Camaraderie Through Clay: Veterans Classes
Clay Art Center veterans classes, which began in November thanks to a Creative Forces Grant, are expanding to reach more veterans.
Last summer, Clay Art Center was awarded a Creative Forces Community Engagement Grant, part of the Creative Forces®: NEA Military Healing Arts Network. This grant supports community-based arts projects that aim to address the experiences, challenges, and strengths of our military communities, and in the past four months, Clay Art Center has been able to put those funds to work offering free clay classes to veterans in the area. Partnerships with other organizations have been crucial to expanding the reach of these programs, and our partners have grown to include the Manhattan VA, Baruch College, LaGuardia Community College, and the Bronx VA, with more collaborations in the works.
“My family loved the program, we got to see the creative side of each of us and even help each other with the design and putting together of the pottery. We have attended two classes and we hope we can attend more. A resource I am so glad to have that brings families together to enjoy a few hours of hands on activities.” Charles You, USMC
After two successful classes at Westchester Community College and two more onsite at Clay Art Center, the opportunity arose to teach clay classes for women veterans at the Bronx VA. Programs that are exclusively for women veterans offer a safe environment to connect and enjoy clay. This is crucial because of the specific challenges that many woman veterans face, including high rates of Military Sexual Trauma (MST) and gender-based gaps in healthcare (the VA did not officially begin offering healthcare services to women veterans until 1988). By creating dedicated time and space for women veterans, they are better able to relax, find camaraderie, and a respite from the invisibility that so frequently plagues women who served in the military. So far, Clay Art Center has held two one-time classes for women veterans, with a multi-week course set to start in April.
For February, the women veterans class gathered to handbuild heart-shaped dishes, in honor of American Heart Month and raising awareness about heart health. Students took the project in any direction they liked, finishing with underglaze application. Instructor Denis Licul had this to share about the class: “I noted how the energy shifted from a quiet, reserved observation at the beginning, to a focused engagement while working on the pieces, and culminated with vibrant expression during glazing. I noticed how proudly each of them held their glazed piece, pleasantly surprised by their creation. There was an excitement and camaraderie between all of us as we concluded the class, and everyone was eager to work with clay again.”
“What I would tell someone who is unsure of participating in a clay class is that this is a safe space where everyone is encouraged to create according to what feels right for them at the moment. There is no judgement, only support and compassion.” - Vicky Youngman, Instructor
In the coming months, Clay Art Center will be offering more one-time and multi-week courses onsite, as well as classes at the Manhattan VA, Baruch College, LaGuardia Community College, and more locations to come.
Are you or is someone you know a veteran looking to explore ceramics? Fill out our Google form to stay updated about opportunities. Is your organization interested in working together to offer clay classes for veterans? Email Brian Barry, Community Arts & Offsite Programs Manager
