Students get a closer look at pottery process
(Photo Courtesy/Mike Beiermeister) Sam Machulis demonstrations how to use the pottery wheel for kindergartners.
Alpena — Students at Alpena’s All Saints Catholic School got a special demonstration on Thursday and Friday.
Ceramicist Sam Machulis brought in his tools to show the children the power of pottery! He also showcased some of his work and talked about how pottery played a critical roll in history. Students all the way from kindergarten to the eighth grade got to marvel in the creations. They really enjoyed the animal creations he was able to make out of clay.
“It was really cool,” said Student Cecelia Weaver, “When he showed all of the animals and he made this huge bull, we got to see all of his other creations like the huge vase he made with all of the designs on it.”
Well, it was cool when he made the trunk, he would just put it on the spinning wheel, and he just kept going up with it, and then he made the ears and eyes,” said Student Caden DeCaire. “It was pretty cool.”
Machulis has been practicing pottery for over 40 years. He’s crafted as a teacher, professional, and just out of pure passion for this unique hobby. He’s always happy to show children the power and fun parts of the craft.
“Kids asked me about that, you know, well do you do this for a living, a job?” said Machulis. “I do it out of love, not because I’m going to get rich, it’s just always stuck with me, so their is not a ton of us running around.”
