Meet Artist: Ashley Chandler

Take the Wheel WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER PHOTOS PROVIDED

WHEN THE ROAD GETS BUMPY, TAKE THE WHEEL AND STEER.

When the Going Gets Tough Ashley Chandler has steered herself through emotional challenges while guiding others to do so, as well. As a teenager, she went from being homeless, to studying social work at Skidmore College, and then working with Saratoga’s at-risk populations. “I absolutely love it. It’s wonderful because it gives me a sense of purpose, to stay in touch with that aspect of myself by helping others through what is arguably one of the toughest experiences you can have” she said about working with homeless youth. Now, she uses pottery to get through the tough times and teaches others to do so, also.

Smashing It In addition to making pottery herself, Chandler began teaching pottery classes on Beekman Street.

Working with clients individually and as a group, she sees what a transformative outlet pottery can be. She encourages mindfulness in children by teaching them that pottery is a process – a journey where, by the end, a piece evolves into something different than you might expect at the beginning.

“Contrast is such a fantastic and important part of life. Life is hard and wonderful. I put that in a physical form you can use every day,” said Ashley Chandler

With Chandler’s guidance, children’s creativity is encouraged, not stifled and her own children, her son, 8, and daughter, 7, have taken a natural interest in pottery. “I’ve found when I’ve worked with older kids, their willingness to do a novel activity is based on how they view themselves or how they believe other people view them,” said Chandler. At the end of her sessions, Chandler’s students get to do something extraordinary – they choose whether to keep or to smash their work. “It’s really cathartic. Their eyes light up. Kids need an outlet for that kind of energy.” The smashed pieces are kept in her basement “Pottery Graveyard” to be reused in jewelry, mosaics and more.

Chandler’s mission is to make experiences like these available to more people. “Because of my social work background, I really want art to be accessible (regardless of your socioeconomic status) because it is incredibly emotionally healing and therapeutic,” she said.

There is a “Pay it Forward” fund and a “Pick & Paint” option where you paint-your-own-pottery at home guided by her video-based instruction. Choose your pieces and glazes, and she’ll drop off the supplies, then pick them back up, fire them in the kiln and deliver the finished pottery. Chandler is used to facing difficult times and experimenting with innovative options like these. Unlike some artists, she loves commissions of all sizes and working with clients to give them what they’ve envisioned.

Her own work demonstrates a fearless approach - with spectacular results. Contrasting colors burst and pop to form bubbled, marbled surfaces full of life in her handle-less mugs, wide-brim pots and vases. A spider plant has even found a home in her two-tone chocolate ware pot at the Two Birds Marketplace in Ballston Spa.

For more information, go to SAstudio.me and follow her on Instagram @spiral.arts.studio. S S