Seize the Clay: Sidney Native Returns to Teach Art Workshop

Enter Elston House and you're transported into a world of diverse art, make your way through the different nooks and crannies of Elston House and you're sure to discover more than just clay. Offering an extensive selection, one of Sidney's newest downtown businesses is sure to impress and delight with its unique flair of pottery to-go kits, local artworks, homemade jams and jellies, crocheted items, woodworking, jewelry, and its newest addition: hands-on pottery classes.

Owners Matt and Sarah Elston take great passion and pride in building community through connection. They invited Marissa Borchard, a Chadron State senior who is studying to become a fine arts instructor, to teach a formal pottery class. "By having someone that is going to school for art and teaching the class it's more beneficial to the community, Marissa offers more opportunity," Elston had to say.

Borchard's love for art began as a student at Sidney High School. A chance to help her own art teacher during open hour resulted in a change of lifestyle; one which helped sculpt her very future. Hoping to witness the talent of generations to come, Borchard dove head first into the pool of creativity and knowledge.

As a Sidney native, Borchard was inspired to bring home a slice of imagination, "I've taken a lot of ceramics classes, I wanted to bring that love back to show the process of how to make pottery. When Elston House called I knew it was a great opportunity to hash out my teaching skills," Borchard remarks.

The first class began in the middle of June and stretched into the beginning of July. With a four-hour designated time frame to accomplish the class each Thursday, the process was broken down into three classes – one for centering, the second for trimming and texturing and the third for paint. As members of the first pottery class, Derk and Chanda DeMasters came into the process with an open mind and a blank canvas, "I've always wanted to try my hand at throwing on the wheel, it looked like fun and it was supporting a local opportunity," Chanda comments with Derk adding, "I like to learn new things and I love art, this was a nice chance to explore the unknowns of the art world."

Spending a total of three class days together working through the process, Borchard noticed the obvious change, "Seeing the growth within just a few hours, the moments where it just 'clicks,' this gets people out of their comfort zones," Borchard adds, "You're always learning throughout your life, so this all ties in together here."

Borchard's own 'aha' moment came from a special encounter during her Senior Showcase at Chadron when a visitor to the college's gallery made an offer to purchase Borchard's pieces, "This helped me realize that if you persevere and never give up, you can achieve your dreams."

Now as an artist not only striving to teach but to work on commissioned pieces as well, Borchard's dreams span out past her looming 2025 Spring graduation. "I like witnessing the creative side of artistic practice; both science and psychology tie into art. I'm hoping to show my students that they may express themselves with no limitations and that they may carry that with them," Borchard explains.

The class features a chance to not only get your hands dirty but to create a take-home memento of the vulnerability and expressiveness channeled during, "I wanted to grow as a person; you can't become what you want to by staying where you already are," Amanda Borchard, Marissa's Mother had to say about the chance to learn from her daughter.

The tactile repetition of working with clay acts as a meditative practice and a chance to expand your artistic horizons, "I think the coolest part of this experience has been watching people create while also seeing the vast versatility of different influences come out in their pieces," Elston comments. Working towards the next few pottery sessions, the ceramic destination, and not just their kilns, are fanning the flames of expression and community. "This helps to build a bigger vision for Elston House, you just have to start somewhere."

If you would like to join a future pottery workshop, call Elston House at (308) 203-1133 or visit them at their physical location, 1005 10th Avenue, during operating hours.

Author Bio

Kelsey Arrington, Staff Reporter

Cheyenne County native, local business owner.