People come to Follow Your Art for a variety of reasons. For some, it’s about trying new things or advancing a particular creative skill. For others, it’s all about the community.
Building creative community is something cultivated by our dedicated team, who work to meet individual needs while sharing their love of arts. Everyone is welcome here, to create, to learn, and to grow.
What makes our creative community special is the way it enables connections. One adult pottery class in particular exemplified this for Meesh Ramadan, one of our pottery instructors and FYACS’ former Arts for All coordinator.
A group of pottery students started taking a class together. Some were new to the medium, while others were returning after a long break. What started as a group of strangers grew into a group of close friends.
“They gather on a regular basis to create and chat, and it’s so amazing to see how the connection has now spilled out of the walls of the Big Yellow House,” Meesh said.
A Peek into an Adult Pottery Class
Lauren Liecau, the Communications and Development Coordinator at FYACS, had the chance to sit in on one of the Adult Pottery Classes to get a glimpse into the magic of this creative community (and make an herb stripper for her kitchen!). Thanks to Meesh, Davi, Karin, Barb, Allie, Sarah, Katie, and Olivia for allowing the intrusion and for sharing their experiences!
The class is a mix of hand-building and wheel-throwing that takes place for three hours each week. Each series lasts seven to eight weeks, and includes clay, glazing, and firing. Students have autonomy to create what they want, but are guided by the instructor with techniques and project ideas.
In observing the group in action, it was abundantly clear that they respect each other, listen to each other, and, above all, have fun together. They all protect this time in their busy schedules. “Everyone knows I have a class I can’t miss on Tuesdays,” shared Karin. “It’s non-negotiable!” echoed one of her classmates.
Davi explained her journey to the FYACS pottery studio, saying that her busy career left her with little time for creativity. She was looking for adult community and she found it at Follow Your Art. “We can be ourselves. We can be silly,” she explained.
Katie came for similar reasons, noting that “I’m not originally from Melrose and didn’t have kids in the school system, so I was looking for a way to meet other people.” Karin agreed. “It gets me out of the house,” she said.
In the early days of the ceramics studio at FYACS, which opened in 2022, it was proposed that the group do something social outside of class. Davi joked that she went home that day and giddily told her husband “they asked for my phone number!” Now there’s a group chat where they share project ideas and reminders to register for upcoming sessions so they can be in the same class together again. They have gone on what they call “field trips” to try glass blowing, and held a holiday potluck, all thanks to the connections made during pottery class at Follow Your Art.
Allie shared that even though she has her own pottery wheel and kiln at home, “I keep coming back. These are my people. This is like my book club.”
While the social element has been key, the group also appreciates how therapeutic pottery can be. “I love it. It forces me to back off of perfectionism,” shared Barb. “After a rough day at work, I can come and just pound on several pounds of clay. There’s such a physical and emotional component to it.” Katie agreed, saying “I can close my eyes and just focus on the clay. It’s like mindfulness.”
You Belong at The Big Yellow House
The clay, the support and inspiration, and the sense of belonging at the Follow Your Art pottery studio make for a special kind of alchemy. When the expanded pottery studio opens at Follow Your Art this fall, there will be even more opportunities to gather, create, and build creative community.
“There is a glow to this place. It’s very special,” concluded Davi.
Art classes can be found in many places, but what sets FYACS apart is the sense of belonging and community that people find here. We invite you to come to the Big Yellow House and see for yourself. There is something for everyone at Follow Your Art.
