Soos Creek Studio offers a unique youth/parent pottery programs for ages 8 to 17 along with their parent to experience the magic of clay. We share how our ancestors turned earth into daily life utensils that made our eating experiences more nourishing and helpful. Our mission is to empower the next generation of youth harnessing their creative imagination and a connection to mother nature. At the same time this is a program where a new kind of family bond can be forged. Clay connects people in new ways fostering a sharing spirit. We create pottery that highlight the earth-friendly nature of ceramics, and to further explore its use as part of a sustainable practice for generations to come.

For 90 minutes, whether it is a one time experience, once or twice a week, or daily, the youth and the parent get to immerse themselves into the hand creating experience. Time goes by quickly in these sessions. Youth and their parents get to learn how to make a bowl, plate, cup, flower vase, planter and many more types of pottery that make our daily life at home more enjoyable. Students will learn work ethics, sustainable practices, and teamwork. This isn’t the typical after school “fun” program where students can passively participate while keeping up with social media. Electronic devices are placed in safekeeping. Hands get into the clay right away! It is a place for the youth and their parents who want to make the planet a better place by using environmentally-friendly materials and creating objects through pottery.

This is a place where grades don’t matter. In fact, if school is a struggle, perhaps a little nudge and interest in how youth can build something with their hands would be a great place to re-start a new path. This art form has been with humans from the early days of humankind when they harnessed fire for the first time. Our creativity is ingrained into the act of hand-eye-coordination of practicing over and over, tinkering with a material into a form that evolves into a learned skilled craft. There can be a sense of an awe awakening moment during the clay making process. Additionally a feeling of a solid confidence can emerge from the acquired new skill craft from one’s own hand.

For parents: As a husband, father and grandfather, I find that the bond between family and our community is a vital part of who we are, and who we will become. Having a sense of a safe home and community are very important to our well being.

We have heard from parents with young children. As young as the children are, they already suffer from frequent bouts of depression. While the kids are well informed and have access to world news through screens, the topics of war, climate change, and the seemingly endless challenges facing the world bring with it a feeling of helplessness and hopelessness. Perhaps an answer to the seemingly doom and gloom lens to the future is to potentially redirect their focus to a beneficial outlet; a way to channel their contribution to an ecological stewardship using their hands, and utilizing natural materials to create utilitarian ceramic work. By giving the children and youth the tool from a young impressionable age that they have the power to make a positive difference in this world, they can begin to mend and regain their confidence. They will soon embody a sense of purpose from their active participation learning from the teacher potter, and fellow participants. Here, they will learn ways to contribute and create sustainable daily utilitarian pottery. It is through this visceral and direct experience with clay that teams of youth will discover the connection they make with the earth. Maybe spending less time on their phones and social media will allow self discovery and a sense of purpose.

Bryan & Junsen Ohno

Co-founder

Soos Creek Studio