Huntingdon, Tenn.–Two Northwest Tennessee entities recently partnered together again to continue providing art opportunities to the children and adults participating in pottery classes held in Huntingdon.
Imerys – Gleason donated 2,000 pounds of Laguna Clay and glaze materials to Mudslingers Studio – Annex of The Dixie to be used during their spring and fall semesters, as well as summer camps. Imerys – Gleason is a supplier of ball clay to Laguna Clay Company, which also produces the low fire glazes used in classes at Mudslingers.
Imerys, part of the Imerys Group, produces and markets high-performance mineral solutions for the ceramic industries. They also offer a full range of cordierite, mullite, and silicon carbide-based kiln furniture used for individual firing supports, as well as multi parts construction components for industrial kilns.
Imerys has a true passion for providing for its surrounding communities. Ball Clay Manager of Imerys, Michael Puckett, remarked, “Imerys is excited to continue our support of Mudslingers. We enjoy seeing friends and families in our communities using the products we mine while promoting the arts.” Throughout the years, Imerys teams have developed a variety of Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives; locally, the Imerys-Gleason team has implemented beehives on their production sites and had a community garden for employees.
Mudslingers Pottery Studio – Annex of The Dixie provides visual arts education programs that empower students of all ages to embrace their artistic abilities, grow and gain confidence in those abilities and open doors to a life of creative excellence. Mudslingers teaches introduction to basic pottery skills of pinching, coil-building, slab construction, and throwing on the potter’s wheel, as well as an introduction to various glazing and firing processes. This annex of The Dixie Carter Performing Arts & Academic Enrichment Center has been providing educational opportunities to over 3,500 students in the West Tennessee area since opening in 2009.
To register for an upcoming class or to learn more about Mudslingers Pottery Studio, contact The Dixie’s Box Office at 731.986.2100 or visit DixiePAC.net.
Photo: Lori Nolen (Founder, Mudslingers Studio); John Akers (Maintenance and Engineering Manager, Imerys-Gleason); Brent Kayser (EHS Specialist, Imerys-Gleason)