48th annual pottery sale returns in person
More than a decade since graduating, alumni continue to share “clay love” by giving back to the annual sale supporting Tiger artists
By Sedonia Martin on December 8, 2021
Diana Hazelip ’10 and Theresa Musengo ’09 have volunteered with the College of Fine Arts & Communication’s annual pottery and art sale since they were student participants in the Department of Art + Design, Art History, Art Education.
Their devotion to the ceramics sale continues as they mentor current students during the unique, semi-annual shopping experience, which runs Dec. 10–11 in the Center for the Arts.
Considering themselves madly in love with clay, Hazelip and Musengo want to spread the “clay love” to as many people as possible. “I believe in giving back,” says Hazelip about why she has supported the pottery and art sale for the past 11 years. “The sale is the most amazing way to give back to the Department of Art.”
Musengo agrees. “I think it is a great way to give students a glimpse of selling their work to the public. Some students plan on being production potters, so this is a great first step.” She looks forward to the sale because she loves interacting with people, seeing what customers purchase and hearing their requests.
Shop the sale
Center for the Arts, CA 3012
Dec. 10, 3 p.m.–9 p.m., Dec. 11, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Early entry for students, faculty and staff begins Dec. 10 at 12 p.m.
Art students, faculty and staff present artwork for sale. Disciplines include ceramics, graphic design, illustration, interdisciplinary object design, metals and jewelry, photography, printmaking, sculpture and more. MFA Candidate Elizabeth Lilly will be selling and signing her book "Let Me Fix You a Plate: A Tale of Two Kitchens," on Friday, Dec 10, until 6 p.m. in the studio. Purchase proceeds benefit the TU Foundation and the artists.
Customers unable to attend the in-person event may still support students and alumni by .
The pottery sale started 48 years ago by TU ceramics professor Robert Pitman, who retired in 2008. Rich Holt ’00, visiting assistant professor and ceramics area coordinator, took over, enhancing and continuing the department tradition.
It is sponsored by the Towson Ceramic Guild, which makes ceramicware, organizes the twice-yearly pottery sale, plans field trips and hosts guest lectures.
According to Holt, the sale has raised more than $447,000 to date, enabling the ceramics department to send students and faculty to the National Council on Educators for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) annually since 2009.
The sale includes handmade, functional, decorative and fine art by TU students, faculty, staff and alumni. Shoppers can expect stoneware rake, soda-fired pottery and sculpture pieces as well as illustration, photography, metals and jewelry, sculpture, interdisciplinary object design, printmaking, glass and more.
Hazelip and Musengo contribute their work and encourage other alumni to participate. The art department receives 30% of the proceeds.
The alums don’t mind getting their hands dirty stacking shelves and arranging artwork. “I normally act as coordinator for room clean-up and organizing the set-up for the sale. I hope my planning and organizational skills rub off on the students,” Musengo says.
“I hope they learn how to market themselves and find something unique about their work including realizing its worth,” she continues. “It helps give them confidence interacting with people and sharing creative ideas.” Additionally, Musengo enjoys teaching patrons about ceramics and fielding questions about food safety and dishwasher-safe pottery.
Hazelip hopes student-artists grow from the experience. “Never stop learning,” she says. “COVID-19 did something amazing in the art world. Virtual learning is absolutely incredible. Podcasts, how-to videos, invitations to classrooms, private studios going live—the learning opportunities are endless. Just because you complete a course or graduate doesn't mean you know it all.”
She also serves as treasurer for the sale, a role she prepared for as a student cashier. “It was one of my favorite things to do for the pottery sale,” she says. Hazelip was mentored by an alum who took great pride in the role and inspired Hazelip’s continued dedication.
Both credit their passion for ceramics and the pottery and art sale to TU ceramics area coordinator, Rich Holt ’00, a pottery + art sale alumnus. “I learned most of my knowledge from Rich. I loaded and fired kilns, asked a million questions, made and tested glazes and pushed my creativity,” says Hazelip.
Hazelip and Musengo are employed at Clayworks Supplies, a retail and online ceramics products store. They were recommended by Holt as TU students, a practice they continue today by hiring TU students. “I appreciated that Rich had enough trust in me to recommend me for a job where I’ve been employed for the past 12 years,” says Musengo.
Lindsay Garrett ’23, a ceramics major from Howard County, Maryland, is a TU student working at the store. Garrett, who graduates next spring, says her experience there has been invaluable.
“What haven't I learned? The staff and customers are endless wells of ceramic knowledge,” she says. “Every time I come into the shop, I learn something new. I talk to people all day about great glaze combinations, kiln loading tips, building sales, what clay is best for projects, what tools are must-haves in your studio and I get paid to do it.”
Garrett says the opportunity has made her realize how large the area ceramics community is. “I had this fear that I might end up a lonely, clay-covered weirdo spending most of my time in my basement, but something as simple as a part-time job has made me feel so much more connected to other artists,” she says. “I have gained so much confidence in my knowledge and ability. I obviously have so much to learn, but being able to help new potters has been so gratifying.”