Stories from Community Arts: Reaching Further

Here at Clay Art Center, our Community Arts team works tirelessly to make clay and art enrichment accessible for students of all ages and experience levels across Westchester County and beyond.

For nearly 20 years, Community Arts has offered clay classes to afterschool programs, cancer patients and their families, youth and adults with disabilities, and countless others. These classes, whether one-time or weekly, have grown and evolved to meet the changing needs of our community, from the introduction of veterans-specific programming to the years-long expansion of Around the World in Clay, our free afterschool program for Port Chester public school students.

G.I. Throw, A Weekly Veterans Class, Enters Second Session

After a successful first term, the second session of G.I. Throw, a multi-week throwing class for military veterans, is now under way. This free class provides an opportunity for veterans to learn to throw, trim, and glaze ceramic work in a welcoming and supportive environment, surrounded by folks with a shared life experience. As one veteran in the class, Ileana Hernandez, shared, “It gives me the chance to connect with other people who understand me and my experiences in the military. That shared understanding makes a real difference.” Ileana also noted that arts and crafts are a great way for veterans to tackle mental health challenges, PTSD, and depression, and that her favorite part of working with clay is “the relaxed mental state I fall into when I’m working. I feel completely at ease, and it’s been therapeutic in a way that’s hard to put into words.” Clay Art Center is so happy to see this program grow, and proud to make a difference for those who have served.

Clay Expressions, A Class for Those Affected By Cancer, Expands

In partnership with Cancer Support Community Greater NY & CT at Gilda's Club, Clay Art Center offers weekly classes for those diagnosed with cancer and their loved ones. Students have the opportunity to explore the therapeutic qualities of clay, express themselves creatively, and share their experiences with others. The program, which has been running for nearly two decades, has been hugely popular, with many students returning for multiple terms and some becoming long-term students in weekly Clay Art Center classes. Given the demand, Clay Expressions has expanded to two classes each term so that more people affected by cancer can find solace and joy in clay.

Around the World in Clay Serves More Students Than Ever

Clay Art Center first brought free afterschool clay classes to middle and high school students in 2011 with the support of the Common Sense Fund. Fifteen years later, the Around the World in Clay program now offers classes for Port Chester public school students in grades 2-12, completely free of charge. While the program gives older students opportunities for self-expression, building their portfolio, and imagining a future in the arts, when younger students work with clay, it can help them to hit many different developmental milestones. As they enjoy bringing their imagination to life through clay, children are also developing their hand-eye coordination, the muscles in their fingers and hands, their spatial understanding and ability, and their capacity to express their emotions. Since the addition of of elementary school-aged students to the Around the World in Clay program in 2021, the demand for classes has only grown, and this school year Clay Art Center is offering two classes for the 7-8 year old students. Kids will learn essential life skills while also learning about the world around them, with this year’s class projects including Ancient Venezuelan figurines, Peruvian backstrap weaving, and Korean onggi.