AU’s Mad Potters holding ceramics sale on Summerville Campus
By Rakiyah Lenon | Co-editor in chief
Augusta University’s Mad Potters Organization is holding the spring ceramics sale on the Summerville Campus near the Jaguar Student Activities Center from March 7-9.
An array of handmade vases, pots, jewelry and other ceramic pieces are available to purchase from the potters and artists. The sale is taking place during the day from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., though possible weather conditions might limit some hours. This sale marks the second one they have been able to host since the earlier COVID-19 restrictions.
Michael Wetzel, a potter and audit student at AU, has had an interest in art for many years.
“It’s getting toward the end of the semester and it’s time to sell what I’ve made,” he said.
Wetzel gave an update on the turnout from the last pottery sale in fall 2021.
“For our fall sale, we did extremely well,” he said. “I was amazed. We made quite a bit of money.”
Michael Wetzel displayed the variety of ceramics he had for sale on the first day of the sale. (photo by Rakiyah Lenon)
Gerry O’Meara, also a potter and audit student, said that she too was surprised by the success of the last sale.
“I wasn’t expecting us to have much traffic,” she said.
Wetzel said that even students, who often have limited funds to spend, took the opportunity to purchase artwork and support the artists. He said that support from the surrounding community would be beneficial.
“We need people from the community to come in and help,” he said.
Marcel D’Eon, director of the Educational Innovation Institute who works on the Health Sciences campus, was a customer at one of the artist’s tables.
According to D’Eon, he was on campus for another event, but was interested in the artwork from the potters and decided to make a purchase.
As audit students, both Wetzel and O’Meara have the flexibility of taking classes without the need for grades or credits.
Many of the other students at the sale this semester are seniors.
Ashton Maya, a senior ceramics major from Augusta, described how she first became interested in the art.
“Ceramics became a means of therapy because it’s repetition,” she said. “It’s very mindful. I just kind of took it from there. It became a passion, I guess.”
Abigailis Mejia, a senior and art major, said that her time as AU has helped her grow as an artist, allowing her to experiment with different art forms.
“I think my work has gotten exponentially better,” she said.
Ann-Marie Hutton, a senior ceramics major, is selling a various ceramics she has made throwing, a term describing the use of a pottery wheel. Hutton said she felt as if her time spent this semester has occurred quickly.
“It’s gone by really fast,” she said.
Kate Davis, also a senior ceramics major, took the time to sell her work at the event as well.
According to Davis, she will be presenting her final artwork in the senior show before graduation.
The following photos feature some of the ceramic pieces available for purchase. (photos by Rakiyah Lenon)
Those interested in learning more about the Mad Potters Organization can visit their Instagram @mpo4lyfe to learn more about the club as well as upcoming sales.
Contact Rakiyah Lenon at rlenon@augusta.edu.
