Continuous chatter and laughter with groovy music intertwined in the mix permeates the brightly lighted room, sometimes with adults and often with children. Natural brick walls are accented with an assortment of ceramic molds; some plain and others creatively decorated causing a festive atmosphere.

The action happens at Kiln-N-Time, a contemporary paint your own pottery studio located at 3801 Penn Ave. in Lawrenceville. A graduate of the Art Institute of Pittsburgh with more than 23 years of corporate experience, Sandy Simon opened Kiln-N-Time after returning to Pittsburgh from Atlanta.

AT THE WHEEL—Sandy Simon owner/artist of Kiln N’ Time, operates the Wheel Thrower at her pottery studio.

“When contemplating what I wanted to do I decided to follow my passion,” she says. Discovering pottery while frequently traveling for her jobs, Simon says she used the art form as a source of relaxation and it became a hobby. Through her studio, what she defines as an “upscale pottery studio and gallery with a funky flair” she provides an outlet for youth and adults to relax, express their selves, and play in some clay. The studio is available for networking activities, date nights, parties, bridal showers, family fun and for creating gifts. Artists also utilize the studio to display and sell their wares.

Considering her facility a working artist studio, Simon says the facility allows her to share her passion with the public. “I’m here for the community, serving as a mentor to demonstrate to the kids that they can be an entrepreneur or what ever they want to be,” she points out.

One of her prize projects is the Student Reward Program serving Woolslair Elementary and Arsenal Middle School children and funded by the Department of Justice/Lawrenceville Weed & Seed Grant. The award is in conjunction with Lawrenceville United, the local community group headed by Tony Coeffe. The program, designed to inspire and to encourage youth, started with students who did well in school but is now open for any and all students. A second phase of the program will soon include the family unit providing an outlet to create a dinner place setting with the wrap up taking place as a dinner hosted by Whole Foods.

Simon explains that the concept for the Student Reward Program came about when the window of her studio was broken. “The kids were hanging out being destructive. I challenged them, found out who did it and have been providing an outlet every since.”

Other projects Simon sponsors and participates in include a mosaic project at the Pittsburgh Project on the North Side. Participants are in kindergarten to 12th grade. She is negotiating with Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC to create a mosaic in their new building and is currently working with the Curator of African American Exhibits at the Heinz History Center to organize a program for children to design and paint anti-slavery pitchers.    

    Pottery is defined as the ceramic ware made by potters. It encompasses a wide range of ceramics, including earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. Ceramic products are made from inorganic, non-metallic materials with a crystalline structure, usually processed at a high temperature at some time during manufacturing. Kiln-N-Time provides the opportunity for one to use a potter’s wheel, to have their item glazed and fired through the Kiln process. Simon describes the Kiln as a big oven that rises to 1,800 degrees baking paint on the item, which makes it hard, dishwasher/microwave and food safe.

Pointing out that ceramics is not just artistic, but anything made out of clay, a goal of Simon’s is to manufacture construction highway markers. She also is working toward expanding the business to create custom made tiles for kitchens and bathrooms.

Encouraging people to use their imagination and to think out of the box, Simon points out that ceramic objects can be used for promotional items such as lapel pins and cups. The difference is that what we provide has a personal touch because everything is hand made.

Operating as a sole proprietor with volunteers assisting when necessary, Simon also has hopes to expand and establish a work program where she can employ disadvantaged women.

Glad to return from Atlanta and opening the business instead of finding employment, she says Pittsburgh is a good place to be at this time. “The city is changing and the character of the neighborhoods is unique offering a variety of real estate options. Her studio space previously sat as a vacant building for 45 years. Her landlord completely rehabilitated the space to her specifications leaving the brick walls in their natural state and adding large storefront windows; as a result the structure won a Historical Preservation award from the City of Pittsburgh.

Simon admits that being an entrepreneur operating an arts business has its difficult moments, but the joys come from the expressions of her pleased customers. “The pleasures of the children make it all worth while,” she says. She aspires to continue to provide successful intervention, prevention and therapeutic programs for the community. “I want to provide a safe environment for young people and adults to be creative and have fun.”

Recognized for her efforts, Simon was a 2008 nominee for the Coro Center for Leadership Martin Luther King Jr. Award.