Katie Pulvermacher, News Editor December 8, 2021

As an artist, your biggest goal is usually to market and sell your artwork. Making sure that other people like what you are making is a huge form of verification. For some UW Oshkosh students, this verification happened to some downtown businessmen.

Pottery student Emma Hathorne said: “From a very young age, I’ve definitely been a self-proclaimed artist.” “I’ve been doing pottery since 2016. Art has become what I live with my parents. Part; it’s a family affair."

The first time I walked into the ceramics laboratory, it was different from what I had imagined. Somehow spacious but crowded, the laboratory screamed "artists work here". Clay dust covers the floor of hundreds or even thousands of pottery. A large number of debris lined up around the room and on the shelves at the back.

"[Lab] is almost my little safe haven on campus," Hassone said. "What's really cool about this space is that you have a community. If I work from home in my studio, I will be alone, where I can let people get inspiration from it. This may be the thing I miss the most after graduation... The community of artists that the school offers you."

Hathorne and three other UWO students were commissioned by The Elsewhere Collection to make mugs, salad plates, dinner plates, bowls, serving bowls, vases, etc. Hassan is in charge of the cup.

She has experience in commissioning work. The aunt and uncle who own the Wausau Riverside Inn commissioned her to produce cups for their business.

"This allowed me to gain some experience in low voltage because I know customers," she said. "When [collaborating with businesses in the city center] came up, I said,'Honey, I think this is the next step.'"

Elsewhere Collection was founded by Christine and Eric Hopman. The couple are big travelers and love real estate and renovating historic buildings and beautiful old houses. They own several Airbnb properties, two of which are in Wisconsin, Oshkosh, and Waupaka; two are in Savannah and Tybee Island, Georgia, and one is in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.

According to the Elsewhere website, “Other places are a state of existence. You don’t have to go so far, and you feel like you are thousands of miles away. Elsewhere is an invitation to slow down, readjust, and explore—just existence. "

When vacationers check into one of Hoopman's Airbnbs, one thing most people take away is how beautifully designed and planned the house is.

Kristen Hoopman is not only the owner of the property, but also a designer. Opening a retail store has always been one of her goals to highlight the way Airbnb is designed. When she considers opening a retail space, she hopes it will reflect these attributes.

Managing director Jessie Tadder and event and marketing director Kristin Kane both work under The Elsewhere Collection's Hoopmans. The two are also alumni of the UWO School of Journalism.

“Every light fixture, every piece of furniture, everything you see in any property, including the Gibson Social Club, was designed and curated by Christine,” Kane said. "Without formal training in interior design, she is the one who makes the space so beautiful."

Gibson Social Club is adjacent to The Elsewhere Market & Coffee House and is also owned by Hoopmans.

Tadder said that in other places, he hopes to purchase as many local products as possible to support and help Oshkosh grow. It is most meaningful for UWO students to contribute to the store by making ceramic works. They heard about UWO's ceramic laboratory from another shop owner and contacted Craig Clifford, associate professor of art.

"The goal of artists is to make their work go to the world, which gives students opportunities," Clifford said. "We sell ceramics every semester, but selling their artworks in professional shops is different. In shops, their works can be displayed to more audiences and provide students with a way to measure the success of their works. Different ways."

After Clifford met with Tadder and Kane, he introduced them to some students he thought might be helpful to the store.

Tadder and Kane worked directly with the students, and the students showed them examples of works they had produced in the past. Since Hathorne had previous experience in making cups, including printing logos on her work, they started with her. They liked the style of her cups and asked the white glaze to match the aesthetics of the store.

After several discussions on the shape, size and sample cup, the transaction was finalized. Hassan made 25 cups and sold them in the market.

After seeing the style Tadder and Kane were looking for in the cup, other students were able to understand the style and start making their work.

The clay shrinks after it is glazed. This is usually the second firing of a piece of pottery, and the glaze melts to form a glass-like coating. Hasan did a summer research project to learn more about pottery and its processing.

"The cup is divided into three stages," Hassone said. "You can calculate the shrinkage of the clay. I know that my clay will shrink by 12%. Anything I make will be 12% smaller when fully glazed."

Each clay has a different shrinkage rate, so it takes several times to get the perfect 10 ounce mug that Elsewhere is looking for.

Looking around at The Elsewhere Market & Coffee House, the aesthetics of Tadder and Kane mentioned in Kristen Hoopman's designs are obvious. UWO ceramics are very suitable.

The main goal of Elsewhere is perfection. Everything is in an organic shape, which is what makes this store special.

"[Ceramics] will obviously never be exactly the same, but if they are exactly the same, it won't be handmade," Hassone said. "I, a perfectionist, have to take a back seat."

The grand opening of the market was on December 3rd with champagne and biscuits. The opening is part of the first Friday in downtown Oshkosh. This happens on the first Friday of every month and is dedicated to "art, music, and awesome dining and downtown experiences."

Kane estimated that more than a few hundred people stopped. Many customers are very happy to see UWO ceramic parts.

"[Working with students elsewhere] is a very good thing, because the university is an important part of our community, so it is very good to link it with some retail stores," said customer Patty Francour.

She also commented on the aesthetics hoped to be achieved elsewhere.

"This is our first time walking around on the first Friday, and obviously our first time here," Francour said. "This feeling is really cool. It doesn't feel like Oshkosh, maybe it's a bit like Door County."

The Coffee House is expected to open in early 2022. For now, the market will be open, and Elsewhere is working with consultants to develop their coffee and menu.

"We want to make the right coffee, so that we are worth a cup of black coffee that can be enjoyed without cream," Tadder said. "However, we will have all the condiments, no matter how anyone wants them."

As far as food is concerned, the menu will be very simple, mainly toast, and perhaps salads, soups, pastries, bagels, ready-to-use options, etc. They temporarily plan to use Hathorne's cups to serve coffee and tea inside.

"We don't want to open a coffee shop just open a coffee shop," Tadder said. "We want it to be an experience that allows people to really come in and hang out, feeling like they are in a different space. We don't think Oshkosh currently has it."

Kristen Hoopman's mother, Sue Collins, is a part-time employee in the market. She likes how the city center will prosper again.

"The Main Street is crowded again; it's good," Collins said. "We want students to feel comfortable and then come back and know that they are popular."

The markets and cafes have been around for a long time. Since the market opened, all this has finally become a reality.

"I think for many people, Main Street may be scary because there are many bars, which is great for some older students, but for those who are not involved in the bar culture, or may not belong to the bar culture However, it’s very exciting for us to share with UWO to have a very special cafe to relax, study, read, hang out with friends and bring their family. Things," Kane said. "I wish I had this when I was in school."

Elsewhere, students are passionate about working with UWO students.

"It takes something to make [pottery], it's beautiful, unique and different, but it has a purpose," Hasan said. "[This opportunity] really fell on my lap. I'm very lucky."

Oshkosh real estate and property tax bills are mailed out

Expected shortage of spring textbooks

Deer tested positive for COVID, urge hunters to be cautious

OPD helps two homeless people buy an apartment

'Hold the one you love tighter'

Teacher shortage may continue into the pandemic

Leibold: It is too early to cancel masks in the spring semester

This month in UWO history

Tax time reminder: How to rock your returns

This week in UWO history

Independent Student Newspaper at the University of Washington Oshkosh Campus