About our Instructors
Monette Mark
Damian LAster
Damian LAster
Monette Mark cemented her love of clay by attaining her Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in ceramics from Wichita State University and has thrown clay almost daily since 2001. After teaching ceramics for 3 years at Wichita State and 8 years at Washburn University she wanted to share clay with the emerging arts community in NOTO starting Fire M
Monette Mark cemented her love of clay by attaining her Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in ceramics from Wichita State University and has thrown clay almost daily since 2001. After teaching ceramics for 3 years at Wichita State and 8 years at Washburn University she wanted to share clay with the emerging arts community in NOTO starting Fire Me Up Ceramics & Fine Art Studios in 2018. She explores the tactility and sensuality of clay through sculpture and utilitarian forms, while incorporating different materials into her final installations. Monette began ceramics and painting as a teen, then moved into graphic design creating illustrations for McGraw-Hill in New York City then coming back home to Kansas.
Damian LAster
Damian LAster
Damian LAster
Damian Laster is a ceramic and multi-media artist who knows his glaze chemistry and is our studio manager. He has a long background in the arts and has attended various ceramic workshops with nationally known artists and is passionate about continued learning. He is pretty much a ceramic technique geek now and has studied ceramic educat
Damian Laster is a ceramic and multi-media artist who knows his glaze chemistry and is our studio manager. He has a long background in the arts and has attended various ceramic workshops with nationally known artists and is passionate about continued learning. He is pretty much a ceramic technique geek now and has studied ceramic education processes extensively with Monette Mark. Oh, he also teaches yoga and will remind you to breathe while pulling those tall pieces. You can see Damian’s work here in the studio.