We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dana Makstaller a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Dana, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

My parents show up. I mean that both literally and figuratively. When I first started Kin, I knew they were nervous about my new venture. Although I still had a full-time job as the Managing Director of Aras Creative Co, a creative studio in Cincinnati, starting Kin was a financial and a large time commitment.

My dad jumped into action, helping me build displays for my work. He created drawings of the stands, built them, and helped me stain them. Every market I participate in, he is the first one there – scoping out the best space for my booth and helping me set up and tear down. We have the best time laughing while we work.

My mom could single-handedly fund my business. She loves my pottery more than anyone I know. She likes to say, “I get her in trouble” because she wants to buy everything I make. She doesn’t miss a market. She is either working the booth with me, helping me to sell and package up my product, or she is there to shop and support me. She does benefit from working the events with me – I give her a choice of pottery to take home for her help. She has curated the most beautiful home, and it has become a backdrop for my work which makes me so happy.

Kin wouldn’t be Kin without my parents. They raised me to believe in myself and trust my instincts. I knew that Kin had potential, but with their support – it’s flourished.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

I started throwing pottery in high school but truly fell in love with clay as a medium during college. I took as many wheel-throwing classes as I could fit into my schedule during my time at Wittenberg. After college, I took some time off from clay until I found Core Clay and took a beginners class in 2018. The muscle memory returned, and so did my love for the medium.

After finishing the beginners class at Core, I realized that pottery (specifically wheel throwing) once again needed to be a staple in my life. The sweetest gift I have received was a one-month membership to the studio from my best friend (Lauren Cole) to encourage me to start my business, Kin Ceramics. She gave me the kick I needed to explore selling my work and creating consistently.

Kin Ceramics was born in January of 2019, and I sold my work for the first time at The Clay Alliance’s Spring Fair in May of 2019. It was the first time I was able to watch people that I didn’t know interact with my work. I was hooked. My work consists of mostly functional, hand-thrown pottery.

Wheel-throwing has always been a sacred space for me. It’s a time to quiet my mind and focus inwards. It allows me time to reset, reflect and explore what comes next – in my work and in my life. I knew that Kin Ceramics needed not only to be an outlet for my own creativity but a platform to spread and raise awareness to a larger community about my experience. I am a survivor of emotional abuse and feel very passionate about supporting Women Helping Women, an organization that helped me during a very trying time in my life. The very name Kin Ceramics comes from the idea that we are all kin, an interconnected family and support for each other. I donate 10% of all of my yearly proceeds to Women Helping Women because as kin, we must support each other. My business has become a way for me to share my survivor story but also a way for me to spread joy through pottery.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being an artist is seeing others enjoy and cherish your work. I have a favorite small moment, it’s a moment that keeps me doing what I’m doing – it’s the moment when someone connects with your work.

It happens when I am selling my work at markets and I see someone zoom in on a piece of pottery. Their eyes lock on the work and they smile. It’s the most understated moment of joy but it fuels me. It’s the moment of connection that is not postured, just natural and full of bliss. Even if the person does not end up purchasing from me, this moment of joy makes my work all worthwhile.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Shop local during the holidays. I mean, *shop local ALL THE DANG TIME* – but let’s be realistic, this is tough. Committing to buying as many gifts from local artists and creatives during the holiday season benefits everyone. Your people get beautiful, thoughtful gifts and you help support an artist that is working to make a living.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kin_ceramics/

Image Credits
Libby Bartley Phil Armstrong