SDSU’s November Ceramic and Jewelry Sales Showcase Student Talent

As the fall semester reaches its creative peak, San Diego State University’s student artists are once again showcasing their craftsmanship at the annual ceramics and jewelry sales. These events not only highlight the artistry and dedication of SDSU’s makers but are also especially popular events on the campus calendar.

The Ceramics and Jewelry Sales

The Ceramics sale will take place on Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 5 and 6, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Everett Gee Jackson Gallery, located on the fifth floor of Art South.

The Jewelry Co-op preview will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 18, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in Art North 402. Their sale will take place on Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 19 and 20, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Art South Lobby Foyer.

Not only do the sales give the SDSU community a chance to pick up some new art pieces for their personal collections, but they also help to fund the student clubs, improve their recognition on campus, and provide the opportunity for their members to market their work. 

The Organizations

The Ceramic Arts Association and Jewelry Co-op are student-led organizations within the School of Art and Design that provide students with opportunities to learn directly from visiting professional artists working in ceramics, jewelry, and metalwork.

The Ceramic Arts Association is a group of students passionate about making art from the versatile and adaptable medium of clay, a canvas shaped by their hands – and one with endless possibilities. From start to finish, the process of developing ceramics requires skill and craftsmanship, but produces beautiful, unique pieces with a variety of purposes.

The process typically starts with materials such as clay, silica, and feldspar, as well as pottery wheels to shape the raw materials and kilns for firing, when heat is applied to solidify the creation. Finally, artists experiment with paints and glazes to add color, texture, and aesthetics to the final piece.

The Ceramic Arts Association’s sale will feature creations from SDSU students such as bowls, mugs, cups, trinkets, vases, and more, everything you need to bring life and color to any home or office space.

Ana Saad, president of the Ceramic Arts Association, is a fourth-year applied design major with a ceramics and business administration emphasis.

“I enjoy all of the people I get to meet through helping coordinate the Ceramic Arts Association’s visiting artists,” said Saad. “I have been able to pick the brains of some amazing artists due to the time I spend near them in my role.”

As club president, Saad is responsible for running the organization’s biweekly meetings, helping to plan visiting artist events, and organizing and coordinating the semesterly Throw-A-Thon and Clay Sale.

“The Throw-A-Thon is the club’s big fundraising event, which allows students to sell their work and earn a bit of money while raising funds for club events,” Saad said.

For their Throw-A-Thon, the club provides the clay and invites members and alumni to join for a night of ceramic creation. Over the course of about a month and a half, the pieces contributed will be trimmed, glazed, priced, and juried. The club then takes all of the items made and sells them on campus in their Clay Sale.

“I work closely with my vice president, Kaitlyn Hulslander, and my Secretary, Bryson Newsom to work out all of the small details in these events, and couldn't do it without them,” Saad said.

The Ceramic Arts Association organizes these events to raise money for visiting artists to engage with the club’s members, as well as for their annual trip to the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA), a conference focused on developing the ceramic arts through education, community, research, and creative inspiration.

Saad said anyone is welcome to sit in on their meetings, but must be currently enrolled in a clay course on campus to participate in any student events.

The Jewelry Co-op provides a space for jewelry and metalwork students to hone their craft, form connections, and learn from a range of experienced artists in the industry as they pursue their creative passions beyond class curriculum.

Bryce Wall, second-year graduate student in the jewelry and metals program at SDSU, is the club president for the 2025-26 year, in charge of planning, coordinating, and hosting club events.

“My favorite aspect of my role is being connected to such a strong community of passionate students and the fact that I can help create opportunities for the school that go far beyond our normal curriculum,” Wall said.

The Jewelry Co-op is student-run and creates a sense of community for SDSU students who are passionate about the art of jewelry-making.

“While our focus is on jewelry and metals, our club and events are open to anyone and can include topics from sewing to running a small business,” Wall said.

The club hosts meetings regularly throughout the year that are both social, giving students the opportunity to forge new relationships, and administrative, as they are necessary to ensure the club is running smoothly.

“We try to host two visiting artists a year and just hosted the enamelist Laura Fortune, an award-winning jeweler and artist,” Wall said.

With a Student Success Fee provided by SDSU, the club hosts artists who give specialized talks, and sends students to New York City Jewelry Week, a week-long annual festival celebrating the art of jewelry through exhibitions, artist talks, and artist sales.

Students interested in the Jewelry Co-op can fill out a membership form to join the club’s email list and learn about upcoming events. 

Both organizations hope you will stop by the sales this month to support their work and to pick up something unique and handcrafted for yourself or a friend.