CCS Alumna Marjorie Stark Featured in Juried Ceramics Exhibition at Stove Works

Recent Chattanooga Christian School graduate Marjorie Stark (’26) was selected as a featured artist in In Bloom, a juried ceramics exhibition at Stove Works in Chattanooga.

Organized by Scenic City Clay Arts and curated by Education Coordinator Summer Tomes, In Bloom features functional and sculptural ceramic work by 22 regional artists.

The exhibition explores growth through the life cycle of a flower, highlighting themes of transformation, resilience, intuition and authenticity. Stark’s work was displayed alongside pieces by established artists from across the Chattanooga region during the exhibition, which ran August 7–29.

Stark, who received the CCS Ceramics Award as a senior, developed her work in the school’s professional-level ceramics studio under the guidance of CCS ceramics teacher Mia Baker.

“Marjorie brought a rare combination of wonder and fearless creativity to the ceramics studio,” Baker said. “She consistently pushed her work beyond expectations and inspired those around her to take greater risks in their own creative processes. She embraced feedback, leaned into challenges, and never hesitated when I asked her to take an idea further.”

While at CCS, Stark pursued opportunities to develop and exhibit her work beyond the classroom, including artist residencies and gallery exhibitions. Baker said Stark made full use of the depth of the CCS ceramics program as she refined her artistic voice and prepared to share her work with a broader audience.

“Even amid the beautiful chaos of her creative process, Marjorie remained deeply motivated to grow as an artist,” Baker said. “Through our robust ceramics program, she took full advantage of the rare opportunity to work in a professional-level studio environment. She learned not only how to refine her niche artistic voice, but also how to build a portfolio capable of standing alongside the work of professional artists.”

For Baker, seeing Stark’s work included in a community exhibition represents a meaningful continuation of the growth that began in the CCS studio.

“It has been a profound honor to guide Marjorie through the process of developing her artistic voice, building her portfolio, and finding opportunities to share her work with a wider audience,” Baker said.