Spinning Forward~ A Student’s Gift That Shapes the Future Ceramics Studio
It began as an ordinary day in the ceramics studio—one of those moments where conversation drifts naturally from clay and technique to dreams for the future. During class, I was talking with students about the updates we could make if we ever had a bit of extra funding. New equipment, better workspaces, long-overdue improvements—the kind of wish list every creative studio carries.
One student, who has asked to remain anonymous, casually asked how much funding it would take to make those ideas a reality. Assuming it was simple curiosity, I mentioned that with $20,000, we could make some truly meaningful changes.
What I didn’t know was that this question was the beginning of something extraordinary.
That same weekend, the student attended our Fall Open House and struck up a conversation with Lisa Liebowitz, then our Executive Director. While I don’t know the details of that exchange, I soon learned the outcome: the student had decided to make a $20,000 restricted donation to the ceramics studio—an act of generosity that would quite literally reshape our space.
Soon after, the ceramics instructors met with Lisa to discuss how best to use this incredible gift. The decision was unanimous: we would start where it mattered most—new wheels. Our studio had been relying on 11 aging wheels that, while still functional, had seen decades of use. With the donation, we ordered eight new Shimpo VL Whisper wheels, a major upgrade that would immediately improve the experience for students and members alike.
Then came another inspired idea. Instructor Kirsten Salley suggested auctioning off the old wheels rather than retiring them outright—giving them new life in the hands of local potters while helping offset the cost of the new equipment. We hosted a private silent auction using a free online platform, and within just two weeks, all 11 wheels were sold. The auction raised nearly $6,000, funds that can now be reinvested into further studio improvements.
Just days after Christmas, the new wheels arrived. The difference was instantly noticeable. Quieter, smoother, and more responsive, they’ve already proven to be well worth the investment—and a joy to work on.
And this is only the beginning.
Next on the list are several much-needed upgrades: a short wall between wheel rows to safely house electrical cords, a new work table for hand-building and glazing, additional shelving, replacement kiln furniture, an updated reclaim table, and more. Adding to the sense of full-circle community, Matt Denning—who joined the studio this summer after taking classes at BCC over 30 years ago—has generously offered to help build many of these additions.
None of this would have been possible without one student’s remarkable generosity. Her gift has sparked momentum, inspired collaboration, and set meaningful change in motion. We are equally grateful for the teamwork, creativity, and dedication of our incredible ceramics instructors, whose shared vision continues to strengthen this program.
It’s an honor to be part of a studio—and a community—shaped by such passion, generosity, and care.