Clay creations Student artwork raises funds for ceramics class once a year

Aspiring artists have the opportunity to showcase their talent through Pierce College’s ceramics class that welcomes beginner and advanced level students.

“It’s hectic in the beginning of the semester,” Instructor of Art, Melody Cooper said. “But after a while it begins to settle down.”

Every December the ceramics class holds a pottery sale where students can sell the work they created in class. The student artists get to keep 75 percent of the proceeds while the remaining 25 percent goes back to funding ceramics equipment, special workshops or visiting artists.

According to Cooper, last semester’s sale raised approxminately $10,000.

Cooper’s Wednesday afternoon class features five different sections in one room.

Beginners sit on one side and work on their semester project with their hands.

The intermediate and advanced students sit in a different location in the room using different tools and the pottery wheels.

“The program is progressive,” Cooper said.

Approximately 90 students are currently enrolled in the ceramics program. Many students use the class to relax, Cooper told The Roundup.

“To me it’s relaxing so that’s why I come,” Jessica Gelbke, who is currently enrolled in Cooper’s ceramics class said. “It’s just to get away from the stress of everything else.

“I grew up knowing about Indians and their rituals,” Mayra Lara, an aspiring artist said. “And I have always been into ceramics.”

Lara uses her prior knowledge of ceramics and the new things she is learning to help her in her other courses and as a make-up artist at Elegance in Hollywood.