Studio Lunches at Mayfield: Food, Friendship and Clay

At Mayfield Studios, clay isn’t the only thing that binds us together. Once a month, in between the hum of wheels and the slow rhythm of hand-building, we gather for something equally important: lunch around the studio table.

These shared meals are simple — soup bubbling on the pot-belly stove in winter, fresh salads and bread in summer — but they carry a weight far greater than the food itself. They’re about connection.

When students, members, and teachers sit down side by side, clay-covered aprons swapped for plates and cups, the conversation flows differently. A mug maker might swap stories with a painter, a first-time beginner might find encouragement from someone who’s been throwing for years. Friendships spark, ideas germinate, and the studio becomes more than just a place to make pots: it becomes a place to belong.

And something beautiful happens when people feel at home here. That sense of belonging circles back. Those who’ve shared a bowl of soup with us are often the first to offer help making for a Soirée or stacking timber for the pot-belly stove, the first to pour wine at a Clay Soirée, the first to cheer for a fellow potter’s new work. Lunch has a way of turning strangers into friends, and friends into a community that gives back.

In a world where so much feels rushed and transactional, our studio lunches are deliberately slow. They remind us that creativity is nourished not just by skill and persistence, but by connection and generosity.

So next time you’re here at Mayfield, pull up a chair. Bring whatever you have — a loaf of bread, a story, or just yourself. There’s always a place at the table.

Why do we have studio lunches at Mayfield?

Studio lunches bring our pottery community together. They offer a chance to connect, share food, and build friendships. The result is a stronger, more generous studio culture where people give back through support, volunteering, and encouragement.