Throughout Oliver Ames there are multiple clubs for students to get involved with. One club at Oliver Ames that could be of interest to someone who likes art and is a beginner is Ceramics club.
Mrs. Sapienza (Mrs. Sap), one of the art teachers at Oliver Ames High School, is also the club advisor for the Ceramics Club. Mrs. Sap is very passionate about art and being involved with her students. She was very excited when others wanted a Ceramics club because it combined her passion for doing art and being with students. Mrs. Sap takes a long pause before she explains her answer.
“I technically didn’t start Ceramics club. Some random kids came to me and were like ‘we want to start a ceramics club!’ They weren’t kids that I knew, but I had wanted to start one, but clubs are supposed to be student-led, right? So, kids came to me but then they never came to another meeting. I really love the idea of having a club that has the potential to merge art and giving back somehow. That’s why we always try to do a project within the club” Sapienza said.
Isabelle Glover, a senior at Oliver Ames High School, has been a part of the ceramics club for all four years of high school. She loves art in all forms and hopes to share it with others
“I wanted to be a part of the ceramics club because I am very passionate about many forms of art, and I had always wanted to try my hand at ceramics. Having Mrs. Sap as a teacher freshman year really encouraged me to join too because she is a super kind and supportive teacher” Glover said.
Multiple people have said that the art room is a safe space for everyone. Anyone and everyone is welcome to join ceramics club, even people who have never touched clay before.
“Mrs. Sap is just the best because she allows people to kind of try their own things, rather than a super structured club where we get directions and then have to follow them. She allows everyone to express their own personal creativity and provides guidance or assistance to help them achieve it” Glover said.
“Kids are always welcome to come. We have a good time and get messy. We learn a little bit about clay and it’s very low pressure and low stakes. If you miss a meeting, no big deal, we will catch you up next time. It’s very easy come, easy go” Sap said.
Every year The Ceramics Club does a big project, and this year the project is centered around giving back to the community. The goals of these projects is to help others and make others feel welcomed. This year they are focusing on the Empty Bowls Project.
“I would like to see us potentially do the Empty Bowls Project one day at Oliver Ames using bowls made in the ceramics club,” Glover said.
“So the empty bowls project, it’s a really cool thing. I think it’s been going on since the early mid 90s. It was an idea that a ceramics teacher started. It started in this one high school where he challenged his students to make 150 bowls this semester and they hosted an event where they invited the community and all the proceeds that they collected they gave to their local food bank to help the people in our community that don’t have enough. I thought what an amazing way to use our art to give back. It’s such a cool way for students to use their art and also be involved. But to make a bowl and because you made a bowl, someone gets a meal that they might’ve not had before like that’s so cool. ”
Ms. Sap loves this club. She and all members of the club hope that this club gets more recognition. Many kids don’t join clubs because of the “extra work” but in ceramics club everything is in the classroom and there are no expectations of anyone.
“Ultimately I hope they take away the ability to try to do something new and unfamiliar to them. Hopefully the desire to help others and to be welcoming to all people. Like overall a welcoming, giving spirit and maybe just that little spark of creativity that they were either missing or didn’t have before. I hope kids think ‘Ceramics club seems fun’ and they get to take a little piece of art for themself and I’m glad that they get to do it with me.”
