Ms. Natania Hume’s ceramics are carefully crafted, and every vase, mug, and plate is sleek, and quietly beautiful.

Hume has been throwing ceramics since college, but her career really kicked off after she began teaching at Williston. Along with teaching seven classes, Hume sells her ceramics to stores all over the country, including New York, California, and here in Massachusetts. Although it started as a side job, Hume has now got her plate full with work.

Throwing ceramics is one of Hume’s favorite things to do because of its “meditative qualities. Even though I’ve thrown mugs and pots for probably thousands of times, every time it feels like I’m doing something new, because each piece is so different,” she said.

She equates her influence to pottery and ceramics as a result of the growing slow food movement. The slow food movement is the increase in food made from organic and local ingredients, not mass-produced. Hume says that she enjoys making handmade pottery so much because it’s something beautiful to put the food on.

Ms. Ditkovski, the theater director at Williston reflects said, “Ms. Hume is incredibly supportive and inspires me to be a better artist and educator. She is also very organized and has done so much to get the word out about all of the amazing work of our student artists through the Instagram and weekly email blasts.”

With Hume teaching seven classes, along with Mr. Roe, Mr. Berlanga, Mr. Hing, Mr. Flores, and Ms. Ditkovski teaching many others, the Williston arts department is staying busy. There’s always student art on display at Reed campus center.

“Honestly, I’ll go to other schools, then come back to Williston and I’ll realize how great our arts are,” Hume said, “It’s a shame, sometimes I feel like the arts here don’t get enough credit, but we send a couple kids to fantastic art programs every year. I really think that more people should sign up for art classes. It’s a lot of fun, and you get to try something new.”

Even though she considers herself more of a personal coach than a teacher, Hume loves teaching art and teaching young artists at Williston. She believes that the connection of student’s inner lives to their art helps then express something about themselves.

Sophomore Maddie Elsea notes the impact that Hume makes on the school’s art programs, and how amazing the classes are. “I’ve only ever taken performance art classes at Williston, but I’ve always wanted to try Ms. Hume’s classes,” Elsea said, “I’ve had a couple friends in them, and they talk about her like she’s the most amazing teacher ever. I think I’ll try to fit an interesting class like ceramics into my schedule next year.”

Hume wants students to think about a career in art, and encouraged them to “be flexible and open to new ideas and criticism. There’s actually a lot of money in the art world, especially in fashion, design, and photography. I would encourage every single Williston student to take an arts class and try it out. You could discover your career or your new favorite hobby!”

For 12 years, Hume has been an integral part of the Williston community. She is admired by faculty and students, and it is easy to see why her pottery is so successful. She is incredibly passionate about not only making art, but teaching art.

“It’s amazing to help teach them how to communicate through images, or colors, or objects, even just making something they think is cool.” she said, “That’s where I get most of my pottery inspiration from. I know that they’re going to create amazing things that inspire me to create my ceramic pieces.”