In the Studio with Huckleberry Youth Program
Earlier this year, we welcomed a group of Huckleberry Youth middle schoolers to our studio for a private class. Huckleberry Youth is a longstanding nonprofit focused on empowering San Francisco youth. Our goal was to provide students with a quiet, professional space to experience ceramics with supportive instruction. The event took place during the students’ Spring Break, and according to Xarah Golden, Huckleberry Youth Juvenile Programs Bilingual Case Manager, “Youth who attended have shared that it was a highlight of their week.”
As many of you know, building something out of clay for the first time can be intimidating. Studio Sumi instructors Mareiwa and Amelia guided the students through basic handbuilding techniques. The Huckleberry students learned how to create slabs of clay using rolling pins and a slab roller, and each was tasked with choosing what they would like to make. We were inspired by the students’ imaginative and lively attitudes towards trying a completely new art form.
The students were engaged and even silly as Studio Sumi instructors walked them through the steps of forming clay to their liking. Some students built hand-shaped cups, while others opted to use an artsy vase template. According to our instructor Amelia, “The best part was seeing the students surprise themselves and cheer each other on as they built their very own unique pieces.”
Xarah shared that one of the students even said, “I'm proud of myself for trying something new, and to be able to be calm around people that I don't know well.” This stuck with Xarah because this particular student is shy. The Studio Sumi team is grateful for the opportunity to create a safe space that supports youth in connecting to art and to each other. We look forward to our next Huckleberry Youth event, and until then, we hope whoever is reading this finds some inspiration by playing with clay! ✨
Click here to learn more about Huckleberry Youth Programs.
For information about scheduling a private event at Studio Sumi, click here.
