An instructor demonstrates wheel throwing techniques during a Ceramics for Veterans class offered through Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture. The free program provides a creative and therapeutic outlet for veterans and active-duty service members. Photo courtesy of Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture

MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) - Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture (YSAC) is proud to announce a new program as part of its ongoing Ceramics for Veterans classes. Next up is wheel throwing classes. You know, like the ceramic’s scene in the movie “Ghost.” Well, not exactly like that but you get the idea.

The three free classes will be held at Verge Center for the Arts in Sacramento. Classes will be held on Saturday afternoons from 2 to 5 p.m., Aug. 16, 23 and 30. It is important that participants attend all three classes. Registration is limited to ten Veterans or active-duty service members, eighteen or over. Verge is located at 625 S St. in Sacramento. Go to yubasutterarts.org to register for the class.

In pottery, a potter's wheel is a machine used in the shaping (known as throwing) of clay into round ceramic ware. The wheel may also be used during the process of trimming excess clay from leather-hard dried ware that is stiff but malleable, and for applying incised decoration or rings of color. The experts say it is not as easy as it looks, but Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture wanted to be able to offer this creative outlet to Veterans as well as the hand building classes currently underway in Marysville.

Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture (YSAC) is proud to announce a new program as part of its ongoing Ceramics for Veterans classes. Photo courtesy of Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture

There are no prerequisites for participating in the wheel classes, but priority will be given to Veterans who have attended prior hand building sessions.  The classes are all led by well-known northern California ceramic artists, Amy Davis and U.S. Army Combat Veteran Jason Lewis.  Amy’s instructors early in her career included Glenn Husted at Yuba College where she studied traditional Asian ceramics and wood firing and Dick Hotchkiss at Sierra College. Jason is a former student of Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture’s Ceramic Artist in Residence, Navy Veteran Drew Sallee. Drew was the Sutter Union High School ceramics teacher for many years where he taught Jason.

Art classes like these for Veterans provide a therapeutic outlet for expressing emotions and experiences that may be difficult to verbalize. Many veterans face challenges such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, or depression and creative activities like ceramics and other art forms can offer a sense of relief and healing. These classes foster a supportive environment and a sense of community, where veterans can connect with others who share similar experiences, promoting camaraderie and reducing isolation. Overall, these programs support emotional well-being and help veterans with newfound skills and confidence.

Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture is also looking for a 1,500 square foot or larger donated studio space for up to one year in order to establish a local ceramics studio for Veterans. It has received a donation of $50,000 in ceramics equipment including wheels, kilns and tools and wants to use it to set up a permanent workspace in the Yuba Sutter area. Contact Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture if you know of any possible locations.

This series of Ceramics for Veterans classes is funded by Sutter Yuba Behavioral Health in addition to a grant provided by the CA Mental Health Services Authority. Be sure to pre-register at yubasutterarts.org or for additional information call 530-742-2787.