Faculty Spotlight: Avery Bondar

College/ Degrees: Clark University - Bachelor of Arts, Management & Entrepreneurship

Years of FA Service: Two years

Subject(s): Sculpture & 3D Modeling

Other roles at FA: "I instruct Ceramics Enrichment classes after school on Mondays and Tuesdays, and monitor Open Studio every Thursday after school."

Background: "I grew up just north of Boston, MA, and attended college in Worcester, MA. After graduating, I worked in software marketing for several years before moving into software development. After 12 years, I found myself pretty far down a career path that I never really intended to take. I decided to go back to school for ceramics and transition from the corporate world to the art world. In 2022, I founded my ceramics studio, where I teach classes and workshops and offer memberships. It's a very different life, and much more fulfilling for me."

Why did you become a teacher?

"My intent when I left my corporate tech career was to be a full-time artist, and not teach! I didn't love the idea that all artists have to teach to make a living, but of course, I ended up teaching anyway! There was a huge demand for ceramics classes I couldn't ignore, and I knew I would enjoy teaching because I had earlier opportunities in my career that let me teach in various capacities, and it was always my favorite part of those jobs."

Do you have any particularly memorable classroom moments?

"Every time I open the kiln after a glaze firing, it’s really exciting to see the look on students’ faces when they see their finished ceramics. They often gather around the kiln while I unload it and hand their pieces back to them. There are lots of ooohs and ahhs! It warms my heart."

How would your students describe you as a teacher?

"I hope they would describe me as kind, approachable, flexible, and open-minded. Most of their sculpture assignments are pretty open-ended, and I think they appreciate the freedom to create whatever they like."

Is there anything from your experience as a student that has influenced you as a teacher?

"I was very shy and quiet as a student, and class discussions and verbal participation were hard for me.  I was afraid to speak my mind. I see this with a lot of my students now, and I try my best to find ways to build their confidence and show them that my classroom is a safe space and they won't be judged or made fun of for any comments or thoughts they want to share."

Do you have any advice for students?

"I see a lot of students putting pressure on themselves to figure out exactly what they want to do for a career after high school. They are influenced by their parents, friends, teachers, coaches, and many others who offer their thoughts and opinions. My advice to students would be to look within themselves for what feels right and meaningful, rather than let external influences rule. Go down your own path, not someone else's!"