Club to display, sell wares
to promote ceramics awareness
By Anna Herkamp
Staff
Writer
Besides the glorification of insects at the Bug
Bowl this weekend, ceramics students from Purdue’s Clay Club will
be displaying their wares on the steps of the Stewart Center.
Purdue’s undiscovered Clay Club will
put on its White Sale to promote ceramics awareness on campus.
James Longster, a freshman in the school of Liberal
Arts, said the name "white sale" seems a bit strange, but
the club decided to use this name because this sale will be featuring
porcelain — clay that has a white appearance after being fired.
It differs from most ceramic products called stoneware, which turns
shades of gray and brown.
The sale will feature a variety of products, including
practical items like coffee mugs and bowls, as well as sculptural work,
said Todd Matteson, Clay Club Treasurer and graduate student.
Though the Creative Arts department has existed
for over 40 years, it took three decades for the club to get started.
It was a strong club when first developed 10 years
ago, but it was dormant for about three or four years until it was brought
back to life a few years ago, said Matteson.
The primary purposes of the Clay Club is to promote
the ceramics department and help students get used to selling their
work for monetary value that will probably range between $5 and $70,
said Matteson.
The sale is a unique opportunity for the club as
a whole as well as the individual students. About 20 percent of the
proceeds of each sale will go to the club, and the rest is for the students
to keep for themselves, said Matteson.
The sale can help students who would like to be
practicing artists learn how to make items that will sell to consumers.
Many times a family member or a friend will see a piece they like and
want to purchase it, or they will want a piece like one they’ve
seen before, said Matteson.
This lets students practice creating an object
several times and selling the copies, he said.
Dan Engelke, a professor of creative arts, calls
this the "cottage industry approach" to becoming a practicing
artist.
Most important to the growing ceramics department,
which has a waiting list of over one hundred people for the beginning
classes, is to demonstrate the length and breadth of what can actually
be done with clay, said Longster.
· If you go, the sale will be from 8 a.m.
to sunset Friday and Saturday on the steps in front of Stewart Center
facing the mall if the weather is good. If it rains, it will be moved
to the inside of the entrance (by Loeb playhouse).
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