By Julie BUTCHER

There have been world-class ceramics created at the Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge for as long as anyone can remember. This week, the center’s ceramics director Miriam Balcazar was delighted at the arrival of a large, shiny, brand-new kiln for the studio, and she is excited to see the youngest students begin learning.

“Jess is great!” Balcazar said about Jess Joiner, the Parents & Me ceramics instructor for the youngest students. “She’s wonderful, talented and patient.”

Inside the second class of the session, four students, one 4-year-old and three 5 year olds ¬– Ella, Lauren, Audrey and Madeleine, along with their moms and siblings – enjoyed learning the fundamentals of working with clay and ceramics, building little birds’ nests, complete with eggs and birds. There is another session for these students, ages 3-to-5 years old, that starts in the fall. The center offers classes for all ages, including adults.

According to the course description, the class is designed to “inspire your child’s imagination with hands-on ceramic classes! Art teaches children that there are multiple approaches to solving problems through a tactile and creative experience. From garden sculptures and luminaries to tiles and more, your Parent & Me team will create ceramic art objects together! Students will learn coil, pinch and slab techniques while developing their personal expression and confidence.”

The Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge at 4469 Chevy Chase Drive is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1949. Originally known as the Youth House and built entirely by volunteers, today’s Community Center is home to the LCFCC Preschool in addition to a first-class ceramics program and offers a variety of programs for children, teens, adults and seniors. The Community Center is funded through donations, tuition, grants, programs and special events and can be reached by phone at (818) 790-4353 or through their website http://www.cclcf.org.