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Grantee: ClayFox Pottery

Project Title: Clay by the Creek: An Art Program for Women Veterans
Year awarded: 2020, Round 2

SAGA support will help Jill Smith achieve her project of aiding the Spokane region’s women veterans to heal and connect through working with clay.

As a clay artist in Spokane for over 48 years, Jill has shown in a variety of galleries, with many shows to her credit. Three years ago, she opened a large studio to share her passion for clay and formed the ClayFox Clay School. For the last ten years she has offered a retreat for women veterans at her horse ranch on the back side of Green Bluff. “Women Warriors & the Cowgirls Retreat for Women Veterans,” one the largest, most successful retreats for women veterans in the United States with 45+ vets attending each year.

With the help of SAGA, Jill Smith can expand her program to serve many more women vets who haven’t had the resources to come to the three-day retreat event. She will be able to offer eight or more clay classes a year for women veterans, free of charge. Clay by the Creek is thus focused on the 10,000 women veterans within a 100 mile radius of Spokane, many of whom have challenges as a result of their service to our country. Since many veteran services are still male-centered, female veterans are one of our most forgotten communities. Smith has seen firsthand how art can heal and connect these women warriors and intends to bring these benefits into their lives through her art classes.