Students Find Outlet Through Ceramics Club

Story by Leah Pack

Last year a group of friends regularly met in the ceramics room after school to work on ceramics projects. This year they have decided to make those after school meetings into an official club. At the start of this year, seniors Christian Hammond and Anna Karnowski found a sponsor and set a time for their biweekly meetings. Ceramics club meets every other Wednesday, alternating with NAHS, in Ms. Simchuck’s room.

“We really wanted to get people more involved that weren’t already doing it,” said Karnowski. “We do a lot of looking up videos on how to do stuff and it’s more informative than just the class which is more basic.”

With the help of their sponsor, Ms. Simchuck, the club is able to get supplies from writing grants. The club chooses to spend their money from the grant on clay because they are able to use other tools that the school’s art department already owns. Right now the students are looking to get more grants for art shows.

Ceramics Club is mainly student-led by Hammond and Karnowski. The meetings start off with members, new or old, introducing themselves and sharing ideas about some projects they might be interested in doing. Then the students watch YouTube videos about various techniques and projects and have the chance to throw clay on the wheel.

“It’s fun to translate my skills to other students,” said Hammond, “And I think it’s really fun for them to learn and hear Anna’s and my techniques and point of view on different things.”

Right now the club’s attendance is not very consistent, but they are promoting themselves by announcing it in the ceramics classes, being featured on the announcements and making posters.

Videos by Matthew Bruyere

Ceramics Club:

Senior Christian Hammond:

Senior Anna Karnowski: