MiLK HOUSE CRMX, owned and operated by Paige Chance, is a sustainability driven ceramics studio located in historic Guthrie, OK.

MiLK HOUSE CRMX offers slowly made, decorative and functional ceramic housewares, as well as private ceramics lessons, workshops and an off-grid lodging experience aimed toward eco-conscious consumers looking to learn the art of ceramics in a tranquil environment surrounded by nature.

MiLK HOUSE CRMX exists to provide the community with a restorative and nurturing ceramics studio so guests can find peace and grounding in their otherwise fast paced lives. Not only will Paige teach the artistry of working with clay, she will also emphasize the importance of prioritizing self-care.

MiLK HOUSE CRMX was born out of Paige’s wish to share the beauty and peace of her ceramics practice and the rhythms of her Guthrie garden to provide an alternative to those embedded in today’s hustle culture. Spending time in green spaces has numerous physical and mental benefits, but sadly access to such places is a privilege not available to everyone.

Protecting the land is a key part of Paige’s vision for MiLK HOUSE CRMX. The studio’s design takes exceptional care to ensure it blends in with, and enhances the beauty of, the natural surroundings.

Upon moving from Oklahoma City to a rural property in Guthrie, OK, Paige became fascinated with the historical ruins found on the property. Remnants of an old milk house, grain silo, outhouse and stable serve as a reminder of the early homesteaders who maintained the property many years ago. The old milk house is quaintly situated under a hackberry tree that provides the perfect environment for grounding oneself in creativity.

MiLK HOUSE CRMX offers classes and workshops to beginner and intermediate ceramicists, ages ranging from children as young as 5 to retired seniors.

Furthermore, MiLK HOUSE CRMX’s off-grid lodging opportunity will attract vacationers who like the idea of just having the necessities but would rather have a bit more shelter than a tent. Tucked away on our rural property lies a magical glamping getaway that allows guests reconnect with nature in cozy and sustainable comfort. The renovated caravan operates entirely off the grid without compromising on modern luxuries.

Additionally, MiLK HOUSE CRMX produces slowly made, decorative and functional housewares with a rustic and earthy elegance. Our products are made on the potter’s wheel, hand-built, or a combination of both. Each piece is inspired by an eclectic combination of Japanese wabi-sabi and Oklahoma farmhouse cultures. MiLK HOUSE CRMX products can be described as perfectly imperfect. Each piece is authentic, original, and unique. Any clay impurities and unique marks contribute to the “landscape” of the piece and reflect its handmade nature. MiLK HOUSE CRMX products will be available for purchase on our website, local markets, shops and boutiques.

As a talented artist with 3 years of ceramics and teaching experience and an additional 10 years of hospitality experience, Paige is highly suitable for owning and operating a ceramics studio and eager to share it with her community.

The Community

MiLK HOUSE CRMX thoughtfully choreographs the sustainable production of artisan ceramic products, nurturing art education opportunities, and tranquil off-grid lodging.

The goal of MiLK HOUSE CRMX is to inspire creativity, foster self-discovery, and nurture an appreciation for art through our ceramics workshops, lessons and events. MiLK HOUSE CRMX’s educational services will provide an authentic and individualized model of instruction in a small group or private setting designed to meet each student where they are and nurture their spirits with creativity as self-care.

Paige plans to partner with local schools and childcare programs in an effort to alleviate the lack of art education in low income and rural school districts.

Furthermore, our off-grid lodging experience allows guests to slow down and disconnect from their fast paced lives so they can reconnect with loved ones and the ebb and flow of nature.

Additionally, MiLK HOUSE CRMX’s line of ceramic wares highlight the organic beauty of place and time and encourage those to gather and connect.

Most importantly, MiLK HOUSE CRMX strives to mitigate environmental degradation in their community by operating with sustainability expectations laid out by the Clean Green Ceramics Certification, a sustainability initiative led by Dr. Wendy Gers to assess environmental management for ceramics artists. This certification guarantees that our facilities are fit for purpose, adhering to best-in-class sustainability and safety guidelines. The Clean Green Ceramics Certification enables MiLK HOUSE CRMX to communicate our ethics and the impact our business has on the community. As of today, MiLK HOUSE CRMX is the only ceramics studio seeking the Clean Green Ceramics Certification in the region. Therefore, becoming a pioneer in the sustainable ceramics community of Oklahoma.

