Camp Clay Keeps the Health of its Members and the Earth Top of Mind

Walking into Camp Clay, you’ll be greeted by artists working their hands through muddy clay or artfully glazing freshly fired creations. The ceramics studio is a welcoming space, the first of two goals that owner Jess Volk had in mind as she dreamed up the concept for her membership-based workshop. The second goal: To create sustainability in a craft that can create a large amount of waste. The result is a gorgeous and welcoming studio designed for all, from first-time students and novice creatives to professional ceramicists, all with a keen eye on reducing the carbon footprint of clay work being fabricated. From reusing materials to understanding how slowing down the process reduces waste, Volk’s thoughtfulness to detail is clear. Bend Magazine visited the studio to learn more about Volk’s mission to keep clean while getting hands dirty.

What inspired you to open a studio focused on both community and the environment?

I wanted to set up a space that would make it easy to recycle and reclaim what we can, in an environment that almost guarantees the best circumstances so there is less waste. While there are a lot of ways to recycle ceramics, there is undoubtedly tons of refuse. Plus, we use water throughout the entire process. Sometimes, even in our best efforts, our work fails in the last firing and it feels like an entire waste of resources. I joke that in ceramics we practice nonattachment, but it is true, there is a lot of failure. It’s part of learning. I just hope to lessen the waste for a medium that I, and others, love so much. It has become clear that now is the time to act; we must do what we can right now to try and save this planet.

What processes do you use to help your sustainable practice?

We use two sinks with dedicated traps, one for clay and one for glaze. We did this with the basic intention of keeping clay and glaze materials from clogging our plumbing. But also, I know there is so much energy that goes into mining, refining and distributing these materials that it would be a shame to simply throw them away. We reclaim the contents of the glaze sink trap and turn them into a new glaze.

I also purchased a 50-year-old pugging machine [a mill that mixes and compresses clay to remove air bubbles, which creates a workable product]. I fixed it up and now use the machine to aid in our clay-recycling process. Our reclaimed product is as good as brand “new clay,” new in quotations because much like rocks, clay is very old.

I am also in the process of harnessing the heat of the kilns to be redistributed through the building. Initially, we put the kilns into a room with an exhaust fan so that we didn’t have to breathe in the fumes when the kilns started to burn off organic materials. The exhaust fans also helped to blow the heat out of the space. In the winter, I’m hoping to add new fans to blow the warm air into the studio after the kilns have burned off organics; they continuously put off heat for another 48 hours which we can use as a heater of sorts.

In what ways do you support the community of artists who enjoy your space?

I designed the space to be able to sustain the amount of members we have at capacity. The studio will never exceed 65 members, even with shared larger studios and a full work-trade program. We have two kilns now, but we have space for four, so it is my priority to be able to sustain these members and students without the work of others suffering. I believe that when members choose to work at Camp, they are entrusting me to have their best interest at heart. It is my commitment to this community and environment to continue to learn how to accomplish this in better ways.

Members can join Camp for a fee, but are there other ways to join?

Yes! We offer a work-trade program, where members trade their help around the studio in exchange for a full membership and even space to store their materials and works in progress.

The studio opened in July 2024, and the gallery in November. Are there any new additions on your horizon?

I am most excited to continue to polish the studio; it was certainly a lot to get everything up and running, and already I am making changes to systems I put in place in the beginning. I am really looking forward to getting my own studio space organized and going. I have so many ideas, and I can’t wait to get my hands back into clay.

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