As some of you may know, I will be stepping down as Ceramics Lead in February, and Stanton Martin will be taking the lead now.
In the period I had the privilege to head the volunteers team in Ceramics, our studio grew from 30 to 65 paying members, 35 of them at least are brand new to ASMBLY. We also established policies and created processes, as you all know so well, because we’ve been part of this great story together!
So, without further ado, let me introduce Stanton, even though many of you may already know him, since he’s been quite active in our community:
Stanton primarily works in functional porcelain ware, drawn to simple, classic forms paired with bold glaze choices and occasional carving or color-slip experimentation. He first discovered ceramics three years ago after taking a beginner class in Austin, and what began as an interest quickly grew into a hobby and then a passion. Ceramics has since become his primary creative practice and a grounding part of his week, shaping how he thinks about himself as a creative and how he engages with the world around him.
Originally from Mississippi, Stanton has lived in Austin long enough to have attended shows at Austin Music Hall, had drinks at that new bar that used to be a house on Rainey, and easily found parking on South Congress (almost 12 years) and now resides on the east side with his goldendoodle, Mateo.
Since joining the ceramics studio in July, Stanton has engaged with members through CSIs, Steward on Duty shifts, glaze mixing, and the many special projects that help keep the space running smoothly. Stanton’s goal as Ceramics Lead is to build on existing studio systems and practices to support members, volunteers, and long-term sustainability. He looks forward to supporting the ceramics space in his new role, hearing members’ ideas, and working collaboratively to continue building a welcoming, well-loved community studio.
Finally, I wanted to say I’ll not be going far: you’ll find me in one of the small studios inside ASMBLY. The decision to focus more on my personal art doesn’t mean I will not keep being a volunteer here: I’m a big believer in the ASMBLY model and hope to see y’all around as always!
So, please, help me welcome Stanton to the team! 
