The work of five pottery artists — and the line drawings of one of them — was on display and on sale Thursday evening at the Arts + Culture Alliance’s (ACA’s) West Main Street headquarters as part of the organization’s latest exhibit, “Lines and Mud.”

The well-attended opening featured a wide variety of clay creations from Jon Muller, Kirk Niehouse, Ellyn Bandstra, Osmar Castro and Naima Alejandre as well as a collection of Muller’s line drawings, a live harp performance by Janet Collison and free drinks and snacks. The pottery project was made possible by an ACA grant for the construction of a kiln at Muller’s home, and the group, which includes two Marshalltown High School (MHS) art teachers in Bandstra and Niehouse and two recent MHS graduates in Alejandre and Castro.

Muller explained that his passion for line drawing dates back over 50 years, and the first one he ever completed was on display at the ACA Thursday.

“The rest of the line drawings just come as I draw. They’re never sketched out. I just start drawing lines and something comes of it,” he said. “Sometimes they’re birds. Sometimes they’re kokopelli, sometimes they’re feathers and sometimes they’re just lines.”

His passion for pottery, he added, also dates back over a half century, and Muller and his son collaborated on the construction of their new kiln before inviting the other potters to work with them. Bandstra, an MHS graduate and first-year art teacher at her alma mater, said she heard about the job opening through an adult education art class in town, met Muller and started making pottery again after a hiatus of a few years.

Alejandre, who will be enrolling at Iowa State University next fall, credited Castro with introducing her to pottery.

“He was just really inspired by the art and kind of just drew me in. I just grew to like it,” she said. “At first, I can’t say that I was great at it, but it just comes with practice.”

She took several of Niehouse’s classes as he joked that there were days when Alejandre spent over three hours in the pottery studio at MHS. Niehouse reflected on the realization that not all of his students will become great artists, which gives him an even greater appreciation for those who do.

“They’re inspiring to me. I go and watch them and want to go home and make stuff just because of what they’re doing. I learn from them just as much as they learn from me. But yeah, it’s been fun,” he said. “And don’t let Naima fool you. She’s very, very good at pottery. It took her a while to get there, but she did what it took. She had the drive and desire.”

Niehouse and Muller also praised ACA Executive Director Amber Danielson for opening the new downtown space and holding more events that offer local artists an avenue to showcase their work.

“It’s a great space, and I think this space is bringing the community together with these monthly art shows. People get out and they can have a little fun,” Muller said.

He noted that the kiln is open to anyone who wishes to come out to his house and give it a try, and two more will be constructed next spring. The “Lines and Mud” exhibit will remain on view through Jan. 15, 2026.

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Contact Robert Maharry at 641-753-6611 ext. 255 or

rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.