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Art Center West showcases deep ceramics and blacksmithing programs
Summary
AJ Argentina described Art Center West's focused ceramics education, dedicated pottery wheel space, an outdoor forge for metals work, and outreach activities such as bringing wheels to Youth Day. Programming starts at about age 8 and serves adults up to about 85.
AJ Argentina, introduced by Mayor Mary Robichaud, said Art Center West is "exclusively pottery inside and metals outside in the forge," highlighting in-depth ceramics instruction and hands-on opportunities for beginners and advanced students. Argentina said she began with the city in 2004 and was named area coordinator in 2021.
She described technical offerings that include wheel throwing, hand building (pinch, coil, slabs), sculpture studios and firing areas. "We usually start kids at 8," Argentina said when describing outreach to Youth Day; she also noted long-term participants in their 80s. Argentina described bringing three portable wheels to Youth Day and running community sculpture projects to engage residents outside the studio.
The program supports local makers through cooperative sales and helps subsidize equipment and studio expansion; Argentina said the Clay Collective sale runs in May and December and has grown to about 80 artists.
