Wenatchee Valley College Ceramics Instructor Sarah Sprouse transforms the MAC Gallery into a sacred space with her immersive installation, Soft Altars, from Nov. 6 to Dec. 18. Rooted in the material language of clay, her ceramic vessels in an altered environment serve as intimate altars for celebration, ritual, adoration, and return.
The MAC Gallery will be open for the First Friday Art Walk on Nov. 6 from 5 to 7 p.m. Sprouse will give a gallery talk at 6 p.m.
"Soft Altars" explores the quiet alchemy of the everyday, where ordinary objects become sites of celebration, ritual, and return. Ceramic vessels serve as intimate altars to love, family, stewardship, the natural world, artistic ancestry, and community. Rooted in the material language of clay, the exhibition considers the sacred possibilities of everyday life and the quiet forms of adoration found in tending to one another.
Sprouse is a visual artist, educator, and art historian. She holds a PhD in the History of Art from the University of Edinburgh, with research focusing on women ceramic artists, collaborative studio practices, and histories of craft. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and is held in several permanent collections. Across her work, Sprouse is committed to supporting artists and building meaningful, inclusive communities through the arts. In addition to teaching ceramics at Wenatchee Valley College, she also serves as Executive Director of the Grünewald Guild.
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Founded in 1939, Wenatchee Valley College enriches North Central Washington and delivers relevant, innovative, and experiential educational opportunities for thriving and healthy communities. Learn more at www.wvc.edu.
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Published October 20, 2026
Media Contact:
Scott Bailey, WVC art faculty, sbailey@wvc.edu