When Rachel Price was asked how pottery classes at Creative Flow Art Center make her feel, she responded with one word: “Happy.”

Every Wednesday, Rachel joined her friends from Rise for ceramics class, a four-week series at Creative Flow Art Center in Fridley. Each session was filled with imagination as the group shaped, painted, and personalized their clay creations.

The classes were part of a long-running partnership between Rise and Anoka’s Rum River Art Center, which recently opened the new Creative Flow Center in Fridley. The fully accessible space gave everyone the chance to explore their creativity and express themselves through art.

Art that tells a story

For William Larson, these art classes became a way to express appreciation for people in his life. His clay self-portrait depicted him and his family, a creative way to express his love for them.

“I really liked creating art and I looked forward to it,” William shared. “My favorite project was the coffee cup, because I’ll be able to drink coffee out of it. It felt good to see the artwork I created.”

William said the process of creating art helped him feel proud of his accomplishments and more confident in what he could do.

Finding joy through creativity

Stephen Thibodo said his favorite part of the class was simple: it was fun. “Art is fun. I’d like to keep doing it.”

Rise Case Manager Shari Happel said the whole group shared enthusiasm. “They used their creativity, they laughed, and they just loved it,” she said. “They made new friends, and they were always so excited when Wednesday came around.”

By the final week, the group had created self-portrait tiles, cups, animal-themed bowls, and jewelry boxes, each one completely unique. Their last project was decorating their portraits with beads and wire to make wall art.

A welcoming space for every artist

Instructor Sarah Heil said she was amazed by how quickly everyone grew and learned clay art skills. “We started with simple projects, like drawing on a flat tile, and by the end, they were confidently building pinch-pot sculptures,” she said. “I barely had to help at all during the last class, that’s how much they learned.”

She also saw growth beyond the art itself. “They’re more talkative, more social, and so proud of their work,” Sarah added. “They greet me by name now, and it’s really cool to see that confidence grow.”

For Emily Robinson, Director of Creative Flow Art Center, that’s exactly the goal. “Art is for every single person,” she said. “When Rise came for classes, the joy they brought with them was inspiring and contagious. “Our hope was that everyone left feeling proud of what they made knowing they could do more than they thought.”

*This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the art and cultural heritage fund.*