Starting a Little Ceramic Community

Our little studio located behind the Corn Hill district in Rochester has become a surprisingly small community based ceramic studio. Set in an old industrial brick façade building that houses other businesses like Type High letter press below us with Tony, and Peet above us with his screen-printing business, and other businesses throughout the building create the perfect atmosphere for those looking to enjoy their craft. The studio has huge windows on the north and south end of the space bringing in sunlight during day hours and enough room to have about 10 potters in there at a time hand building and wheel throwing. Coming originally from the Hungerford building that had heaped on a sense of dread and gloom with the negligence of the new landlord that had taken control a few years prior. This facility has a calm and inspirational aspect about it. Enabling creativity and hope within the studio’s walls.

When potters want to find the time in their busy lives to make pots, cups, figures, etc. It’s hard. Especially when studios only do classes, or their wait list for memberships is months to years long to get in. There are some new smaller studios like ours that have popped up to help with the demand for those looking to enjoy their craft. In our studio we have those who just look to keep on potting. Developing their technique with wheel throwing, and their creativity with hand building. We also have some that would like to learn more about the technical side of ceramics. Kiln maintenance, making glazes, production pottery, selling online, and more. They have all become a part of this little community.

When the studio has basic tasks that need to run well there needs to be techs to help with studio responsibilities. We have me as the head tech of the studio that looks over all the needs and daily workings of the studio. Stock, kilns, glazes, cleaning, student and member shelves, pugging, etc. But this past year it’s been a little harder to get to the studio frequently because of some Adjunct positions at some local colleges teaching art, and the ceramic tech position I have at the Creative Workshop. Also, my partner and I just bought our first home. I do make it a point to always be there for the open studio night on Tuesdays and Fridays I’m there to work on festival stock. The times will be more frequent when college is over, but I’m always a phone call or text away. Then we have Derek who is the tech who is there the most. Helping with loading, unloading kilns quickly and thoroughly, cleaning, organizing, and is a great communicator. This studio wouldn’t run as smoothly without him. His attention for detail, precision, and organization is truly an added grace that we are all thankful for. We also have Mark Who also unloads and loads kilns and Josh and Alex who assist. We have Jason who is recently back and has a passion for the science behind glaze making. We have done research and glazing together and hopefully more in the future. I could go on about the importance and the beautiful pottery that all the members of our studio make and do, but alas I’d like not to make this blog super long. We shall wait to do that in the future.

With all that said I wanted to let you all know that our studio is up and going. We have a wonderful group of potters in the studio making to their hearts content. We have potters that come and go as they please while other potters come in groups. I truly have always loved seeing what everyone is making, and I love when other potters take notice of what everyone is making as well. We have met up once for a member potluck and plan to do it again in the future. There are ideas in the works about doing a monthly event coordinated with the first Friday events we have here in Rochester or a second Wednesday event. But we will have to discuss that as a group. Because this isn’t just my studio, it’s ours. Making decisions as a group would be the best bet for keeping this community as a community-based pottery studio.

If you or someone you know is interested in doing more pottery, please don't hesitate to reach out. Keep on potting!

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Enjoy your day. Pots for life, ceramics forever!

Jason Ferguson

Derek- AKA -DRock!!!!

Alex- AKA- Professor I make pots

Mark- AKA -Bonzi!!!!!!!

Josh- AKA- LoveMyDOg

Jason AKA - The Glazer laser!!!