USU students’ creations soon for sale
After spending countless hours in the ceramics studio, USU Ceramic Guild members get a chance to sale their pieces to raise money for supplies and visiting artists throughout the year, ceramics junior Cory Brown said.
“It’s basically our pottery club,” Brown said. “We help it out, it helps us out.”
The Ceramic Guild is made up of ceramics bachelor’s and master’s students and holds a sale at the end of each semester, Brown said.
“Every year there is something new, there are new people participating, there’s more and more work that’s coming through,” said Dan Merkel, senior in fine arts. “It’s a good way for the Ceramics Guild to interact with the community as well as raise funds for the things we need here.”
Sunshine Cobb, a graduate student, originally from California, said when she came to visit USU and walked into the ceramics studio, “it was like a ceramics Mecca.”
Having been a part of other programs where there are a lot of students and only a few were serious, Cobb said at USU there are a lot of serious, dedicated students in the ceramics program.
“A large proportion of the students are here 10-12 hours a day working towards the common goal of getting better at their art,” she said.
Comparing USU to the different schools she had been to, Cobb said, “It’s a nurturing environment here for developing that craft, compared to other schools. It’s a very supportive environment as far as exploring your creativity. Whatever you are interested in, you have encouragement to go after that.”
Cobb said the professors have structured the program to be a cooperative one. She said the graduate students mentor the bachelor’s students and bachelor’s students mentor their underclassmen.
“We have this flow through here, we all help each other,” Cobb said. “We make sure everyone knows what they are doing and learning in the process.”
Lindsay Oestrerritter, graduate student in ceramics, said she is impressed by the individual motivation of the people in the fine arts master’s and bachelor’s program.
“Sometimes students get left behind, but here we have a really good relationship with the other students. It’s not a competition. Everybody wants to help everybody, which is hard to find,” she said.
Cobb said, “I don’t think USU students know how well known the USU ceramics department is across the country. I am shocked how much good pottery comes through here, and a lot of people just don’t have any clue that there is something there you can get for $15 that you would buy in a gallery for $50. Its an incredible deal and an amazing way to support students.”
Oestrerritter said, “These are the best prices you’ll get, ever. you’ll never find $8 ceramics anywhere else.”
The USU Ceramic Guild’s Spring Sale will be on April 14 and 15 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Sunburst Lounge. Hot chocolate and cookies will be served.
-n.drue.t@aggiemail.usu.edu
