Alex Yemma Long Ceramics, Champaign, IL

Like many others, Alex's introduction to the world of pottery began during the COVID lockdowns of 2020. Closed in from the outside world, he discovered The Great Pottery Throwdown (similar format to The Great British Baking Show but for ceramics). After binge-watching the entire series, he sought out local pottery classes. Unfortunately, the Champaign Park District had significantly reduced class sizes and a waiting list out the wazoo.

After a year and a half of periodic google searches, he finally found Hedgerow Pottery in Monticello, IL and enrolled in a beginner wheelthrowing course. After countless hours and literally thousands of miles of driving back and forth, it was clear this was beginning to get a bit out of hand.

Here are some things that Alex said he wasn't interested in doing:

• Having a wheel at home
• Having a kiln at home
• Selling his work

...and here are the things that he did in 2024:

• Built his own pottery wheel from scratch
• Refurbished a non-functioning kiln, and building his own smart kiln controller
• Well, you're on his website right now and it has a button up at the top for "Store" sooooooo....

And in typical Alex fashion, all of that is not enough - he's also currently an instructor for the Champaign Park District's Beginner Wheelthrowing Course.

Oh, and he's also an award winning potter, NBD.