Mini Pots & Big Belonging: Steffaney Wilcox on Creativity, Clay, and the Strand
Steffaney Wilcox has always had creativity in her bones. From dressing up for tea parties and writing stories as a kid to crafting chalk pastel ornaments that still hang on her parents’ tree, art was always part of her life. During her time in middle school, Wilcox’s love for formal art began thanks to her art teacher, Eileen Murphy. That's when she first tried the pottery wheel and joined the Art Club. She and her family would walk up the hill to a neighbor’s house for clay lessons. “I remember making ceramic foods and weird hollow heads with faces,” she says. “We had the best time being creative with little restrictions.” Like many, adulthood and work made art take a back seat, until the pandemic gave her unexpected time and space to get her hands back in the clay.
“It awakened something in me that I didn’t realize I was missing so acutely”
That time of pause led Steffaney to take a wheel class at a new independent clay studio run by a friend of her mom’s. “It awakened something in me that I didn’t realize I was missing so acutely,” Wilcox shares. She re-learned how to throw and found herself drawn to making tiny pots with the tiniest feet. When she moved to Plattsburgh, getting back into clay full-time became a priority, and the Clay Studio at the Strand was the perfect place to dive back in. These days her ceramic work includes funky mini creations like pumpkins, mushrooms, ghosts, and even banana slugs.
Staying motivated as an artist isn’t always easy, but Steffaney makes it work by building structure into her life. Every Wednesday, she drives from Tupper Lake to spend time in the Clay Studio. “It helps me focus and put time in every week instead of waiting for inspiration to hit,” she explains. Making creativity a habit has helped her keep momentum, even on long days.
Being part of the Strand’s Clay Studio has become something more than just a place to make things. “You get excellent advice and direction from our Studio Manager, Mollie, and so many people in the studio space have completely different styles,” she shares. Conversations often turn into creative exchanges about glazes, techniques, or what someone is planning next. Whether everyone is chatting or working quietly side-by-side, the space feels collaborative. “Part of belonging is feeling seen, and the Strand does an excellent job of that,” Steffaney shares. She also loves being part of the monthly artisan markets, where staff like Elsa go out of their way to check in with each vendor and build a strong, welcoming artist network.
“It’s a place I look forward to going to myself, and bringing my family and friends”
The Strand has become a place that feels like home. From events like the annual Tree Lighting and The Rocky Horror Picture Show to recommending it to out-of-town visitors, Steffaney has come to see the Strand as a central part of her life in Plattsburgh. “It’s a place I look forward to going to myself, and bringing my family and friends,” she says. There’s something for everyone; classes, markets, theatre performances, live music, camps, and more. And the impact goes beyond just events. Through her work, Steffaney even connects students to the Strand via the Upward Bound summer internship program. From Almost Queen concerts to student film festivals and ballet, the Strand is more than just a venue—it’s a cornerstone of Plattsburgh’s downtown and a huge part of what keeps its creative community alive and growing.
