Clayboro Studios: Meet Rebecca Graham

The Carrborean visited Clayboro Studios and chatted with owner, Rebecca Graham.

The Carrborean (TC): How many years have you been making pottery?

Rebecca Graham (RG): I started pottery 13 years ago in a high school class. It always served as a creative outlet for me until about 2.5 years ago, when I took it to a professional level and started working in it full time.

TC: What are your favorite pieces you’ve made? What is your first piece you made or a piece of pottery you made that made you think this could be a lifelong career?

RG: My favorite pieces I’ve created were for my first solo exhibition called, “Emmaline.” “Emmaline” shares the story of my great-grandmother, Mary Emmaline Luck, but reimagined. Hailing from Seagrove, NC (the pottery capital of the U.S.), Mary Emmaline endured a life full of loss and domestic violence. My exhibition, “Emmaline,” showcased a dining room table set for a meal for my great-grandmother and her 8 children, a moment she never had the privilege of experiencing due to the dangerous and violent men in her life. This exhibition was a big undertaking and really illuminated my passion for this craft. Reaching all the way back into my family’s history as potters in Seagrove, it made me realize how “destined” it feels for me to be a potter, too.

TC: What drew you to making a space like this?

RG: Prior to opening Clayboro, I was managing a community studio in St. Pete, FL. I saw firsthand how impactful it is on people’s lives to have access to collaborative, creative spaces. I have always loved the idea of creating a place where people can be present with themselves, each other, and the world around them. It’s been so healing for me, and I can only hope it’s healing for others as well.

TC: What does community mean to you when it comes to the arts and where they are currently in society?

RG: Community is everything in the arts. Our desire to collaborate, share techniques, and pass down wisdom across generations of artists is what keeps art alive. I find community especially important in today’s age, where the arts are being edged out and replaced by technology and AI. Artists are always the first to support other artists. This allows us to keep creating and fueling our passions.

TC: What urged you to create a clay space for Carrboro, NC? How do you hope to impact this local arts community?

RG: I fell in love with Carrboro as soon as I arrived in town. I don’t know how else to describe it other than feeling right at home here. I knew I wanted to create a community studio for potters, and it just made sense in my heart to do it here. I hope Clayboro’s presence allows more people in Carrboro to experience clay as a creative medium. I want to uplift local artists and bring more people into this realm of art.

TC: Favorite art spaces in Carrboro?

RG: My favorite art spaces in Carrboro would be Sladesign (by Marcela Slade), Peel Gallery, and Muse Art Gallery. I also have a deep admiration for The ArtsCenter and all they do for the community here.

TC: When is Clayboro Studios open?

6 days a week, 10 am - 6 pm, closed Mondays.

This correspondent was invited to experience the space and plans on taking classes with the community very soon. We are so excited to have them in our neck of the woods and for the impact this space will bring to Carrboro.