WARREN — Since Trumbull Art Gallery moved to its current location on Courthouse Square, one of its most popular attractions is its clay studio.

The space has attracted accomplished ceramics artists and those whose only experience with clay was watching the wheel-throwing scene in “Ghost.”

Work by creators on both ends of that spectrum can be seen in “Clay@TAG Invitational: Our Clay Journey,” which opens at TAG with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday.

The show, curated by Kat Devadan, Veronique Gerard and Stephanie L. Sferra, features work created since 2021 as part of the Clay@TAG workshops and classes and its open sessions.

“I’ve seen a lot of people come through the studio,” Sferra said. “Kat teaches wheel (throwing). I teach hand building. Many people who show up don’t know nothing. They’re afraid, and then all of a sudden, they’ll evolve. I have one person that has attended seven workshops in a year and a half. They become addicted.

“Our feeling is that these folks need to be recognized. They wouldn’t enter a regular (juried) show, so we wanted to highlight them.”

Those clay workshops and open studio sessions were one of the things that helped TAG emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, which closed the gallery for months, Sferra said. During the shutdown, Jesse Wilson, who had been running the clay studio, left because he needed a job.

“We wanted to get back up and running because, quite frankly, education is what helps support this place,” Sferra said. “We put our toe in to see how people would receive it because, at the time, they were still apprehensive about coming out. But it was so successful. We filled a void back then. We started and built momentum back up.

“I don’t have a BFA in ceramics or anything like Kat does. I’ve never professed that. But I knew I could handle hand building because I love it so much. And we developed workshops because so many people don’t have time for an open studio or they’re working during the day and may not have time for that four-week course, but they have time for a two-hour, two-session workshop. It just fell into place.”

Those who’ve participated in the clay studio since the pandemic were invited to submit up to three pieces for inclusion, and “Clay@TAG” will include work by more than 50 creators.

The show features pieces by Dee Aston, Jillian Barath, Nancy Beatty, Sarah Buzulencia, Diane Chopko, Scott Chopko, Michele Coe, Jennifer Colla, Matthew Colla, Kat Devadan, Sharon M. Ford, Cathy Fowler, Deborah Hills-Haney, Kathryn Infante, Salli Kowalski, Ron Krygowski, Marlene LaCamera, Chrissy Lankey, Patrick Lankey, Jackie Lody, Taylor Lody, Caroline Lorimer, Madeline Mines, Amanda Moriarity, Zane Moriarity, Michelle Mullidore, Rebecca Nan, Leann O’Brien, Charlie Ohlin, Wendi Patrick, Mary Ann Porinchak, Yasmin Rashid, Cory Robertson, Melanie Robertson, Piper Robertson, Kavier Sanchez, Mary Vairo Sanchez, Stephanie L. Sferra, Lilah Shuttic, Nicole Shuttic, Michael Swartz, Victoria Swartz, Jackie Termine, Nancy Termine, Nancy A. Termine, Natalia Sanchez Vairo, Judy Watson, Megan White, Linda Wurthner, Laura York, Tulla Zambetis and members of the Oakland Center for the Arts summer program.

One of the most popular classes has been gnome building. It started with a group from the National Packard Museum in June 2022. Since then about 125 gnomes have been created in classes at TAG, and more than 25 of those tall-hatted characters will be on display in the show.

“The thing that gets me is how different they are,” Sferra said of the gnomes. “Every time I open the kiln after a firing, it’s like Christmas because you see all these wonderful colors, and then you see this work that people created who think they have no talent. They all think they don’t have the talent to do this, but they do.”

If you go …

WHAT: “Clay@TAG Invitational: Our Clay Journey.”

WHEN: Saturday through Nov. 2 with opening reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday. Hours are noon to 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

WHERE: Trumbull Art Gallery, 158 N. Park Ave., Warren.

HOW MUCH: Admission is free. For more information, go to www.trumbull artgallery.com or call 330-395-4876.