By Lisa Carolin
Business Name: Curiouser Clay
Business address: We are a mobile clay workshop provider. Our home studio is at 13223 McKinley Rd, Chelsea, MI
Business email, telephone number [email protected], 734-272-8615
Business hours: by arrangement
Business website: curiouserclay.com
Curiouser Clay offers a creative outlet in the form of a mobile clay workshop that can come to you. It was developed by Eli Zemper one year ago following his 27-year career as a high school teacher. He was inspired to start the clay business as a happy alternative to the stress and unhappiness he witnesses in his school and community.
“Over the last 10 years, the rural region we live in has closed its art center and five art galleries, leaving residents only two options: drive to the larger urban areas a half hour away to access creative programming or to go without. To address this important need we started a mobile clay business, Curiouser Clay, that delivers experiential clay workshops that are co-hosted by local businesses or at people’s homes or places of work,” explained Zemper.
The focus of the workshops is to play and experiment with clay while building community connections. Curiouser Clay has brought the workshops to more than 800 people that include events ranging from office parties to wedding showers.
“People have made everything from fairy doors to gnomes to license plate mugs to pie plates,” said Zemper. “When people come together, we don’t hear talk about all the things that divide us. We hear reminiscing about clay classes in middle school, laughter about how someone decided to build a part of their project, and about how amazed people are at themselves and others for what they have created.”
He recommends a Curiouser Clay workshop as a way to take time out with friends, family, or on your own.
“Clay is for everyone,” said Zemper. “I think sometimes people can be a little intimidated. I hear people come in saying things like ‘I’m not creative’ or ‘I’m not an artist’. But it’s just not true. Many of us just haven’t been encouraged to use those muscles in a long time. It’s good for you to come and exercise some of those forgotten muscles and to surprise yourself with what you come up with when there’s no expectation attached to the result.”
Zemper says that at a Curiouser Clay workshop, the atmosphere is relaxed and encouraging with lots of muddy hands and laughter, and he is grateful for the support of the Chelsea community.
Look for clay related summer camp activities from Curiouser Clay at Robin Hills Farm this summer.