Artistic Career

After 3 years in the ceramics industry, Paige is ready to let her spirit free with the launch of MiLK HOUSE CRMX, a studio that will uphold her values. At MiLK HOUSE CRMX, sustainable studio practices will be honored, rather than deemed as too much work. Paige plans to fill the need for sustainablity in the rising purpose economy and help educate others in doing the same for their ceramic practices.

Paige recently graduated with a MPS in Business of Art + Design in September of 2023 from Maryland Institute College of Art, where she worked tirelessly on developing her creative vision. As a 26-year-old woman, it is difficult for Paige to accept her calling as an entrepreneur in the arts due to the lack of capital and disproportionate and rigorous funding requirements of banks and credit unions. Paige needs the support of her local community to bring her creative vision to life and take control of her future as a young, female entrepreneur looking to serve the Oklahoma art community.

Paige plans to use Paseo FEAST’s micro-grant funding toward establishing MiLK HOUSE CRMX’s values through the Clean Green Ceramics Certification and taking thoughtful steps toward restoring the milkhouse. Paige will fund the majority of tools, equipment, restoration and startup costs for MiLK HOUSE CRMX, but it would be helpful to have support for the following expenses, if applicable:

Clean Green Ceramics Certification - $400 (valid for 2 years)

MiLK HOUSE Restoration:

- Electrical Hookup for Kiln – $1000

- Window Restoration - $500

- Floor Kintsugi - $100

Total: $2,000

Environmental Pledge

Motivation

Paige’s motivation for applying for Clean Green Ceramics is her care for the environmental impacts of MiLK HOUSE CRMX’s decisions and practices. Paige acknowledges that we cannot be complacent when it is clear that our actions are harming our planet. She understands that every individual has a role to play, and even small steps are significant. While MiLK HOUSE CRMX’s pottery production is relatively small, it will increase overtime and intends to uphold these values.

Environmental Ambition

MiLK HOUSE CRMX is taking this step because Paige would one day like to produce ceramics with wild clay harvested from her land in Guthrie. She is aware that these resources are finite and wants to be as conscious as possible to maintain the earth for future generations.

When MiLK HOUSE CRMX is able to promote work as Clean Green Certified, potential customers will have a deeper respect and appreciation of our products and services. In addition, Paige hopes to inspire other ceramic artists and businesses to contemplate their environmental impacts and take similar action.

Main Impacts

- Supplies purchased for production (clay, glaze, tools)

- Water usage

- Electricity usage (lighting and heating studio, kiln firing)

- Studio waste

Environmental Commitments

MiLK HOUSE CRMX is committed to asking the following questions and seeking out answers prior to purchasing supplies:

- Is the item a necessity or can I continue business operations without it?

- What are the origins of the materials used to make the item?

- Can waste from the item be safely disposed of?

- Do your values align with the businesses you are supporting with your purchases?

Paige commits to improving her skill and capacity to recycle and reclaim all clay waste.

Paige commits to gaining more knowledge of the origin of materials used in her work and the impacts of their extraction.

Approximately 50% of Paige’s products will remain unglazed or single fired in order to reduce the number of firings and limit consumption of extracted glaze ingredients.

Paige commits to reducing plastic consumption, and reusing items whenever possible.

Paige is committed to limiting water usage in her studio. Paige does not use a sink, so she can monitor water usage and limit to approximately 5 gallons per week with the bucket method.

For energy usage, Paige commits to consciously limiting the use of lights and heating to only when necessary. For kiln firing, Paige purchased an electric kiln and added extra insulation for maximum efficiency. Paige will monitor the kiln’s electric usage and limit firings to only when the kiln can be filled to full capacity. Paige will introduce low fire clay into production in order to save on firing costs.

For shipping out packages, Paige is committed to using biodegradable packing materials and/or reusing shipping materials when possible.

Paige will only offer shipping within the U.S. to reduce carbon emissions.

For transportation, Paige is committed to limiting business related travel to only when necessary. Paige will not travel by airplane for business or shipping at all.

Paige will pursue the long-term goal of acquiring solar power for studio power needs.

Responsibility

Paige will be responsible for reviewing my environmental pledge every six months. Paige will evaluate whether her business practices are closely following environmental commitments and she will document progress.

Paige has developed an environmental action plan by reviewing current studio practices. Paige will be responsible for monitoring, reviewing, and updating her plan every six months.

