Seize the clay: TU hosts 45th annual pottery sale
By: Meg Hudson, Staff Writer
Meg Hudson/ The Towerlight
On May 11 and 12, Towson University hosted its 45th annual spring pottery sale. The event was hosted within the Center for the Arts, in the third floor ceramics studio.
The pottery event was open to the public. Families from all around the area gathered into the ceramics studio to view and purchase handmade pottery, jewelry, and glass pieces.
Upon walking into the ceramics studio, one could view rows of handmade pottery pieces made by Towson ceramics students. The pottery sale was mostly composed of high quality pieces; any pieces with minor dents or deficiencies were sold for a lower price. The pottery pieces largely consisted of kitchenware: bowls, platters, plates, spoons, and mugs. There were also sculptures of creatures, arms, and dragons.
Students ran the checkouts, while teachers walked around helping people decide what pieces they should buy, sharing fun facts about the pieces they were looking at.
One local, Jennifer Stewart, has been coming to the pottery sale for three years now.
“When I found out that there was this pottery sale at Towson, I didn’t realize how [high] quality the products would be,” Stewart said. “I came with a friend three years back. Her daughter was selling pieces here. I’ve been here every year since.”
Stewart expressed how she usually likes to pick up a quirky new bowl, or kitchen piece at this sale each time she visits. However, she noted that the bulk of her time is spent looking at all of the sculptures and innovative pieces that the students have to offer.
“I’m not sure if these have always been here, but I noticed these speaker amplifiers for your iPhone that someone created,” Stewart said. “They’re cute; they look like little dragons and they work. I was just testing them out.”
The speaker amplifiers were small, bowl-shaped ceramic pieces composed of many colors and shapes. They proved to be quite popular among buyers this year.
The Center for the Arts pottery sale not only benefits the Towson University Foundation, but the contributing artists as well. Towson University student Devon Baker was happy to hear that some of the profits went back to the artists who made them.
“I think it’s cool that Towson is offering students a chance to make money off their work now,” Baker said. “As a student, it’s hard to balance school and work, and this offers students a chance to do both at once.”
Towson University professor Brad Blair had several rows of pottery for sale. His works consisted largely of kitchenware with a twist. Because Blair makes pottery professionally, his works had unique shapes, coloration, and textures. He also sold some sculptures, such as a small dragon looking creature that may serve as a cute centerpiece.
With the amount of people that attended this year’s spring pottery sale, the Center for the Arts students who sold their art predict nothing but further growth for future sales to come.
