Indian River Clay Inc

INDIAN RIVER CLAY IS A CLAY STUDIO OF FULL AND PART-TIME MEMBERS FOUNDED IN 2018 TO PROMOTE THE LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF POTTERY SKILLS. WE FOSTER A COMMUNITY THAT INSPIRES CURIOSITY AND DISCOVERY AROUND THE ART AND CRAFT OF CLAY, DRAWING TOGETHER STUDENTS, ARTISTS, AND AN ENGAGED PUBLIC. WE BELIEVE THAT EVERY PERSON IS AN ARTIST AND THAT CLAY IS A PERFECT MEDIUM THROUGH WHICH TO EXPLORE OUR TALENTS. EVERY DAY IN OUR STUDIO WE STRIVE TO DEEPEN THE CONNECTION BETWEEN PEOPLE AND CLAY WITH THE HIGHEST QUALITY PROGRAMS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT SHARED CREATIVITY, SO FUNDAMENTAL TO HUMANITY, IS A CRITICAL FORCE FOR GOOD.

INDIAN RIVER CLAY PROMOTES CLAY ARTS BY HOSTING REGULAR SESSIONS ON WHICH MEMBER ARTISTS CAN SHARE THEIR WORK, EXCHANGE IDEAS, AND SEEK PEER GUIDANCE IN ORDER TO CONTINUE THEIR ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT IN A COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY, BY HOSTING MASTER CLASSES CONDUCTED BY RENOWNED VISITING ARTISTS TO ADVANCE THE SKILLS OF OUR MEMBERS AND INTERESTED PUBLIC, AND BY CONDUCTING CLASSES OPEN TO BOTH MEMBERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC AS AN INTRODUCTION TO THE CLAY ARTS AS WELL AS THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIFIC TECHNIQUES. IN 2021, THERE WERE MORE THAN 7,700 INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS PROVIDED BY THE ORGANIZATION.

INDIAN RIVER CLAY HAS BECOME THE EPI-CENTER OF THE SOUP BOWL FUNDRAISER FOR THE SAMARITAN CENTER, A COMMUNITY FUNDRAISING EFFORT TO SUPPORT THE SAMARITAN CENTER WHICH PROVIDES TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND GUIDANCE TO HOMELESS FAMILIES IN INDIAN RIVER COUNTY. IN 2021,WE MADE 1,745 CLAY SOUP BOWLS WHICH WERE SOLD AND RAISED APPROXIMATELY $26,175 FOR THE SAMARITAN CENTER.

INDIAN RIVER CLAY HAS A MISSION TO ENLIGHTEN AND ENRICH OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH OUR OUTREACH PROGRAMS. WE PARTNER WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND NON-PROFITS IN OUR AREA TO OFFER ART OPPORTUNITIES TO CHILDREN, SENIORS, AND VETERANS. OUR MEMBERS AND INSTRUCTORS COORDINATE AND EXECUTE OUR OUTREACH PROJECTS, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS, AND VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME DURING THE PROJECTS.THE PILOT PROGRAM FOR THE BUTTERFLY PROJECT AT THE WILLOW SCHOOL OF VERO BEACH WAS ENJOYED BY ALL! THE OUTREACH COMMITTEE OF INDIAN RIVER CLAY PARTNERED WITH SHANTI SANCHEZ OF COMMUNITY ONE INITIATIVE (COI) AND THE WILLOW SCHOOL. ZOEY BRIDGES DID A GREAT JOB INSTRUCTING THE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS ON USING GLAZE WITH BISQUE CLAY BUTTERFLIES! MATERIALS WERE PROVIDED BY COI AND THANK YOU GLENDA FOR FIRING THEM. THE WILLOW SCHOOL CREATED AN INSTALLATION IN THE BUTTERFLY GARDEN AT THE UNITY CHURCH ON THE CAMPUS DURING HOLOCAUST EDUCATION WEEK IN NOVEMBER. THE OUTREACH COMMITTEE HOPES TO WORK IN THE FUTURE OFFERING MORE STUDENTS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE BUTTERFLIES IN MEMORY OF CHILDREN LOST DURING THE HOLOCAUST. OUR COMMUNITY WILL BE BETTER FOR IT!5TH GRADE STUDENTS AT VERO'S ROSEWOOD MAGNET SCHOOL PARTICIPATED IN THE BUTTERFLY PROJECT, AN ONGOING COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY ONE INITIATIVE WHICH PROVIDES HOLOCAUST EDUCATION THROUGH THE ARTS. THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT VISITED THE SCHOOL TO VIEW THE COMPLETED PROJECT DURING HOLOCAUST EDUCATION WEEK IN NOVEMBER. STUDENTS AND TEACHERS DID AN AMAZING JOB CREATING MEANINGFUL AND BEAUTIFUL "WISHES FOR THE WORLD" SYMBOLIZED BY THEIR CERAMIC BUTTERFLIES. THE DISTRICT IS INTERESTED IN EXPANDING AND DISPLAYING THE PROJECT FOR THE COMMUNITY. THE PROJECT BUILT EMPATHY THROUGH STORIES AND CREATIVITY, ART TRANSFORMS EVEN THE HARDEST OF SUBJECTS!