Environmental Action Plan

Key objectives

- Reduce studio landfill waste by 50% over one year

- Use reclaimed clay in 50% of production work in year one

- Track and reduce consumption of raw materials with harmful environmental impacts, over 2 years

I’m Paige Chance, and I am here to talk to you about my vision for opening a sustainability driven ceramics studio operating out of a 100-year-old milk house found abandoned where I live in Guthrie. Hence the name, MiLK HOUSE CRMX.

MiLK HOUSE CRMX has three main components. The first being the sustainable production of my own ceramics products (and we’ll get to unpack what I mean by sustainability in a minute).

Here, I have a few examples of my work very much inspired by nature, found objects, and more so focused on the process of experimenting with building and firing techniques, rather than the finished project. I’ve been practicing and teaching ceramics for the past three years, and continue to attend workshops and classes to further my development as an artist. In addition to my ceramics expertise, I have a bachelors degree in philosophy and architecture as well as a masters in business of art and design. Therefore leading me into the work i’m sharing with you tonight.

But really MiLK HOUSE CRMX is much bigger than my me and own artistic practice.

The 2nd and 3rd components of the studio would be the nurturing art education and off-grid lodging opportunities for the community.

Imagine this,

You, me, and a small group of friends you haven’t met yet, have gathered in a courtyard, under the canopy of the hackberry trees, grounding ourselves in the creative process of working with clay.

We are surrounded by the beauty of the birds and butterflies as the sunlight dapples along the tabletop I’ve made out of reclaimed materials.

Without much effort at all, You’ve let go of all your worries or cares, all that’s left is a sense of peace.

Maybe over the course of a few hours, you’ve made yourself a functional piece of ceramics you’re really proud of,

that you can later introduce into your everyday rituals as a simple reminder of this sense of peace…

Or maybe you choose to stay a while and spend your evening tucked away in our renovated caravan. You grill a nice meal on the patio, while the sun sets,

share it with loved ones on a set of handmade tableware, and the night closes in with the crackling of a fire, an awe inspiring view of the stars, and true connection.

Now, circling back to the aspect of sustainability that makes my proposal truly unique.

From the way I’ve described my vision to you so far, you may understand why it is so important to me to protect the natural charm of the land and the milkhouse itself. The act of disconnecting and reconnecting with nature and clay is so powerful and provides countless benefits to our mental and physical well-being.

In this regard, MiLK house CRMX strives to mitigate environmental degradation in our community by partnering with Dr. Wendy Gers, a leading voice in the international sustainable ceramics industry and founder of the clean green ceramics initiative.

This program assesses environmental management for ceramics artists around the world.

This partnership will guarantee that my facilities are fit for purpose, adhering to best-in-class sustainability and safety guidelines.

It also enables MiLK HOUSE CRMX to communicate our ethics and the impact we have on our community.

As of today, MiLK HOUSE CRMX is the only ceramics studio seeking the Clean Green Ceramics Certification in Oklahoma. There are actually very few ceramics artist in the United States that have had the privilege of partnering with the clean green ceramics initiative.

With your vote, we can achieve this dream together and the milk house will be preserved for another 100 years.

I plan to contribute the majority of start up costs, but I would be so grateful to receive the help of my community in funding the costs most relevant to them. This includes:

First, the cost of my clean green ceramics certification, so Wendy Gers and I can collaborate on a customized environmental action plan specific for MiLK HOUSE CRMX. Not only would I be accomplishing this for myself, but I plan to share my newfound methods and practices with others in the Oklahoma community and beyond. Something like this certification will put MiLK HOUSE CRMX and Oklahoma on the map in the innovative place it belongs. Leading the way as it has done in so many other artistic mediums and industries.

Second, costs relative to the thoughtful restoration of the milk house.

I’ve done quite a bit already, but have come to halt, due to a lack of funding and, quite frankly, expertise.

The next steps would include 3 things:

1. Wiring electricity, so I can fire all the beautiful artwork we make together as a community (in an energy efficient way of course) and sustainably cool and heat the milk house.

2. Restoring the wood framed windows to maximize energy efficiency of the milk house in honor of the original design.

3. Performing a (faux) kintsugi technique of thoughtfully mending the cracks in the foundation by mosaic-ing up-cycled pottery shards donated from local studios. This is traditionally a Japanese technique used for mending broken pottery with real gold and speaks to the idea of the beauty in imperfections or decay.

If you are more of a visual person such as myself, or would like to know more about me and MiLK HOUSE CRMX, please scan the QR code found on your table with your phones camera.

This will take you to a webpage with a gallery of photos and a more detailed description of the work I’m doing.