Pottery

Pottery equipment donated to Poplar Bluff art program
Posted on 10/11/2022
Todd and Sierra Henson, and Elizabeth Rose and Amanda Ayers.

A lifetime collection of pottery-making equipment has been generously donated to the art programs at Poplar Bluff Junior and Senior High.

Kim Stenger passed along the supplies from her late husband Fred, who was employed at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center, and made pottery in his free time in a full-scale studio at their former Butler County Road 468 residence.

“Art is an important part of education, as it allows students to have an outlet for creativity,” Kim said of the donation. “[Fred] loved the craft and loved demonstrating and teaching anyone interested. I hope your students enjoy using everything as much as he did.”

The High School will inherit the pottery wheel, a wedging table, slab rolling table, wall-mounted extruder and a collection of books on pottery. Junior High will receive two kilns, a kiln vent, shelving and accessories, plus dried clay bags.

The supplies were originally directed to the High School, but art teacher Elizabeth Rose chose to divide the items up with first-year instructor Amanda Ayers of Junior High in order to “build up the district’s sculpture program” beginning at an earlier age, Rose said. Ayers pointed out how she previously only planned to be able to lead air-dry clay activities with her students.

Todd Henson facilitated the donation to the district on behalf of Nest Investors, a real estate acquisition business he operates with his wife Sierra. They purchased the former home of the Stengers, and are in the process of clearing the space to place it on the market.

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Cutline: (Left to right) Todd and Sierra Henson of Nest Investors, and art teachers Elizabeth Rose and Amanda Ayers pose beside pottery equipment being donated to the Poplar Bluff school system on Wednesday, Oct. 5.

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