New pottery studio coming to Ford City

by Joelle Brassard

Two local women, Lisa Gabriele and Gisele Bick, are opening a new pottery studio in Ford City. 

“What inspired us both to open the studio in Windsor was that there isn’t one right now,” said Gabriele. “There’s one in Tecumseh and Gisele teaches out here in Belle River but there isn’t one on such a big city like Windsor which felt like such an opportunity.”  

Both women have their own unique stories that led them on a path to pottery. 

“My story is more of a healing journey,” said Bick. “My husband passed away in 2008 and just prior to that he had bought me some clay for my birthday and I signed up for a class, but he passed away before he got to see me make any pieces. When my kids were little, I went to pottery classes to get my mind off everything I was dealing with and it just spiraled from there.” 

For Gabriele it was rediscovering a lost passion. 

“When I moved back from Toronto during the pandemic and broke my wrist, I picked pottery back up again to gain some strength back which is when I met Gisele and instantly fell back in love with pottery for all the things that it did for me,” said Gabriele. “It got me off my phone, got me out of my head and got me back into creating things with my hands and that really elevated my mood.” 

Both women had discussed opening a pottery studio casually over the years but this past November they decided to take the leap and start their own studio. 

“I think our timing is so good and it feels like Windsor is ready to have a full-service pottery studio open,” said Gabriele. “Every time we bring it up it seems like there’s a huge level of excitement for it because it’s in the zeitgeist. With TikTok videos of pottery and Seth Rogan going viral with his pottery, etcetera. We’re very excited to offer a full-service studio with classes and memberships in Ford City which is a place that means a lot to both of us.” 

Bick said she looks forward to creating a space for the community to come together and build beautiful things. 

“People can expect high quality teachers and just a place to go and connect with people who have the same interests,” said Bick. “Also just to make things and do things with your hands and get off their phones.” 

The studio is set to open in mid-May. 

For more details you can visit their website at www.fordcitypotters.com.