Project: The Art of Belonging, A Photo Essay from The Wedge Studio

This photo essay documents The Wedge Studio, a longstanding ceramic space along Reno’s Dickerson Road that has become a creative anchor for hobbyists, students, and working artists. The story centers on the community that has formed within the studio’s walls, featuring three groups: the members who shape its daily rhythm, one of its instructors who sustains its educational mission, and co-owner Sutter Stremmel, who helped establish The Wedge in 2007 with his wife, Samantha. At its core, the story explores the idea of a “third place,” a communal environment outside home and work, where people from diverse backgrounds gather to create, connect, and practice a physical craft.

Situated in a cluster of creative businesses along Dickerson Road, The Wedge Studio has been identified as one of Reno’s “hidden gems” in local arts coverage. The studio opened at a time when few public ceramic spaces existed in the region, and the Stremmels became early advocates for accessible, community-driven artmaking. Their commitment includes a scholarship program, donated-gallery sales that fund class fees, and affordable membership options that provide clay, glaze, and firing to new and returning artists.

This story is timely as interest in hands-on crafts and physical trades continues to rise nationally. Many people are seeking creative outlets that offer grounding, routine, and human connection, needs that The Wedge meets through its classes, workshops, and member-driven environment. The studio’s growth reflects a broader cultural shift toward returning to tactile arts in an increasingly digital world.

The Wedge was selected for coverage because it offers a rare combination of artistry, inclusivity, and community belonging. Even as a first-time visitor, one encounters an inviting social ecosystem where members readily share conversation, techniques, and stories across the worktables and pottery wheels. Visually, ceramics provide compelling subject matter, clay transformed into functional, expressive forms through careful, repetitive practice.

For Reno’s broader community, The Wedge represents an important cultural resource: a place where beginners can learn a new craft, experienced ceramicists can refine their skills, and residents can experience artmaking without financial or academic barriers. After viewing the images, audiences should understand how the studio has become a vibrant third place, built from the ground up by the people who gather there and why it remains a vital part of Northern Nevada’s creative landscape.