Digging into the world of pottery and ceramics is more meditative than you think

Thu, Sep 17, 2026 (2 a.m.) Common Ground Pottery Photo: Amber Sampson My acquisition with pottery goes astir arsenic acold arsenic the infamous wheel-throwing country successful Ghost, with Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore. When I disclose this to Gina “G” Sfarzo, who’s starring tonight’s wheel‑throwing store astatine Common Ground Pottery, she laughs. “If Patrick Swayze came up down maine and messed up my flow, helium and I would person an issue,” says Sfarzo, a potter of 16 years. “But that gag gets astatine thing real. “It’s meditative conscionable being capable to make with your hands and instrumentality it slow,” she says. “Pottery is simply a batch of patience. You cannot unreserved anything.” Half‑expecting the clay‑smudged cinematics of a Hollywood film, instead I find something akin to therapy. For two hours I am compelled to be more present than ever. My thoughts quiet as I fixate on this messy undertaking. Spinning cool, damp clay demands total attention, from my thighs down to my feet, which operate the electrical pedal. It feels much like an animal—soft yet firm, wobbling beneath my fingers, resisting my will. Then something unimaginable occurs. I relinquish a fragment of control, and abruptly the obstinate clay begins to respond to my hands, rising and settling into shape. The tactile sensation grounds me. Yet the focus is not solely internal; it is social as well. Fellow participants at their wheels laugh, exchange tips and admire each other's creations. It becomes a celebratory space for beginners. We have tamed the muddy beast and now enjoy the results. “The biggest happening for maine is the community,” says Sfarzo. “I emotion teaching. I emotion moving with radical one‑on‑one oregon successful large groups.” She notes that few experiences are more rewarding than fashioning something with your hands that can endure beyond the studio. Perhaps it is a vase, a coffee cup, or a bird feeder. At Common Ground Pottery each of those objects is attainable. The studio offers ceramic wall‑hanger classes, ramen‑vessel workshops, kids’ clubs and more. With its new Southwest location opening on September 19, additional avenues for involvement are emerging. By evening’s end I am covered in mud, as are my new pottery acquaintances. We discuss enrolling in Common Ground’s four‑week courses, where one learns to throw, trim, carve and glaze pieces from start to finish. Few pastimes compel you to slow down as pottery does, yet I have never felt more inclined to return. **Sculpting skills: Tips for beginners** **Keep it tight.** Anchor your upper body by locking your thighs for added leverage and keeping your elbows tucked in as the clay forms within your grip. Become one with the machine. **Easy does it.** Operate the foot pedal gently. Position it sideways to gain greater control and aim for a steady speed to prevent the clay from spinning out of alignment—and into someone’s hair. **Embrace the imperfections.** Expect the clay to resist. Apply pressure and gentle contact where needed. Mistakes are mostly correctable, and those irregularities are what make pottery unique. COMMON GROUND POTTERY 10895 S. Eastern Ave., #160, 725‑254‑5094, commongroundpottery.com. Wednesday‑Monday, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Click HERE to subscribe for free to the Weekly Fix, the digital edition of Las Vegas Weekly! Stay up to date with the latest on Las Vegas concerts, shows, restaurants, bars and more, delivered straight to your inbox! Amber Sampson is the Arts and Entertainment Editor for Las Vegas Weekly. She got her start in journalism as an ... Get more Amber Sampson ►