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Date: 12/6/2022
EASTHAMPTON – Easthampton Clay, the community-based pottery school and cooperative, is currently raising money for industrial A/C (air conditioning)units to cover their 3,200-square foot space in Eastworks Studio 241, Gallery 116.
According to Liz Rodriguez, the founder of Easthampton Clay, the cooperative moved into the Eastworks building about a year ago.
“It’s an amazing space and our landlord has been really kind to us and helping us outfit this space so we can grow,” Rodriguez told Reminder Publishing.
The space, however, becomes incredibly hot during the summer, to the point where the ceramics they use can become inaccessible on days where it reaches 95-plus degrees, while the kilns they work with reach 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
“The space has these old windows, and there’s no way to really open the windows,” said Rodriguez. “In addition to these windows that almost function as magnifying glasses, we’re also competing with the kilns that we’re running…it was literally unbearable last summer.”
Rodriguez founded Easthampton Clay in 2018, and since then, has offered a wide range of entry points for clay enthusiasts at all levels through classes, workshops, summer camps, outreach programs and events focusing on the ceramic arts.
Easthampton Clay has become a staple in the community over the past four years. As of this year, the cooperative has over 90 members, 15 classes, summer intensives, kids programs, workshops, sales, community events and more.
The threat of hotter temperatures for longer stretches of the year is now blocking access to the art, however. According to Rodriguez, an adequate A/C unit is necessary to keep the studio at safe and workable temperatures for all ages and abilities.
Because of this barrier, Rodriguez and company are raising money for mini splits. The cost for proper air conditioning and ventilation is upwards of $70,000 – a price that may be even larger now. “It’s an astronomical cost, but we need it to solve the heat issue,” said Rodriguez.
The Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation offered Easthampton Clay a $20,000 grant if Easthampton Clay can raise $20,000 as a matching grant by Dec. 31. According to Rodriguez, Easthampton Clay needs about $18,000 between now and the end of the year in order to meet the grant requirements.
“The hot temperatures affect the clay…they affect us too,” said Rodriguez. “We do have some ceiling fans that do some great things, but they also dry out the clay really quickly.”
Rodriguez said they have used some different mechanisms to try and stay cool, like curtains or bringing summer activities outside, but she said the situation still feels like a health and safety issue. “And now we’re starting to see hotter temperatures start in May and end in October,” she said. “It’s been hard”
Anyone wishing to donate can do so by visiting the Easthampton Clay patronicity website: https://www.patronicity.com/project/easthampton_clay_studio_enhancement?.