Making art in a welcoming, nurturing place like the Willamette Art Center can be healing and beautiful. WAC artist Karin Kayfes created this stunning jar as part of her own healing journey. “When the WAC reopened in January, I was recovering from hand surgery and grieving the loss of my mom,” Karin said. “I decided I wanted to throw an urn for her ashes. That was the beginning of a journey of learning to throw bigger while moving through the slow work of grief and healing.Talking to people at the studio about what I was working on took us from small talk to deeper conversations in one sentence. These connections and conversations nurtured me in my growth and in my processing of my grief.” Karin made this wonderful vessel on the wheel out of Oregon White clay. The bottom glaze is Amaco Obsidian, with bands of Amaco's Blue Rutile, Ancient Copper, and Seaweed above that, each overlapping the previous glaze. The white swooshes are Amaco Snow. The top third of the cookie jar is Mayco Norse Blue topped with zigzags and dots of Spectrum Running Hot Chowder and then covered with Amaco Mulberry. The lid has that same combo. All glazes were applied three layers thick. “This form was a failed urn- I had to learn how to keep the width from getting away from me-but I still liked it and turned it into a cookie jar. There's a lesson in there somewhere, but if it's about cookie jars and urns, failure and growth, or sweetness and sorrow, I'm not sure,” said Karin. No matter what Karin decides to call this piece, we think it’s breathtaking.

Calling all potters! We provide the clay, glaze and firing. You provide the hand-building or wheel-throwing pottery skills. Join us this Sunday, June 14 at Willamette Art Center for our first CLAYATHON of the year! Pieces made at our CLAYATHONS will be sold at our November 21 Empty Bowls event. Proceeds from Empty Bowls are split between Marion Polk Food Share and Willamette Art Center. Can't make it on Sunday? No problem. We'll also be hosting CLAYATHONS on: Saturday, June 20, 1:00-5:00 Thursday, June 25, 4:00-8:00 Saturday, June 27, 1:00-5:00

We want to see your creations! Remember when we asked you what we should name our latest one-and-done glaze? Well, we name it Dill Pickle. And it’s been turning out some awesome results. Share your creations! And if you haven’t used it, do it! It’s a cone 10 glaze.

We’re hiring! We’re looking for someone who wants to help shape and support a community center focused on making and teaching art. Join our team as an administrative specialist that supports programs, events, instructors and volunteers. Job description posted, link in bio. Part time, 20 hours a week.