Thanks to the support of this grant, I was able to offer two free handbuilding pottery workshops that brought people together through creativity, conversation, and clay.
The first class was designed for a young child living with kidney failure and a few of his closest friends. For many of them, it was their very first experience working with clay. We kept the focus on play, exploration, and gentle guidance—letting the kids pinch, roll, and shape their pieces at their own pace. Each child created a small bowl, but the most meaningful part was the atmosphere in the room: laughter, curiosity, and the joy of doing something creative together. It offered the kids a break from the medical routines in their lives and gave them a memorable shared moment rooted in fun and imagination.
The second class welcomed a group of adults from the community. Using simple handbuilding techniques, each participant made their own tumbler. As they worked, the studio naturally filled with conversations—stories, reflections, and the kind of easy dialogue that happens when hands are busy and minds are relaxed. People who arrived as strangers connected through the shared process of making something with care.
Across both workshops, clay became a tool for connection. The act of handbuilding—slow, tactile, grounding—gave everyone space to create, learn, and talk openly. These sessions reminded me of the power of bringing people together around art and the importance of accessible creative experiences in the community.
