Coated to the elbows with a layer of brown, muddy clay, John Gargano sat outside behind a pottery wheel on Saturday, creating five intricate objects in just over an hour.
Gargano was one of 15 demonstrators at Red Hot Days of Clay, the first weekend-long event presented by Red Hot Center for Clay off Highland Road.
Open since October, the center hosts long and short-term ceramic and pottery courses, encouraging hands-on learning.
Leanne McClurg Cambric, founder of Red Hot Center for Clay, received her MFA in ceramics from LSU and has been teaching ceramics since 1993.
“We are unique to Baton Rouge in that we offer a teaching studio outside of academia. People come from the community to learn how to make things,” Cambric said. “We also provide a meeting ground for those who have had experience and we give them a studio facility to work in.”
Cambric said the event took about six weeks to prepare and participants included studio assistants, local professional potters and many University alumni with degrees in ceramics.
Cambric said LSU is one of the best ceramic programs in the country, and “has been for many years.”
“A lot of people graduate, and there is nothing outside of the academic institution for them to keep up with a sense of community. So that’s one reason why we thought this would be good for Baton Rouge.”
Gargano, a ceramic professor at the University of Lafayette, became involved with Days of Clay when Cambric sent out an email asking for demonstrators. Gargano has been working with clay since 1988.
“Working with your hands has its benefits,” he said. “Clay is kind of an addictive material because it’s expressive and there are so many ways to work with it. It’s around us everywhere.”
Gargano explained how the appeal of ceramics comes from its variety and functionality.
“If you like precision, you can work it that way, and if you like to be loose and organic, you can do that too, and everything in between,” he said. “People really appreciate functional, handmade objects. It’s on the upswing for sure.”
During his demonstration, Gargano separated blocks of red-brown clay into smaller pieces with a wire, selected the right size piece for his future object, and slapped it down on the potter’s wheel.
Spectators watched as Gargano quickly shaped the clay into a jar and lid, bottle and cap, and more, explaining the process of each.
Nick Quint, University ceramics graduate, said a group setting is part of what is attractive about the medium.
“The community has a real openness,” Quint said. “You just have to try it. Once you touch clay, it’s fun and there’s an instant gratification. It’s really good for the city, to open people up.”
Classes like Clay Date — a one night, bring-your-own-beverage lesson — cater to people looking to play without commitment. Clay Date costs $35 per person for a two and a half hour session. A six-week program introduces beginners to the potter’s wheel and teaches techniques to those with more serious interest. Many classes are available for different levels of experience.
Cambric said Red Hot Center for Clay is starting out small but with high standards, intending to add more class offerings.
“We’re going for ceramic domination,” she said. “Soon we’ll take over the ceramic kingdom.”
 
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Contact Morgan Searles at [email protected]