Today we’d like to introduce you to Jane Burgess, Debbie Englund, & Rachael Clemens.
Hi Jane, Debbie, & Rachael, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
ClayWorx Studios launched in June 2022 in the heart of lovely downtown Pittsboro, NC. ClayWorx is an instructional studio – we teach people how to create their own ceramic art. We have carefully crafted a studio full of light, artistic energy, and are continuously improving to make sure there is plenty of workspace, top notch equipment and materials to support wheel/hand building/sculpture creative endeavors, as well as the great instructors who guide folks on their clay journey. We offer a myriad of classes including: hand building and wheel work, designated kids classes, adult classes, specialized workshops from invited world-renowned artists, as well as unique firing techniques such as Raku and soluble salts. We try our best to offer something for everyone.
We are grateful to Stan Cheren (originally Chatham Clay Studio) who brought the three of us together, Jane Burgess, Debbie Englund, and Rachael Clemens. When the studio was on the verge of closing due to Stan’s passing, we came together, took a giant leap and formed our own small business, ClayWorx Studios. We have three very different backgrounds and stories, but this is what makes us work. We resonate and work well together because of our shared love of clay and creativity. Our vision is to create a welcoming studio space that offers the opportunity for anyone interested in clay to be encouraged as they explore this medium and exercise their creativity. We are indeed a community where everyone is welcome. We still have a legacy of enthusiasts that Stan gathered along with many, many more that make up our Clayworx community. We are thankful for everyone who has supported us along this uncharted journey to keep clay alive and thriving in Chatham County. Clay is a wondrous opportunity for rejuvenation and creative exploration at any age and ability. This is where we thrive.
We also embrace being part of the Pittsboro community and love to support local outreach including the annual “Empty Bowls” event held by CORA (our local food bank), Chatham Artists Guild, PBO Pride, Juneteenth Black Arts Festival, Pittsboro Street Fair, and many more.
Our largest event of the year is coming up soon with our annual “Studio Show” in December. This event welcomes ALL of our studio artists from the year to showcase their pieces. We transform the studio into an elegant gallery for one evening – where each piece is carefully displayed to highlight and elevate the beauty of the clay and reflect its creator. We invite the wider community to come and share in the celebration of the amazing work by our artists and just have a good time in a lively atmosphere with the best company!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like any small business we’ve experienced challenges. One example, as a clay studio in particular, we mourn the loss of Highwater Clays in Asheville, NC following Hurricane Helene in 2024. Like many potters and ceramic artists across the country, this was a huge loss as a source for clay and materials.
Additionally, we operate out of an old building in Pittsboro. Over the last 3 years our space in the building has experienced issues of flooding, electric and plumbing. We have overcome these obstacles and our new landlord has been amazing. But it is a lot of work.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As three partners, we bring very different backgrounds, experiences, and skills to the table. As we started this new venture, we each jumped in with what we knew best. We are three very different women with unique talents, but we continue to work toward a shared goal of creating the very best clay studio and community possible. We work very intentionally to collaborate and complement each other, creating the synergy that makes ClayWorx Studios what it is.
We have included our own artist statements/bios below.
Debbie Englund: I have been working with clay since the mid 90’s, so I’ve been turning since before the turn of the century. I had the opportunity to turn for Neolia Cole Womack at Cole’s Pottery in Sanford, NC for sometime before her studio closed. I received a BFA with a concentration in sculpture from UNCG in 2016. While there, I spent time in the foundry as well as the ceramics studio. I began working with Stan Cheren in the summer of 2018 to open a ceramics studio in Pittsboro. Chatham Clay Studio opened in January 2019, Clayworx Studios opened in the same space in June of 2022.
The focus of my work is in creating organic forms. I create primarily by turning the clay on the wheel, then altering the piece to reference things you may see in nature. Along with being an owner/operator of Clayworx Studios, I am the current President of the artist cooperative at Pittsboro Gallery of Arts where my work is available for purchase.
Rachael Clemens: My work as a potter is rooted in traditional Appalachian functional ware using NC stoneware – fired in an electric kiln (and occasionally wood, soda, raku, or pit kilns). My ceramics training began at Concord University, a small school in the mountains of Southern West Virginia, with the amazing ceramic artist, Steve Glazer. My pieces often reflect the beautiful mountains, hollers, and folk of that region. I design and craft functional pieces especially for folks who enjoy cooking (like me) to use at the supper table – vessels to let your food shine. My work is available at Holler: Contemporary Appalachian Art Gallery in Princeton, West Virginia. As a partner with ClayWorx Studios, I am consistently energized by the fearless creative spirit and fresh ideas our patrons bring to the studio, truly an intentional community of support and artistic inspiration of which I’m proud to be a part.
Jane Burgess: A lifelong “Jane” of all trades, I have always been compelled to create art using any medium I could get my hands on. My love for ceramics started when I was in middle school and has continued throughout my life collecting, creating and now teaching. I love making functional pieces or things of whimsy.
Growing up with a dad who was a craftsman has also come in handy making tables and equipment for the studio, and when equipment needs servicing.
Jane also brings a professional career as an accountant to help with the business management.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
It’s a LOT of work! There are not enough hours in the day, and there is always more work to be done! But if you have the passion and drive, you can do it.
Don’t be scared to change things up. If something is not working, know when to try something else. We are small enough that we can react to whatever obstacles or challenges come our way and be agile enough to change and react accordingly.
Pricing:
- Please check out our website for information and prices regarding classes – www. clayworxstudios.com or email [email protected]
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.clayworxstudios.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/clayworxstudios
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/ClayWorxStudios
