storage. One of the best features of our new space is the natural light from the windows (the plants love it, too!).
By January 2020, we were prepared to hold our first class in the new space. Although the inaugural wheel throwing class was able to meet only twice before we closed the building in March of 2020, we are now open and ready for a new generation of clay students!
Still better together.
All of these things were only possible with help from you. Here are just a few* of the many special people who volunteered their time with one or both of the ceramics studios:
- Ed Ballistrerri -copper faucet repair, glaze board
- Brett Beasley – studio hours/teaching
- Suzy Block – kiln repair, maintenance, studio tech, clay prep
- Clark Colby – after hours burst water pipe repair
- Jackie Comito – clay prep, studio hours/teaching
- Heather Davis – studio tech, maintenance, wheel throwing demonstrations
- Danny Faga – artist, original basement dirt digger
- Kristen Greteman – after hours burst water pipe repair, new studio spacial plans consultant
- Rex Heer – Installer of ceiling cord pulleys for ceramic wheels
- Heather Johnson – consultant on purchasing, co-liaison with contractors for new studio, moral support
- Letitia Kenemer – supply donations, tours, cleaning, consulting
- Gary Kline – new clay sludge bucket engineer, repairs, maintenance, troubleshooter, shelf and glaze board installer, ballast fixer
- Eliza Sibley – graphic designer, electric wheel and sink hauler
- Mary Weisgram – original artist in residence, basement dirt digger, kiln re-builder — Watch for an upcoming blog post about Mary!
- Countless Interns
*This list is by no means complete.
