On September 23, more than 66 students from all three divisions gathered with families and faculty in the Hance Fine Arts Center for the 21st annual Create to Donate Pottery Workshop.
Sponsored by Friends of the Arts (FOTA), the event helped raise funds for VIA Health Partners, a nonprofit organization providing compassionate care to patients and families.
The workshop welcomed participants of all ages and experience levels to create pottery while supporting a meaningful cause. Throughout the afternoon, the ceramics studio was filled with families creating, connecting, and continuing a beloved Country Day tradition of using art to make a difference in the greater Charlotte community.
Karrie MathiasUpper School Fine Arts Teacher
Create to Donate is such a special event because it brings together creativity, community, and service. It's wonderful to see students and families of all ages working side by side and knowing that their creativity is helping support families in our community."
Heart-Shaped Bowls Continue a Special Tradition
For the second year, members of our National Art Honor Society (NAHS) created heart-shaped bowls specifically for Soup on Sunday, an annual community-wide fundraiser. The handmade bowls will be available for purchase at the Levine Center and at the Soup on Sunday event held in January, with all proceeds benefiting VIA.
The heart-shaped bowl tradition began two years ago with the help of local potter and volunteer Janet Johnson, who helped design the bowls and worked directly with NAHS students on the potter’s wheel to create them. For the past two years, Janet has continued to share her expertise with students as they bring the special pieces to life.
A Tradition Rooted in Service
Create to Donate began in 2005 through the vision of Country Day parent Kay Ethridge, who saw an opportunity to bring the school community together in the newly constructed ceramics studio while supporting a local hospice fundraiser.
What began as a pottery-making workshop has grown into a longstanding Country Day tradition, connecting generations of students and families through creativity and service. Over the years, participants have created and donated more than 1,000 handmade ceramic pieces in support of hospice care.
Last year marked the workshop’s 20th anniversary, recognizing the people and partnerships that have sustained the tradition and the impact it has made throughout the community.
Read the 20th anniversary story and revisit the anniversary video to learn more about Create to Donate’s history.
Creativity Across Our Community
Following the pottery workshop, the celebration continued with the Faculty and Staff Art Show, featuring 22 faculty artists and a range of creative disciplines, including photography, painting, mixed media, and sculpture. The exhibit gave the Country Day community another opportunity to appreciate the artistic talents of its faculty and staff while celebrating the many ways creativity is expressed across campus.