Getting stuck in the mud isn't always a bad thing

Like most visual art, pottery can be as simple or challenging as you desire. It is an opportunity to uncover your creative potential, an occasion for social interaction with community members and a chance to heal from the daily stresses of life. Where else can a mature adult go to play in the mud?

For the past 33 years, Carson City residents have had the extraordinary opportunity to personally participate in visual arts through the Brewery Arts Center (BAC). For at least 25 years of that, the Muffy Vhay Pottery Studio has been a part of that mix. I began my relationship with clay in my first year of college, taking a pottery class to fulfill a basic requirement. Several years after I began practicing here in Carson City, I rediscovered my passion for pottery and began taking classes at the BAC.

As you enter the pottery studio you immediately feel your worries dissolve. The quiet, meditative sound of the turning wheels becomes music to your ears. The task of centering the clay upon the wheel is innately related to own centeredness. As the wet white clay rushes against your hands and fingers, the stresses from within rush out. You begin to realize your relationship with the clay, as you pull and shape it into the vessel of your desire.

A student of pottery becomes aware of the depth, diversity and complexity of transforming clay into art. Over time a student learns to appreciate the nuances between different types of clay, throwing vs. hand building techniques, and the art and science of glazes and firing techniques. Pottery is both intensely personal and communal. The growth and development of an artist feeds off the creative energy of the community of potters. Teachers become students and students become teachers. This process results in balance, fellowship, expression, growth, and fun ... all of which are beneficial to our health.

In a day and age when most folks are on the go from the moment their feet hit the ground, it is hard to imagine having time for something as luxurious as an art class. And yet, medical centers and universities alike are presently focused on the healing benefits of participating in visual arts.

Having been a practicing pharmacist for the past 14 years, I have first-hand experience with how lifestyle impacts our overall health. For most of us, the health benefits of a good diet, exercise and the curtailment of bad habits come as no surprise; but what about the benefits of participating in visual arts? Current literature suggests that art classes can provide various health benefits, including pain relief, faster patient recovery time and significant relief of stress.

In recent years the BAC has undergone numerous transformations, one of which has been a revamp of the pottery program. The program is enjoying a resurgence of new blood from adults and children alike. Beginning, intermediate and advanced classes are offered, both days and evenings, with instruction by both Lorraine Felix, from Felix Pottery in Gardnerville, and Jill Brugler from Western Nevada College.

On March 15 and 16, the BAC will offer its first specialty workshop by area potter Joe Winter. Joe is a Nevada artist who has had numerous gallery showings, most recently in Fernley and at WNC. He will demonstrate throwing and vessel altering techniques, and provide feedback to students during a hands-on segment of the workshop. It will be a unique and exciting opportunity for area potters. This will be the first of many pottery workshops the BAC hopes to offer the community.

Reflect on how the healing benefits of participating in visual arts might improve your life. Consider the meditative potential of working with clay and perhaps you will decide to realize the contrast between the high stress hustle and bustle of everyday life and that of the creative realm. Come to the Muffy Vhay Pottery Studio to play in the mud and leave your stresses behind. For more information about upcoming classes contact the BAC at 883-1976 or visit their Web site at www.breweryarts.org.

• Fresh ideas: Starting conversations by sharing personal perspectives on timely and timeless issues. Katie Johnson, RPh, MA, is a local pharmacist and a volunteer administrator of the pottery program at the BAC. She has been a resident of Carson City for the past 14 years where she resides with her husband.