Page 110 - Sun Rays March 2013

110 | SUNRAYS MARCH 2013 ONLINE: SCTXCA.ORG
Artists have the amazing, almost celes-
tial, ability to create forms of beauty out
of nothing. Deft hands painting, sew-
ing, molding. Members of the Creative
Clay & China Club take slabs of clay, or
blank ceramic or porcelain canvases, to
create beautiful plates, bowls, casserole
dishes—even Humpty Dumpty with a
cast on his leg. Molding clay under their
hands, detailing it with paint or glaze,
they fire it into a final piece that was
nothing similar to what it was before.
“We call it playing in the mud,” said
Laurie Mankin, President.
Creative Clay & China has four areas
of interest: ceramics, hand-building,
wheel-throwing and china painting,
which each utilize the club’s five-room
studio. All of the rooms are open to each
other, with the exception of the China
Painting room that has a special door
to keep the area dust-free.
The club is made up of about 180 mem-
bers who pursue several club projects
throughout the year as well as personal
projects. Some members recently fin-
ished an annual project in which they
created 80 bowls for a fundraiser for The
Caring Place on February 21.
The club also features works in the
studio’s windows, often with a theme.
The first project for 2013 has a theme
of Africa, and members from each area
create works that represent Africa in
some way; last year had themes of fish
and chickens, which produced some very
whimsical and creative pieces. Members
also participate in the Hill Country Arts
& Crafts Fair each fall, raising money
for equipment and supplies. Some pieces
in the windows are also for sale.
Nonmembers are welcome to come tour
the studio during open hours any day of
the week. Studio monitors are always
available to give short tours and an-
swer questions. Beginner classes are
usually in January and February, but
the club plans to have more scheduled
throughout the year. A sign-up sheet is
also available at the studio monitor’s
desk; one class requires at least four
participants.
The studio is located behind the Fabric &
Fiber Studio in the Craft Center. Hours
are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Wednesday
and Friday; 1-8 p.m. Tuesday and Thurs-
day; and 1-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
For more information, visit www.sctxca.
org > Site Index > Creative Clay &China
Club, or see page 113.
Playing in the mud
By Maggi Jones
PHOTOS BY VICKIE MARTIN