Getting Clay-ful with the Ceramics Crew
Ansley Pate | Sept. 29, 2026
Sapphire Chambers, a member of the Ceramics Crew at Warren Wilson College, pictured throwing a piece on the wheel at the ceramics open studio on Sep. 18, 2026. (Echo/Ansley Pate)
The ceramics studio has opened its doors to the people in the Warren Wilson College (WWC) community for the second year in a row. Through these doors, one can find a community of creatives with varying skill sets and levels of expertise, but one driving force binds them all together: a passion for creation and camaraderie. The artists can be found inside the ceramics studio amidst the soundscape of classic folk music and collective collaboration, either throwing clay on the wheel or on the ground wedging it out by the pound. They warmly welcome students, staff and friends into their studio to explore the realm of ceramics every Friday until Nov. 6, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., no experience required.
Jenn Kaplan, assistant professor of ceramics and Ceramics Crew supervisor, provided additional details on the idea behind these open studios, detailing their importance in the community at WWC.
“Open studio is an opportunity for folks from around campus to engage with clay as a material and spend time experiencing the kinds of connection we develop in ceramics classes,” Kaplan said. “[It was] the brainchild of 2025 crew members and myself as a way of sharing the gift of clay. It was born out of the need for ceramics studio access because there is a notoriously long waitlist for ceramics classes. Sometimes people can't get in a class until their senior year, and this just opens the opportunity gate.”
The Ceramics Crew has come to a collective understanding about this general lack of accessibility. Much of their work on the crew focuses on preserving the health and flow of the studio, and when its doors open to the public, they work even harder at ensuring the space is inviting and properly suited for those with little to no experience.
While a portion of the work that they do is physical, preparing and shaping the clay into malleable balls for attendees, the bulk of it is intangible. The crew members leading the open studio demonstrate a kind welcoming spirit and sense of encouragement that aid in the elimination of any doubts a beginner may bring in with them.
Bella Boccardy, a senior at WWC and member of the Ceramics Crew, further expanded upon how a lack of experience in the studio can be daunting and reinforced the crew’s mission to alleviate these worries.
“There's a lot of support here, and when you're learning something new, it can be really challenging and sometimes frustrating,” Boccardy said. “It's nice to be held by a community of people who are really supportive and are just gonna help push you through it and be super positive.”
The open studio becomes a learning experience, not only for beginners but for everyone involved, including the crew.
“This is as much an opportunity for crew members to learn their teaching style and reinforce what they know about clay as it is for Warren Wilson community members to learn something new and get messy in the process,” Kaplan said.
Crew member Violet Premeaux, a junior, shared more about her experience working and learning with her team.
“We do a lot of hard work, and we do it together,” Premeaux said. “I really like the aspect of us all working together and learning from each other because we’re all at different points in our artistic lives, so some of us might be more technically skilled at something that maybe someone else is not.”
The open studio gives crew members the opportunity to share their love of ceramics with the community at WWC in a space meant for everyone to learn and grow, free of judgement.
“It is really fun [and] very open,” Premeaux said. “At any stage, you are welcome in here, and we will do the best we can to make sure you're comfortable. Really, it's just a place to play.”
Kaplan shared some final thoughts on the significance of clay building in an artistic setting and its impact on the creatives within the open studio.
“Clay has the capacity to teach lessons of patience, persistence and non-attachment,” Kaplan said. “Our goal is less about folks making tons of finished objects and more about trying something; learning from the way clay responds and reflects what's happening inside. This has also become a beautiful site of community building and uplifting each other through the mess of life.”
Of the many forms of artistic expression, ceramics is one that is only limited by one’s imagination. The open studio lets participants channel the stresses of everyday life into creation. It allows them to engage with clay outside of a classroom setting, in a fun, collaborative environment.
“If you're looking for a place to get to know the people covered in mud, or become one yourself, please come hang out,” Kaplan said. “It's a low-stakes space where messing up is just an opportunity to learn.”