A-State’s ceramics club; “Puggers of Invention”, is creating a space for students to foster creativity and a love for ceramic art.

Marcy Wallace, a senior ceramics major from Harrisburg, Arkansas, serves as the club’s president and founded the club last May, but this is the first semester that the club will actively meet. 

Puggers of Invention was formed with the intent of inspiring student creativity and helping develop appreciation for ceramic arts.  

“I feel like there’s a lot of people who are interested in pottery and want to learn it,” Wallace said. “That was the whole reason we made it open to all majors, so that anybody who has an interest in the arts can pursue it.”

Opening the club up to non-majors is also part of the art department’s mission to help foster student creativity at A-State and Wallace said she wants to help people discover a passion for the arts — even when they don’t think they are artists.

“I know that people think that you have to be a very creative person to be an artist, but I don’t think that’s true,” Wallace said. “I think everybody has a certain level of creativity to them, I just want to see that blossom across campus.”

The name “Puggers of Invention,” comes from the workshop’s pug machine, which is used to refine clay and remove impurities and air bubbles so that it can be used for sculpting.  

Wallace said that she picked the name because she wants her club to refine the artistic talents of its members.

While the club is currently predominantly female, founding member Abby Armstrong, a senior art history major from Bay, Arkansas, said she wants to see the club be more diverse in the future.

“We have already had a couple of fraternity guys that have already reached out and asked, ‘Hey, can we show up?’ Yes, please come and remind your friends.” Armstrong said.

Creating an atmosphere of creative freedom, inclusivity and experimentation is also part of the club’s mission to bring ceramics to students.  

Abby Armstrong, a senior art history major from Bay, Arkansas, and one of the club’s founding members, said that she enjoys spending time in the ceramics studio since she has already completed the hours needed for her degree.

“I love it here,” Armstrong said, “It just gives everybody the opportunity to play around with it and have fun.”

Mattie Heathscott, a sophomore studio art major from Searcy, Arkansas, said she wants to make new friends through her involvement in the ceramics club.

“There are a lot of people here who I do not know, but I plan to know,” Heathscott said.

The club has several events planned for later in the semester, including a Christmas pottery sale and an event where students will be able to come in and create their own mugs.

The club meets weekly, alternating between Monday and Tuesday in the ceramics workshop of the Windgate Center.  Dues are $10 and pottery clay and materials are provided; all students need to do is bring their creativity.

Categories: Life