Alex Rovang opened his ceramics studio on Contractors Road in March 2022.
David Jolkovski/Larson Newspapers
Ceramicist Alex Rovang started playing with clay when he was a small child, but never took it seriously until he moved to Sedona in 2008.
His rental house in the Village of Oak Creek had a wedging table and reignited his passion. A few lucky Craigslist finds later and his life was changed.
For the next 14 years, Rovang worked various jobs throughout the Verde Valley.
“I’ve always been a potter, but it’s been peripheral to trying to pay the rent,” Rovang said. One day his landlord told him that his rental house was going up for sale and Rovang was forced to reprioritize his life. All of a sudden, he lost his housing and his home studio. With everything in flux, he made the decision to prioritize his art.
Rovang stirs liquid clay in preparation for casting a mold.
David Jolkovski/Larson NewspapersAlex Rovang stirs liquid clay with his hand as he filters
out any particles before pouring a cast.
David Jolkovski/Larson Newspapers
Ale x Rovang pulls apart a plaster mold in which he cast clay ornaments. David Jolkovski/Larson Newspapers
Alex Rovang removes clay ornaments from the mold. David Jolkovski/Larson Newspapers
Ale x Rovang shows a fine art piece he recently made. David Jolkovski/Larson Newspapers
“I would much rather err on the side of art than comfort,” Rovang said of his decision to open his Sedona ceramics studio.
In March 2022, as soon as he got his space on Contractors Road up and running, Rovang began finding artists to use the studio as members.
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“I want to create a center for continuing education in ceramics,” Rovang said. Soon he was approached about doing lessons and workshops.
In November of 2022 he expanded the studio to two units, allowing for a gallery, a workshop and a production space. Rovang wants to make his studio a community space and plans to incorporate guest speakers, guest workshops, kids’ events and more.
“What’s a lot of fun about this studio is that we are just a bunch of kids and we’re having fun,” Rovang said.
To learn more about upcoming events, follow the studio on instagram @rovangceramics.
Ashle y Sec ord and Hannah Theodorovich watch as Alex Rovang gives a demonstration of how to use the pottery wheel. “This wheel is one big life lesson and it will continue teaching you again and again,” Rovang said. David Jolkovski/Larson NewspapersAle x Rovang separates pieces of clay for workshop students to use. On March 30, a group of students and staff from the Michigan-based nonprofit Peckham spent six hours at Rovang’s studio learning different techniques for working with clay. The students were part of Pekham’s Rising Out of the System vocational rehabilitation program for those recently released from incarceration. The workshop fit in perfectly with the program’s goals, Peckham’s Reentry Services Manager Nate Burmeister said, “[It makes you think about] what you are choosing to make with your hands.” David Jolkovski/Larson NewspapersAle x Rovang discusses glazing possibilities with workshop attendee Kalee Corey. David Jolkovski/Larson NewspapersAle x Rovang’s pottery on display at his gallery, located at 2020 Contractors Road Unit 2. David Jolkovski/Larson NewspapersDavid Jolkovski/Larson NewspapersDavid Jolkovski/Larson Newspapers
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