GOWANDA, NY — The classrooms at Gowanda Middle School recently transformed into an art studio rooted in tradition as Seneca Language students participated in a unique workshop focusing on the history and craft of Seneca pottery.
Led by Brennen Johns (GCS Class of 2012), students spent the week learning the specific language and historical techniques required to create traditional Haudenosaunee earthenware. The experience was designed to provide a “human connection” to the curriculum, allowing students to see their culture as a living, breathing practice.
During the workshop, each student hand-built a bowl or pot designed for functional use in the kitchen. This hands-on approach emphasizes the District’s commitment to Creativity and Collaboration, two pillars of the Gowanda “Four Cs” educational philosophy.
In a gesture of Panther Pride, Johns donated a masterfully crafted pottery piece to the school. The work, which depicts star constellations significant to Seneca culture, will be permanently displayed in the GMS Library. It will sit alongside the work of his own mentor, the renowned artist Pete Jones, creating a powerful visual timeline of mentorship and legacy within the district.
