Jonah works on texturizing hid hand-build clay project during the Kin Mud Club held at GAN on July 6. The program runs throughout the summer and participation is free. Pre-registration is required, and seating is limited. Lorraine Payette/for Postmedia Network 
Sal gets a few pointers from Barb Bakker during the Kin Mud Club held at GAN on July 6. The program runs throughout the summer and participation is free. Pre-registration is required, and seating is limited. Lorraine Payette/for Postmedia Network 
Logan and Sal get a few pointers from Anneka Schagen during the Kin Mud Club held at GAN on July 6. The program runs throughout the summer and participation is free. Pre-registration is required, and seating is limited. Lorraine Payette/for Postmedia Network 
At the first session of the Kin Mud Club held at GAN on July 6 each participant received a plan for a project, materials, and a special “Rock Star” medal for their work. The program runs throughout the summer and participation is free. Pre-registration is required, and seating is limited. Lorraine Payette/for Postmedia Network 
Working together, the Kin Club of Gananoque and the Gananoque Arts Network are bringing the Kin Mud Club to Gananoque for July 6 through August 24. L-r, Dennis O’Connor, GAN; John Hodges, Kin Club; Pat Lalonde, Anneka Schagen, and Barb Bakker, GAN. Lorraine Payette/for Postmedia Network 
There’s a special feel to the clay when working on a wheel during the Kin Mud Club held at GAN on July 6. The program runs throughout the summer and participation is free. Pre-registration is required, and seating is limited. Lorraine Payette/for Postmedia Network 
Instructor Beatrice Eberhard helps Mikaela learn to use the wheel during the Kin Mud Club held at GAN on July 6. The program runs throughout the summer and participation is free. Pre-registration is required, and seating is limited. Lorraine Payette/for Postmedia Network 
The hand build piece may be textured or smooth depending on the individual’s taste during the Kin Mud Club held at GAN on July 6. The program runs throughout the summer and participation is free. Pre-registration is required, and seating is limited. Lorraine Payette/for Postmedia Network
(Gananoque, ON July 7, 2024) There’s something timeless about playing in the mud and clay may be one of the most popular muds around. Squishing it in the fingers, moulding it into different shapes, seeing exactly what it can and can’t do. Staining clothes and skin and hair all in the search for creative expression. Whether making a free form art piece or a functional utensil, its versatility calls people of all ages to come out and explore.
“Gananoque Arts Network (GAN) was looking for funding to provide free hand-build and wheel pottery classes for kids and youth through the summer months,” said Dennis O’Connor, chair of GAN. “Because of their previous generosity to this not-for-profit community art center, I approached them with the Kin Mud Club project.”
Kin Club of Gananoque was delighted to provide the funding for the program. The Kin motto is “Serving the Community’s Greatest Need” and their mission statement is “volunteer members impacting Canadian communities through service, leadership, fellowship, and personal development”. There are more than 4,500 members in more than 370 clubs across Canada. Founded in 1920, they have donated more than $1 billion to Canadian causes, communities and individuals.
“Clubs perform a wide variety of local fundraising and service projects,” says their website at https://www.kincanada.ca/ . “Each club assesses their own community’s greatest need to determine what projects to undertake and how to distribute funds raised within the local community.”
“As GAN is a not-for-profit without a steady stream of funding the Kin Club is a major player in providing funding for our community arts center,” said O’Connor. “There is no question about the importance of art education for mental health. People get to interact with their peers and learn new creative skills. Many of the participants are from backgrounds making these programs cost prohibitive. Our goal is simply to provide an arts background for children and adults alike. Our desire is to provide a cultural outlet where people can share and experience each others’ talents and creativity.”
The first session of the Kin Mud Club was filled with eager participants digging in and creating with clay. The hand-build classes can accommodate 10 children while the pottery classes have a maximum of 6 youth learning to work on the wheel. Different professional potters and adult members of GAN help as instructors including Pat Lalonde, Anneka Schagen, and Barb Bakker working on hand-builds, and Beatrice Eberhard teaching students to use the wheels.
“The project provides a hand-build experience for ages 5 to 12 with youth 13 to 18 on the potter’s wheels,” said O’Connor. “All of it is offered for free courtesy of the funding by Kin Gananoque. The program will be available for the entire summer with all classes being 2 hours in length from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. The goal of each class is to complete a project that they are able to keep.”
Classes are taught by professional potters and teachers. The hand building clay workshops are for children ages 5–12, limit of 10 students, while pottery wheel workshops are for youth ages 13–18 with a limit of 6 students. The program runs July 6 through August 24, and registration must be no later than the previous Sunday with participants accepted on a first come, first served basis. All Kin Mud Club programs are free of charge.
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