01/01/2026
Spring semester of 2025, I wanted to take a metal jewelry making class but it was full, so I decided to try ceramics. I naively thought the class was going to be “easy” and even therapeutic. I imagined I could be creative and relax making effortless vessels and sculptures. I envisioned the famous scene from the 80s movie, “Ghost”, where Molly couldn’t sleep so she throws a magnificent vase that eventually gets toppled over in a steamy encounter with Sam. Not that I thought to have steamy encounters with clay, but that I could throw effortless vessels on the wheel at my whim. Throwing clay on a wheel looks graceful, fluid… “easy”.
Learning about clay has been anything but easy.
I came to the class feeling confident I would throw cups and bowls for all my friends, with that first encounter on the wheel. Instead, the medium of clay taught me lessons on defeat, patience, letting go, and perseverance. It has taken me the entire year to only grasp the beginning of what it takes to master pottery. In the meantime I am very much enjoying all the lessons clay will teach me.
Something special to my heart that occurred this year with clay, was when I took a trip to the Pacific Northwest coast and a whole entire chunk of sea clay rolled right up to my feet! I didn’t know what it was at first, I have never heard of sea clay, the shore was like no beach I had seen, it was a combination of sand and soil, dark and muddy. Different from the swimming beaches of the southeast I am familiar with. It was smooth, solid and clean, about the size of a large grapefruit. Rolled up to me out of the ocean. This ball of clay truly felt like a gift from Gaia! I accepted it with so much awe and honor and I am excited to see what I will make with it.
Learning about sea clay has led me to learning about foraging for earth clays and I’ve been eagerly learning more so I can harvest clay as well as wild herbs! Feeling blessed learning about the abundance of this magical planet.
I will be sharing online more of the pieces I have created this year. It’s been a profound journey so far. I still want to take the jewelry making class but I’m fully obsessed with ceramics right now. I’m really glad that other class was full because had no idea what clay was going to unlock inside of me. It’s been such therapy!
