BARB BARRETT/The Luminary Kathy Gorg, owner of Centered Earth Clay Arts Studio and Gallery located in Penn Hills Plaza, inspects a bowl that will be fired for the Food Bank's Soup & Bowl community fundraiser event to be held at the Genetti in Williamsport later this month.

MUNCY – A Muncy business is getting ready to participate in the Central PA Food Bank’s annual soup and bowl event this month. On Sunday, January 29th, 40 participants signed up to hand paint a bisque bowl at the Centered Earth Clay Arts Studio and Gallery in Muncy Township. Located on Kristi Road, owner Kathy Gorg, who is a Muncy native, welcomed guests and visitors to participate in this annual fundraiser. “We are proud to partner with the Food Bank’s annual Soup and Bowl event,” said Gorg who moved her studio to Muncy from Montoursville last June.

The annual event will take place on Friday, Feb. 17 at the Genetti Hotel in Williamsport. Gorg said that members from the Central PA Food Bank will come to pick up the bowls at the studio beforehand. Meanwhile this gives Gorg time to kiln-fire the painted bowls. Guests were able to make two bowls each, one to keep and one to donate. The bowls, glazes, tools, instructions, firings and tasty treats were all included for the day.

Gorg said that by the time the county wide event begins, she will have donated over 100 bowls to the community cause.

The Centered Earth Clay Arts Studio and Gallery opened three years ago and according to Gorg it has been growing every year. She likes the Muncy area and said she has always wanted to be in Muncy. “It’s where I grew up,” she said. Her new location has more room and better parking and “lots of space for people to try their hand in clay.”

The studio offers classes in wheel throwing, hand building, and ceramics. This month on weekends those interested can sign up to make clay baskets on Feb. 3 and pinch pot garden gnomes on Feb. 25. On Feb. 11 there will be a workshop for couples and on the 17th enjoy some fun with “wine and wheels.”

BARB BARRETT/The Luminary Brennen Hess, 7 of Williamsport, shows off the bowl he made at Centered Earth Clay Arts Studio in Muncy Township on Sunday for the annual Central PA Food Bank's Soup & Bowl fundraiser to take place on Feb. 17.

There is always a variety and Gorg enjoys coming up with new ideas. Her shop is plentiful with other artisans showcasing their work in custom jewelry, basket making, sculptures and painted board art. Some of the local and nationally recognized artists represented at Centered Earth also provide classes at the studio in their selected art medium.

This summer Gorg will be offering 7 weeks of “kids camp” for all ages that will feature drawing and painting, clay and jewelry. Formerly an art teacher for 21 years, Gorg is more than qualified to present art classes to the public. Pottery is her favorite, however, and she went on to take additional classes after graduating from Kutztown University as an art education major.

“I want to encourage families to come here together and be able to make something.” She wants to try incorporating some 3D classes and do more creative projects. “There is so much talent here with local artists. I want to bring together that knowledge and experience for everyone to learn,” she said. “It’s a healthy creative outlet to get into.”

The class sizes are limited so it is advisable to call the studio to register for them. Now in session is the “Beginning Wheel” workshop which will run for six weeks beginning the week of Jan. 28th. There is also an open studio for the more experienced to work on self-guided projects. To reach Gorg or any of the instructors, call 570-666-3159 or stop in the studio located at Penn Hills Plaza off Rt. 220.