Remember, masks on before entering the building! The smell of disinfectant is pungent. The dead silence of the empty classroom is finally broken by the sound of feet shuffling into the classroom. Actual voices belonging to murmuring young people, in present time, float across the room.
Back in March 2020, LBCC was forced into doing completely remote learning due to COVID-19. For the Ceramics Department, this meant no college classes or community classes until further notice. For the duration of summer, the Ceramics Department, administration, and facilities began trying to figure out a way for the department to offer classes once again. Finally in the fall, the first in-person class began in the ceramics studio at the Benton Center in Corvallis.
This term the studio and classes are open and available for smaller classes, though fewer classes are being offered and taught. The studio now has “OK!” written on the tables, making sure that students know that they are able to sit at any “OK!” spot to ensure six feet of distance between each other. Cubbies are assigned based on distance between one student and the next.
As you first walk in, there is a safety station with hand sanitizer, separate cups holding sanitized pens and another for used pens. Also present is a paper to fill out for checking in and out -- a log to keep track of who was in the studio at what time.
There are still “open hours” going on. Open hours are a time outside of class where only ceramic students are able to come in. Though, of course, some changes have been made to make it more available as it is limited to 10 people in the studio at a time.
During class time and open hours, students' faces are filled with concentration, hands moving continuously to create something out of the clay. It’s quiet, with an occasional muttering to oneself, and clattering of tools.
“Currently there are 16 students (eight per class),” said ceramics instructor Renee McKitterick. “The classes taught are limited to Ceramics I and Ceramics II currently. Last term we had two sections run and this term we have three sections.”
“It was overwhelmingly positive last term,” said McKitterick. “It gives students a way to have artistic release. They don’t have to be on a computer, reading on a screen … it is such a special and novel thing right now.”
Overall, students, volunteers, and instructors alike are grateful for the opportunity to be there physically in the
class working with clay, giving students a break from Zoom classes and computer screens, and getting a change in pace and environment.
“Yes! I am quite glad to be able to volunteer!” Susan Pachuta said. “It’s not as chaotic, and there’s been less volunteers on staff since due to less classes happening, there is less need for volunteers.”
For student Haley Hass this the first class she’s been able to physically attend since the start of the COVID-19 lockdown. When asked if she is glad to be finally doing a class in-person, she said, “Yes! 100%!”