Everyone is familiar with the allure of making pottery. Iconic films like “Ghost” have embedded the process of making pottery in the mind of the public. From damp clay to fire to finished piece, the process is viewed as a romantic one, but it’s also a serious artform.

The Art Studio, Inc. (TASI) will host Gumbo Clayfest, a celebration of ceramic arts, July 6-8 at its facility, located at 720 Franklin St in downtown Beaumont. Clayfest is a public event involving demonstrations and workshops for those interested in making ceramics or just interested in watching the fascinating process. 

Clayfest will feature five nationally-recognized ceramists who will demonstrate the different techniques for which they are known.

Admission is by donation only, in any amount. 

There’s a reason behind this “pay what you feel” approach, and it has to do with the inclusive nature of ceramic arts.

“Clay is one of the oldest arts there is,” said Greg Busceme, TASI’s Executive Director. “It’s an art that is 20,000 years old. From cooking pots to drinking vessels to sculptures, it’s one of the first things human beings did once they harnessed fire and figured out how clay reacted with it. It was one of the things that made us human.”

Presenting artists include Clarion University’s Gary Greenberg; Patsy Cox, Professor of Visual Art at California State University, Northridge; Danielle Weigandt, a paper clay artist working in North Dakota; Stephen Wolochowicz, an Ogden UT artist who specializes in abstract industrial shapes with organic features; and Steven Erickson, a New York-based artist working with large-scale clay construction.

Workshops/demonstrations will include:

• Working with paper clay (think papier mache, but with clay)
• Constructing clay pieces with coils
• Decorative glazing (color painting on ceramics)

Gumbo Clayfest will begin each day at 9am and will end at the completion of projects. There is no registration needed.

“We’ll stop letting people in when we reach the fire code limit!” said Busceme.

Further info to be announced as it becomes available!

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“Save these dates – July 6,7,8 – for the triumphal return of the GUMBO CLAYFEST 2022. This festival is all about the clay and the people who love it. Highly knowledgeable ceramists from across the nation will descend on Southeast Texas and will share their ideas and special techniques to participants along with clay activities, panel discussions, presentations, and parties! Great for anyone who has an interest in clay and for artists from other disciplines. For any young or beginning aspirant it is a must do! De rigueur! You will advance your knowledge years ahead of where you are! Some of these artists I have known for many years and others are more recent friends; all are eager to come to our community and I hope hope hope you want to meet them too. It will mean a lot to me to have everyone come meet and learn from these generous ceramists and friends.”

Greg Busceme
(Executive Director of The Art Studio, Inc

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Meet the artists of Gumbo Clayfest 2022!

• Gary “Greeny” Greenberg
• Patsy Cox
• Stephen Wolochowicz
• Danielle Weigandt
• Steven Erickson
• Greg Busceme, Sr.

This project was funded in part by the B.A. & E.W. Steinhagen Benevolent Trust through the Southeast Texas Arts Council. 

Thanks also to our sponsors: The Ceramics Store Houston and Armadillo Clay and Mayco Industries, Inc.

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FAQ: What is Gumbo Clay?

         A little history of TASI may be in order to explain the significance of the name “Gumbo Clayfest“. To begin with, most of “the locals” are familiar with Gumbo but for those who are not, it is a creole roux-based soup with onions, celery and green peppers also known as the Trinity which is the basis for many soups. Roux is flour and oil browned in a skillet or pot that is the heart and soul of the gumbo. There are vast variations on roux depending on the cook. In that mix goes some form of meat such as sausage, chicken, seafood or any wild game you might enjoy killing.

         Now, why is gumbo tied to clay? The clay just below the soil layer is a black, thick clay that has been dubbed by geologists Beaumont Gumbo Clay for the resemblance to the creole concoction.

         I like plays on words so combining clay with fest indicates a festival of ceramic artists presenting their skills and ideas with the community and gumbo, to me, is a term that is indigenous to our local culture which implies large gatherings of people indicative of how gumbo is served.  

         Yes, gumbo will be served to demonstrate the unity we have as artists in the spirit of gathering to share a meal.

History of Gumbo Clayfest

          When it all started in 1999, we hosted a group of ceramic artists to do clay workshops. The artists were Tom Belden, Gary “Greeny” Greenberg, Connie Albertson, who I knew from grad school, John Eden, Joyce Jablonski, and Chuck Wisinger. Joyce and I met during the clay conference (NCECA) and she led me to meet Eden, Belden and Greeny.  All have worked in clay for a major part of their lives and travelled the country doing workshops. TASI added students as participants which was a new wrinkle in the program that later was adopted in their future activities that included me as a presenter. I traveled to Greeny at Clarion University in Pennsylvania, Jablonski in Kansas City, KS and a trip to UCLA, Northridge with Patsy Cox.

         After that we were not able to produce a workshop because of economic restraints. It was a tough several years for TASI and myself. I lost track of the group until this year when I re-engaged for the kiln build project and attended NCECA again after a 20 year absence. At that conference Greeny and Patsy Cox agreed to come to Beaumont this July along with Stephen Wolochwicz, Danielle Weigandt, and Steve Erickson.

            I’ve learned some things through this: friends are always friends no matter what and patience, determination and perseverance will always prevail over failure.