06/04/2026
Friends of Metuchen Arts - Central NJ Artist Forum presents A Journey of Breakthroughs: Navigating the Evolution of an Art Practice, June 14, 1–4:30 pm
Get tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/central-nj-artist-forum-tickets-1987569796766
Meet featured panelist: Linda Vonderschmidt LaStella
With a BA degree in English and an MFA in painting and ceramics, the whole of
Linda’s professional life has circled around education and the arts. She has
taught art in formal classroom settings at every level from pre-K to college.
Between 1986 and 1991 she had the wonderful opportunity to have a studio,
Canticles in Clay, on the grounds of Neumann University. It was during that time
that she was commissioned to create a large ceramic mural “New Life,” as well as “The Canticle” for Neumann.
In 1997, Linda established Earthsongs, a ceramic studio,“to be a peaceful oasis…” With a strong desire to share the healing energy of creating in clay, she regularly offered classes and workshops for adults and children there, even as she created her own sculptural tile and commissioned installations, and exhibited widely.
Subsequently, she became involved with several community arts organizations,
took leadership positions there and established a series of community galleries.
She then began to work in public art, involving anyone who wished to
participate to create installed ceramic murals, and be part of alternative
exhibits, and diverse outdoor art events…lots of people would remember Junebug and the Community Mural at the Tennis Courts... continually creating new and inviting ways that would bring the community together around art.
All of that work sculpting ‘human clay,’ seemed to flow appropriately from her
work with ‘earthy clay.’ Now, her focus is exclusively on her studio practice, working both from commissions, as well as developing her own original work.
WEBSITE: www.Claysongs.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/earthsongsceramicstudio/
