The Craft Studio hosted an event Sunday that allowed students to create ceramic sushi sets.

Bill Wilkey, a graduate student, taught the class. He teaches Pottery One in the Craft Studio to beginners.

Wilkey said he enjoys working in the Craft Studio.

“It’s a great avenue to have fun with clay and material and not have to worry about the decisions and philosophy that go into (it),” he said, referring to his graduate courses. “It’s freeing and liberating.”

Wilkey said he expected only four people to show up but six students attended. He has made sushi sets before, though he said it’s not his area of expertise. He said he likes sushi, and that’s what made him want to teach the class.

Anastasia Harris, a student who attended the event, said she did ceramics in high school, though she hasn’t taken a class in the Craft Studio before.

“I love sushi, and I love ceramics,” Harris said.

Harris learned about the event from her Tiger Guide. She said the only sushi place she’s been to in Columbia is Geisha Sushi Bar downtown.

Nick Jackson also attended the event and said he has never done ceramics before, though he’s done other crafts in the Craft Studio.

Jackson said he likes sushi and having his own sushi set might inspire him to make his own rolls. His favorite sushi place is Geisha, though he hasn’t been there this semester.

Wilkey showed the students a number of techniques used to make the plates, including hand crafting and using a mold to shape it.

“I like the spontaneity (of clay),” Wilkey said. “You can kind of control it, but in the end it does what it wants.”

Wilkey said the project would not be difficult to start, but it would be to finish.

“As water leaves the clay, it becomes more rigid and also more fragile,” Wilkey said.

In addition to making the plates, the students also made chop sticks, chop stick holders and bowls for sauces. Wilkey said he had never seen ceramic chopsticks, but he would teach the students how to make them to the best of his ability. He said the most traditional material used for chopsticks is wood.

“It’s not an easy feat to roll something this thin,” Wilkey said.

He said the sticks could be fragile even after being fired.

Once the students finished molding the clay, they were able to decorate them with under-glazes, which come in a variety of colors. Wilkey said once the sets were fired once, a clear glaze would be put on over the top, which allows the sets to be used for food. Once the clear glaze is applied, the pieces will be fired once more and the students will receive an email to let them know the pieces are finished. He said the pieces would most likely be finished after spring break.

The participants said they enjoyed the event.

“I have made sushi once or twice,” junior Laura Satkowski said. “(The sushi set) might make it more fun, and I’ll make it more often.”