Ceramics Party Time!

From Kiln to Kitchen: Ceramics Students Put Handmade Mugs to the Test 

By, 

Mikayla Sworthout

If you wanted a root beer float in Ms. Meg Howe’s ceramics classroom last week, you had to bring your own cup—but it couldn't be just any plastic or paper cup from home. It had to be a piece of ceramic art you built with your own two hands.

The annual RAHS ceramics party came with a strict, creative twist: students could only enjoy the treats if they consumed them using a piece they manufactured during the school year.

"Good luck drinking out of your Sgraffito plate or your vessel with a lid!" Howe joked, emphasizing the challenge of creating functional pottery.

The studio turned into a temporary café, though safety remained a top priority. To keep clay dust and glaze particles far away from the ice cream, all student mugs were kept safe in a display case until they were thoroughly washed the day before the party. The serving station was set up on a deeply scrubbed supply table using food-safe glazes.

This year, Howe provided pre-portioned individual scoops of vanilla ice cream to ensure accurate serving sizes, alongside root beer and caffeine-free orange soda. After students raised questions about dietary restrictions, Howe made sure to include a dairy-free alternative so every student could participate.

Though Howe buys the supplies out-of-pocket every year as a special gift to her classes, the real reward for the students was seeing their artwork come to life. The room was full of pride as students admired each other's craftsmanship.

Olivia Podoll ‘27 crafted a custom piece dedicated to her favorite melodies. "I’m making a mug inspired by music," Podoll said. "I’m most excited seeing all the other mugs. I think it’s cool I can make my own creation on my own creation."

For Gyana Mazzoni ‘28, the event opened up new ideas for how to use her classroom projects at home. "I think it would be cool to drink out of my coffee mug I’m making, or maybe even eating off of my plate I made," Mazzoni said.

After a long semester of molding, glazing, and firing clay, the party offered a chilling, relaxing day for the hard-working artists to finally toast to their own success.