Virtually Learn About Ceramics From A Decatur Studio

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The MudFire community. / Instagram

A local ceramics and pottery studio is bringing glazes, kilns and pottery wheels to the virtual world starting April 17.

MudFire, a pottery gallery and studio located in Decatur, has had to temporarily shut its doors to the public due to Gov. Brian Kemp’s shelter-in-place order, only allowing small business owners and homeschool teachers to pick up or drop off their ceramic pieces.

At first, the studio’s owner, Deanna Ranlett, didn’t know how the business would survive. The business planted its roots in Decatur in 2001 and two-thirds of its membership includes general hobbyists and those who are experimenting with ceramics.

“They’re missing out on actually being able to use the studio equipment in their glazes and all of that,” she said. “So we had to start thinking out of the box. How are we going to give people something that they could do, something that occupies the time and place that they would normally be spending in the studio at home?”

Then, Ranlett started brainstorming ways to engage with their niche community online while encouraging others to gain interest in ceramics. Some members gave feedback that they wanted a sense of normalcy with videos that showed MudFire’s work in the studios.

“Even just watching the videos and our faces being familiar and having the familiar habits in our studio and our people, you can get a sense of calmness from that thing that you're usually around that's not around right now,” Ranlett said.

Eventually, Ranlett found a compromise for both existing and prospective members.

MudFire will host higher-level virtual courses starting in May, but there will be basic beginner virtual lessons starting April 17. Their resident artists came into the studio and filmed themselves exercising their pottery craft for the digital experience. 

For well-versed ceramicists who own a lot of equipment, Ranlett said the studio will offer courses on how to use their kilns at home. For those who may be in quarantine with families or are working from home, the studio will offer more basic lessons on glaze chemistry. 

Regardless of the circumstance, Ranlett said there’s something worthwhile about ceramics and pottery.

“People come for all different reasons, but why they stay? It's like you just fall in love with the material,” she said. “I think [for] some people, it's hypnotic. It's relaxing, it’s mindful. It's really easy to just kind of focus on what you're doing and let everything else go away. I think that’s what a lot of people are missing right now.”

After the quarantine, MudFire plans to turn the video series into in-person sessions while continuing to post them online. 

To have access to MudFire’s video series for free, use the discount code MUDFAM20 on their Ruzuku platform.