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Focused, Ceramics Club Treasurer Maggie Arora ’27 paints the inside of her bowl with pink glaze. Before the fundraising event, officers set up different stations for each table, including varying supplies such as stick-on hearts and different glaze colors.
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Smiling, Helen Rodriguez ‘27 paints a checkered pattern with an apple in the middle of the mug. Encouraged by the gift-giving nature of the near approaching Valentine’s Day, Rodriguez was inspired to paint gifts for her best friend.
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Proud of her progress, Ceramics Club President Lucy Gonzalez ’27 shows her bowl with pink stripes to her fellow officers sitting across. Each blank ceramic piece that was purchased by participants will go to new equipment for Ceramics Club to continue more creative events in the future.
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Looking at her creation, Lalithya Reddy ’28 paints her conversation heart pink. Participating students laughed and chatted about their day as they painted their chosen ceramic piece.
After weeks of advertising to the school and local community, Ceramics Club officers put on their aprons and set up premade ceramic conversation hearts, plates, bowls, and mugs, ready to be painted, on tables outside of the classroom for their annual Valentine’s Day Fundraiser on Friday, Jan. 30.
Students from local middle schools arrived with their parents as well as Westwood students and picked out which ceramic piece they pre-ordered to paint. As creative minds filled the room, families and friends were greeted by the club officers and club sponsor Cari Washburn, who were attentive to all who needed assistance.
“It’s basically a fundraiser so we can get more clay and glazes to give everyone more creative opportunities in our club,” Ceramics Club President Lucy Gonzalez ‘27 said. “Everyone who participates needs to pay for each piece of premade ceramic pieces to paint. We advertised it at Westwood but also publicly by sending out some emails to the local community, inviting middle school students as well.”
As the month of love approaches, gift-giving is rapidly becoming more relevant. Surrounded by a variety of glaze colors and ceramic hearts, bowls, and mugs ready to paint, many participants opted to paint gifts for their loved ones, matching the atmosphere of the season.
“I’m a part of the club, and I came so I can make presents for me and my best friend to surprise her on Valentine’s Day,” Helen Rodriguez ‘27 said. “I’m working on some matching mugs and I’m also painting the sweethearts that have messages on them.”
While participants painted their unique designs on ceramic pieces, officers supervised the activities. As they decorated their blank 3D canvases, they were reminded of the broader purpose of this fundraiser.
“I feel like the best part of hosting a fundraiser like this one is getting people introduced to ceramics,” Ceramics Club Treasurer Maggie Arora ‘27 said. “I know people can do it at home, but it can be hard to make 3D pieces at home with no kiln, so the fact that we get to give people the opportunity to do something they haven’t done before or don’t have access to is one of our biggest purposes of this fundraiser.”
As participants left, many felt satisfied after the creative afternoon activity. Inspired by trying new skills. The officers hoped a sense of appreciation for 3D art emerged that would encourage participants to return to future ceramics fundraisers.
“I really hope [participants] really like the pieces that we made by hand and that they use them a lot,” Ceramics Club Vice President Emily Simon ‘28 said. “I also hope that they gain a greater love for ceramics and that their newfound skills encourage them to revisit the hobby.”
