The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Ceramics fired up at Mentor Senior Center
Instructor Sharon Williams calls work ‘rewarding’
The widely varied artistry of Sharon Williams boasts work with custom vehicle lettering, holiday and floral design, landscaping and a myriad of other creative channels.
But it’s the art of ceramics that tops her list of favorites.
Williams teaches the craft at the Mentor Senior Center and claims that the enjoyment she observes in her students while working in her classes is highly rewarding.
“That’s why I do it. It means so much to them,” she said.
The 63-year-old Mentor resident started out as a participant in the class about five years ago but it wasn’t long before a proficiency of the skill led to her role as teacher. Evidence of her keenness for the art form surfaced during a recent visit to the senior center as she carefully opened layers of bubble wrap to uncover dozens of unique pieces while explaining their distinctive details.
Also within the studio but awaiting an artist’s brush and firing in the onsite kilns are a vast assortment of unfinished animals, trees, ornaments and more neatly lined up on shelves. Williams noted that she sometimes assists students with combining figures, such as a flowers and birdhouses, to create customized effects.
“If you see something, you can make it. There’s no limit,” she said. “I break a lot of rules and directions. We’re always discovering new techniques.”
An emphasis on personalization and the use of varied methods ensures that each design is one of a kind.
“Some places you go they do all the same things and you can’t tell one from another,” she said. “Here we work on different projects.”
Many of those attending the class choose a project which, when completed, will become a special gift for someone. Pasta bowls, mugs and Christmas décor are popular choices.
Her frequent suggestion of thinking outside of the box while working on a project has caused many students to marvel at the outcome of their effort as well as providing a sense of pride.
“I adapt to the person’s capabilities,” she said. “I push them to go beyond what they’re capable of and if they don’t want to do it that’s fine. But when they get a taste of it they’re hooked.”
As a testament to the excellent quality of her students’ endeavors, Williams proudly states that over the years dozens of entries have earned winning ribbons at the Lake County Fair. Along with the creation of ceramic designs a sense of camaraderie helps to rank the class as one of the most popular
at the senior center.
“It’s like a family. All the different personalities… they work,” Williams said, adding that classmates still kept in touch while unable to meet in person during the center’s shutdown due to the local coronavirus.
Sharing in potlucks and holiday gatherings have become annual events. Both Williams and Mentor Senior Center Recreation Coordinator Dave Duricky are happy to see the bustling of activity at the site once again.
“It was slow going at first,” Duricky said “We had no idea what to expect. But as each registration period comes along we have more and more people. They were itching to come back.”
The number of fitness sessions continues to increase and an evening ceramics class will be added to the ongoing day session in 2022. Williams encourages people to pay a visit.
“Anyone is welcome to come in and observe and see if it’s something they really like,” she said. “You don’t have to be an artist. It’s very casual. Everybody has a good time.”
“I adapt to the person’s capabilities,” she said. “I push them to go beyond what they’re capable of and if they don’t want to do it that’s fine. But when they get a taste of it they’re hooked.” — Sharon Williams