“Empowered Earth”

a Spring 2024 Youth Art Project with Artist-in-Residence, Hannah Niswonger

About Empowered Earth:

In Empowered Earth, Urbano’s Spring clay program, students looked at the breadth of ceramic history and design, as well as its utility as a material for solving big problems like housing insecurity and climate change. Challenging themselves to learn skills in working with the materials of clay and glaze, while developing ideas about form, function and design.

At the program’s final event, hosted at our partner organization, the Foundry, students showcased their playful, thoughtful responses to the program’s prompts on form, purpose, and eco-heritage; presenting (for the first time ever) their “Rocket Kiln” an energy-efficient, low smoke, wood-fired mobile kiln they helped to build.

Attendees were invited to make a cup, and take a cup made by students in the program, or from an earlier community event.

About the Artist:

Hannah received an MFA in ceramic sculpture from Alfred University in Alfred, New York. As an undergraduate she attended Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut where she received a BA in studio art. She has taught courses at Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Harvard University, Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia. She gives workshops nationally, and exhibits regularly in galleries and juried craft shows, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art Show and the Smithsonian Craft Show and CraftBoston, where she won the Award of Distinction. She lives in Melrose, Massachusetts with her husband, three kids one dog and two rabbits.