The Mudcats Club hosted a “makers make” toothbrush holder and wax melter workshop on Sept. 24 in Bardo Room 144.
Club President Fynn Murray opened the event by demonstrating how to cut a rectangle of clay to form the base of a toothbrush holder.
He rolled his clay into a cylinder and pressed it onto a flat piece of clay, showing students how to shape the bottom of either a toothbrush holder or a wax melter.
Students followed along at their tables, shaping their own pieces as Murray walked around offering guidance to nearly 15 students.
The Mudcats Club tries to do events like these multipule times a semester.
The Mudcats Club was created in 2014 and has had a big impact on how people perceive pottery. The club focuses on ceramics and bringing the community together by hosting events about pottery for anyone that is interested.
Students also made wax melters. Murray reminded participants that dorms prohibit wax melters because of fire safety rules, so they needed to cut a large enough gap at the bottom of the sculpture to place a heat source. He said the goal was to teach students the ceramic process while allowing them to create something personal.
“This event benefits the community by giving a space for students to learn a new hobby,” Murray said.
Murray joined the Mudcats Club in 2023 as a freshman. He served as secretary in 2025 and is now in his first year as president. He is an art education major and said he enjoys teaching ceramics and helping students understand how clay behaves during the sculpting process.
“Working with the community gives us an opportunity to talk about our work and share the process behind making ceramics,” club treasurer Victoria Jones said.
This is Jones’s first year as treasurer. She is a graduate student in her final year of the master of fine arts program.
Murray offered students soda after explaining the rules and steps. Music played in the background, creating what students described as a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.
Many friend groups sat together, talking about their day while shaping their clay pieces. Students carved patterns such as deer fur and eyes into their sculptures, adding details to make each piece their own.
“Loved the environment and the vibe, like the music and the people,” WCU student Laurel Deal said.
Extra clay was available for anyone who wanted to add additional designs or experiment with different shapes.
“I want people to leave with something they created themselves, but also with a better understanding of the ceramic process,” Jones said.
When students finish sculpting, they can choose to paint their pieces or leave them unglazed. After the sculptures are fired, the club will email participants to let them know when they can pick up their finished work.
The Mudcats host meetings like this around WCU such as art performances and campus wide events. This year the Mudcats has hosted 8 different events that spark creativity.
