Milford's New Business Offers A Creative Outlet In The Form Of Pottery

MILFORD, CT – Marie Chutjian smiled from ear to ear while talking to friends and family during her soft opening of Sunshine Ceramics at 22 Broad St.

“I decided to open Sunshine Ceramics because I’m an artist, I live locally, and I felt there was a need and an interest in the community for a place to express their creativity,” Chutjian said. “I know there was much interest in pottery and ceramics, and I had the opportunity to do this, and I thought it would be a good fit for the community.”

Chutjian soft-launched Sunshine Ceramics with friends and family on June 21, and she plans to hold a grand opening for her new business on July 7 at 2 p.m.

Sunshine Ceramics is open Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday from noon to 8 p.m., Wednesday from noon to 7 p.m., Thursday from noon to 8 p.m., Friday from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunshine Ceramics will be closed on Mondays.

“My closest friends were with me when I flipped my on my open sign today,” she said.

Chutjian said people can make something from scratch with clay at Sunshine Ceramics, but there will also be a paint-your-own option.

“There’s something for all ages, experience and interest levels,” she said. “If someone wants to come in and dip their toe into the world of clay, they can do that too.”

Chutjian’s journey to becoming a small business owner started when she purchased the location and started to put her vision into it.

“For people who were here when I signed the lease and haven’t been back since, they can’t believe the transformation and what’s been done to the space,” she said.

Even though Chutjian can call the space at 22 Broad St. her own, she still pays homage to the previous owner.

“This space used to be Where Wanda’s Sugar Shack was located, which I went to many times growing up,” she said. “To honor her, I have vintage candy staples in memory of Wanda. I have a sign coming for it, and I will print out a picture of her to honor her legacy.”

I feel very honored to have her space,” Chutjian added.

Ceramics and pottery are Chutjian’s favorite art forms because there are some types of instant gratification to the art form.

“I can agonize over a painting for months, and it’ll be such a slow process,” she said. “But I can put a lump of clay on the wheel and create something beautiful within five to 10 minutes.”

Once the clay has formed, Chutjian said she can take it and enhance it within minutes.

“It is a simple yet satisfying process, and I like having that instant gratification with art,” she said.

Ceramics and pottery isn’t just art for Chutjian, but it’s also a form of therapy she wants to share with others who come to her business.

“Out of all the creative outlets, I have experience with pottery and ceramics as always been the most grounding and therapeutic for me,” she said. “With clay, you start with a lump of nothing but dirt and sediment, and you can turn it into whatever you want it to be.”

“Your body and mind guide you through the process,” Chutjian added. “It’s unifying for your mind, body and emotions to work together and create the outcome.”

When Chutjian is working on the pottery wheel, she said it helps her quiet her mind to focus on what the clay asks her to do.

“I stop thinking about what is happening in my day and life. It helps me focus on being in the moment and centers me,” she said. “Also, watching the clay spin and feeling it glide through your hands is satisfying.”

Chutjian said she could have easily set up a personal studio in her house and called it a day, but she wanted to share her creative outlet with her community.

“I was feeling stagnant and underwhelmed with my personal growth, and I saw that there was interest in the community,” she said. “I believe people need a creative outlet, and there are not many places to do that together.”