Determination at an All-time High: Veteran Classes at Clay Art Center
In the past year, clay programming for veterans has steadily grown at Clay Art Center, empowering those who served through open self-expression in a veterans-only environment.
For over a year now, Clay Art Center has been establishing clay classes for veterans in partnership with organizations across the region, and it has quickly become a cornerstone of Community Arts programming. From specialized one-time classes to multiweek courses and everything in between, these classes have been offered to veterans and active service members at no cost to them, and the program only continues to grow.
“The growth of our veterans programming is really exciting! I'm so proud of the relationships we've built with organizations that serve veterans, like the Bronx VA, the Manhattan VA, and the Westchester Vet Center. Without the support of the dedicated staff at these organizations, our clay classes for veterans would not be possible. Special shoutout to Jade Williams, LCSW, the Women Veteran Program Manager at the Bronx VA, for taking us up on the offer for free clay classes for veterans and setting us up on our current trajectory. I'm also really proud of the work we've done to increase our awareness of issues facing veterans and how we can make our clay classes as accessible as possible. In the clay classes for veterans that I have taught or observed, it has been awesome to watch our veteran students connect with clay and with each other. I can't wait to see these programs continue to grow.” - Brian Barry, Community Arts & Offsite Programs Manager
Through our partnership with the Westchester Vet Center, Clay Art Center offers monthly one-time classes at their Valhalla location. We also host a variety of one-time classes in our Yellow Studio for local veterans, which our partners help to spread the word about. These classes give vets the opportunity to explore clay casually in a supportive and understanding environment. For some attendees, the one-time classes spark a lasting interest in ceramics, which leads them to join multiweek courses. This is what happened with the one-time classes for women veterans at the Bronx VA, which have grown into a multiweek class due to student demand. One vet from that class noted that the familiar community and surroundings at the Bronx VA made it easier to unwind and be present: "We took the time to relax, chit chat, listen to music, learn, and be creative. Our instructor gave so much of herself as she lugged all of that equipment, and our projects, back and forth each week; definitely a two person endeavor. We truly appreciate how special she made us feel.” Last week marked the end of the fall term for the women veterans class, and we are looking forward to welcoming them back to clay in the new year.
Clay Art Center is offering another multiweek class onsite: our popular G.I. Throw class is in its second session, which welcomes a group of 10 veterans to the Yellow Studio to learn the basics of wheel-throwing over the course of seven weeks. Some students in the class have returned from the summer term, having fallen in love with clay. They can continue to build on their foundational skills, while also learning new forms and techniques. Two vets from our G.I. Throw class, Connie and Dominika, were willing to share about their experiences in the class, which you can read below.
Connie, Veteran and G.I. Throw Student
Q: What do you love most about working with clay?
“The feel of clay is refreshingly cool like soil. It feels natural and grounding, and creating something out of a blob is enjoyable and empowering.”
Q: What does it mean to you to have a veterans-only environment to work in?
“Meeting and conversing with other veterans was just plain relaxing, as we began on an understanding of common ground. No explanations needed to each other.”
Q: What would you tell a veteran who is interested in pursuing an art or craft?
“There was so much to learn including the new terminology, history, techniques, and equipment. I was completely unfamiliar with all of it, and was inspired to do online research about the colorful artists in the field. All of the instructors were wonderfully patient, helpful, and so creative.”
Dominika, Veteran and G.I. Throw Student
Q: What do you love most about working with clay?
“I love that clay has a mind of its own, paired with an incredible capacity to be reclaimed and reinvented. Working with it requires respect for the process. You have to prepare the clay properly before you can manipulate or throw it. Beyond that, I’m fascinated by the variety of clay bodies. Exploring the different textures, colors, and firing points makes the medium a continuous surprise. For example, it's really fun seeing how a single glaze can transform entirely depending on the surface beneath it.”
Q: What does it mean to you to have a veterans-only environment to work in?
“It means being in a space where determination is at an all-time high! I’ve never seen a group more motivated to master their craft while actively uplifting each other. It’s my favorite kind of environment because it strikes the perfect balance: we can tease each other yet remain each other's biggest encourager.”
Q: What would you tell a veteran who is interested in pursuing an art or craft?
“The hardest part is often accepting that your outcome won't always match your original vision, no matter how set your focus is. In the military, we’re trained to follow orders and comply so, stepping into art can feel uncomfortable. It forces you to relinquish rigid control, but that's also what makes it so rewarding. Art gives you an opportunity to fully express yourself and define completion and perfection on your own terms.”
Our Community Arts team is looking to continue to thoughtfully expand veterans programming and meet the evolving needs of the veterans community. In the near future, plans are in the works for a class for veterans at the Bronx VA who identify as caregivers, either for a parent, spouse, or adult child. These clay classes will create a space for veteran caregivers to decompress, connect with other veteran caregivers, and learn something new. In the long term, we hope to offer clay classes where the instructors are veterans themselves, creating spaces where everyone in the classroom, teacher included, has the shared experience of serving our country.