Annual Pottery Sale Brings Art to Life at CCP

M.P. Hassel

On Wednesday, November 13^th, the Community College of Philadelphia’s Art Department held their yearly pottery sale in the Bonnell Lobby from 11:00am to 5:00pm.  Students and faculty browsed tables full of functional and sculptural ceramics.  A kaleidoscope of bowls, plates, coffee mugs, vases, goblets, and more caught the eye of passersby, showcased talent from student’s beginner to advanced. 

Maria Jimenez worked at the sale counter. An Art and Design major, with a speciality in Graphic Design, Jimenez said she would “highly recommend those who are interested to take Art 109 Ceramics 1 to explore the art of glazing and wheel throwing.”

Ceramics students learn how to form pottery from the pinching method to wheel throwing. Students purchase their own clay and sculpting tools at the beginning of class. At the end of the semester, students can take home their classwork, which generally includes cups, mugs, bowls, dishes, and a vessel for storing food, among other more advanced pieces. Some students donate their work to the Art Department. Along with class demonstrations by instructors, these donations are collected and sold at the pottery sale every year. The prices range from $5 -10 for small bowls, cups, and mugs to $15 – 20 for larger pieces. 

“The pottery sale is an awesome experience; it’s primarily used to raise money for the art club.” Jimenez said, “it was also a very special sale because it included some of Karen Aumanns work, one of the most dear and esteemed professors in the Art Department who passed this year.”

Ben Peterson, director of “The Pottery Gym” studio-gallery on N. Randolph St., held pottery-wheel demonstrations for students. Throwing on the wheel demands full attention. While tools like a water bowl, sponge, wooden knife, wire tool, and others are close at hand, your hands remain the primary instruments, hydrating and guiding the clay into shape. Beginners often find the process humbling, as the spinning wheel requires steady hands to maintain control while the clay rotates. Over time, practice develops muscle memory, making the clay’s responsiveness feel more intuitive. Eventually, throwing on the wheel becomes a meditative escape from distractions, allowing you to be fully present in the moment. 

Professor Roberta Massuch, an accomplished potter, participated in the sale run by the Art Department. Massuch manages the kilns and glazes for the Art Department.  When a student forms their clay into a beautiful little cup, the cup gets fired in the kiln.  By the next class, that cup will be clay bisque, akin to terracotta.  Once fired, the cup can be covered in one or more of an assortment of glazes, mixed by Massuch herself, then fired once more for a final product.

Ceramics 1, also called ART109, is available to all students for elective credits or a creative outlet. More than a few talented ceramicists had pieces showcased at the pottery sale. 

“It’s something that happens every November,” Massuch said. “Mark it in your calendars.”