Our Teachers
Kyle Lascelle (He/Him)
Kyle is a ceramic artist based in Rochester, NY. He received a bachelor’s in Philosophy from Arcadia University and a Masters of Fine Art from The School from American Crafts based at RIT. Kyle has worked as a full time Studio Manager at Flower City Arts Center for the past 8 years all while Teaching as an Adjunct Faculty in Ceramics at RIT, Alfred University, and teaching Studio Art and Art HIstory at Roberts Wesleyan University. Kyle has work shown nationally and has been named Ceramics Monthly 2025 Emerging Artist.
Educational Director
Administrative CoordinatorTerry O’Brien (He/Him)
Terry is a clay enthusiast who started taking classes in 2018 at the Flower City Arts Center and started participating in local craft shows after setting up his home studio. He spent one year as an Artist-in-Residence at the Flower CIty Arts Center as well as teaching for several more.
Jacob Dambra (They/Them)
Jacob is a ceramicist based in Rochester, NY. They received a bachelor’s degree in ceramics from Rochester Institute of Technology. Since graduating they have taught at the Memorial Art Gallery’s Creative Workshop, RIT’s College of Art and Design, and at Flower City Arts Center. Their work has taken them through craft schools from Maine to North Carolina. They currently work at Flower City Arts Center firing kilns, mixing glazes, teaching classes, supporting administrative work and maintaining equipment. Outside of their ceramics practice Jacob has built exhibits for the Rochester Museum and Science Center and curated national art exhibitions both locally and as part of the National Council on the Education of Ceramic Arts (NCECA).
Community Coordinator
Reilly Liberto (They/Them)
Handbuilding TeacherReilly Liberto is a ceramic artist based in Rochester, NY. They
received a Bachelor's degree in Ceramics and Sonic Art from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University. Reilly has worked in a variety of exhibition spaces spanning both fine art and the performing arts as artist, performer, and art educator. Their most recent explorations have included working as Prop Master/Designer at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf/Rochester Institute of Technology and a two-year Ceramics Residency at Flower City Arts Center. When Reilly is not sculpting, they are performing their ambient sound project. In both clay and sound, Reilly engages in the playful aspects of the mundane to explore the absurdity of the world around us.
Katie Gookin (She/Her)
Wheel/Kid's TeacherI moved to Rochester from Michigan 10 years ago, and once I got settled, I finally got back in the studio after a 20-year hiatus! I love making colorful, functional pots — the kind you actually use every day. I've been teaching for almost 4 years now, and honestly, it's a blast working with folks of all ages and skill levels.
Zara Bronwyn Davis (She/Her)
Handbuilding TeacherZara Bronwyn Davis is a working artist and ceramics/jewelry teacher in Rochester, New York. Zara studied at the Rochester Institute of Technology focusing on ceramics and jewelry. She has been teaching a variety of jewelry and ceramics classes since 2019. When she's not teaching, Zara runs her small business, ZaraBronwyn, selling Fine Art ceramics and Jewelry through local shops and at craft shows. Zara is comfortable teaching students of all ages and skill levels. She currently teaches classes at the Memorial Art Gallery’s Creative Workshop, the Flowers City Arts Center and Little Sparrow Ceramics.
Daisy Goldstein (She/Her)
Daisy started making pots while earning her BS in Geology at SUNY New Paltz. She was drawn to clay for its tactility, its geologic and anthropological history, and the opportunity to share her ceramic work with others to use and touch in their daily lives. She furthered her knowledge of clay and atmospheric firing methods through a long-term residency at the Cub Creek Foundation and a studio assistantship at The Oki Doki Studio. Daisy is the studio manager at Studio Sales Pottery, where she also teaches weekly classes and firing workshops. The ceramics community is one of her favorite aspects of the medium, and she always enjoys meeting new people to share mutual excitement for the craft.
Wheel Teacher
Charlie John-Melendez (They/He)
Kid's TeacherHi! My name is Charlie. I'm originally from NYC but moved to Rochester after college to pursue ceramics. I like to make fun, functional animal sculptures inspired by Pre-Colombian pottery. I'm so excited to be part of the Laurentide team!
Haley York (She/Her)
Wheel TeacherHaley is a multidisciplinary artist who always finds her way back to clay. Her pottery journey started in high school ceramics, continued through hand-building classes in college, and even included making clay pipes in her first apartment. But it wasn't until she sat down at the pottery wheel in 2024 that she was all in. Currently Haley is an advanced student, ceramics teacher, and studio artist at Laurentide Clay. Haley loves helping students get their hands dirty, laugh through the learning curve, and discover that the best experience comes from embracing the mess. Her classes are centered around having fun and letting go. When she's not making pottery, Haley works as an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter and is passionate about making art more accessible. She has interpreted artist talks and pottery classes for the Deaf community, and her dream is to one day teach a fully ASL pottery class.
Daphine Postl (She/They)
Daphine graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology with a BS in psychology, philosophy and a passion for ceramics. Her love for ceramics has brought her to multiple different residencies across the country including Rochester, NY, Pennsylvania and California. Daphine has taught ceramics classes and workshops for children and adults as well as developed an art summer camp for those who share in the same passion she has for ceramics.
Wheel Teacher