By Jasmyn Genchev

The City of Tempe offers almost 1,000 classes, leagues, and activities for all ages. One in particular, the ceramics class, is a wonderful opportunity for those who are interested in making pottery.

The pottery you create in the class makes great decoration, but more importantly it can serve very useful purposes. I know, from my experience in the class. Not only was the class pleasurable, but it allowed me to use a great deal of hand control and imagination.

This experience gives one a chance to use a potter’s wheel and glaze with a large assortment of color combinations, but overall you can create your own one-of-a-kind pots, plates, mugs, vases and so much more. The steps of the process take hours to master and a lifetime to perfect.

Once you attach a ball of clay to the wheel and apply water, let your imagination take control. Your creations are then dipped with color by your own hands and baked in a kiln (oven) so they are perfectly safe to eat from.

My good friend Autumn Williams (10B), also participated in the class. She said she liked the opportunity to create her own pots and the chance to meet new people. She also liked having an instructor to teach her the basics, and then being able to work independently.”

Other Tempe Preppers, Sarah and Caroline, who graduated last year, also participated in this class and enjoyed it as well.

The ceramics class is held at the Edna Vihel Center, near the Tempe library, usually once a week for about two months. To get more information about the upcoming class in January, visit the Edna Vihel Center, located at 3340 S. Rural Road, Tempe, or call 480-350-4311.

Pottery is definitely worth trying. I am so glad I had the experience.