Students, faculty and visitors got some holiday shopping done on campus at the annual art sale on Dec. 11.

The sale offered one-of-a-kind ceramics—from functional to decorative—all of which were crafted by the hands of five Cerritos College student artists.

Artists spent long hours creating the variety of cups, bowls, plates, vases, pitchers, pots, sculptures and many more items that were available at the sale.

Several visitors thought the hand-made ceramics would make unique gifts for their loved ones this holiday season.

“It’s a very good place to do some Christmas shopping,” Andrea Amato, a resident of Long Beach who heard about the sale through a friend who works on campus, said. “The art is very beautiful and professional quality. It’s great stuff and it’s good to come out and support the artists.”

Maria Mendoza, undecided major, spotted the art sale sign as she was walking by. She walked in and bought a vase.

“I don’t know anything about pottery but the textures and all colors give them a natural look,” Mendoza said. “I thought they were all impressive considering they are student projects. (The students) did a good job.

“(The pottery) is imperfect so it’s special. I think it means more when someone makes it rather than it being manufactured,” she said.

Ed Zimmerman was one of the artists whose work was featured at the sale. Zimmerman has been crafting ceramics for about 16 years.

“It’s a great feeling when people come in to look at the work and really enjoy it,” Zimmerman, who specializes in decorative plates, said. “I’ve been fortunate to have people come back year after year and buy numerous pieces.

“I tend to be more of an artist than a salesman, I enjoy making the art and the creativity part much more than the counting and salesmanship.”

The sale also served an educational purpose of helping the artists understand how to go into business for themselves and sell their work.

“It shows them how to organize a sale and create a mailing list. It’s how I started out,” Steven Portigal, ceramics professor said.

“It’s a great way to build (the artists’) confidence. They put their work out in a public setting. When people pay for it, it’s one way to validate what your doing.”

Portigal added that this sale could be the last as community colleges adjust to the state budget cuts.

“I’m very pleased with the turnout,” Portigal said. “If this is our last sale I would like to thank the community and all (it’s) support. A lot of people came through here and were very complimentary, it was great.

“I hope we can continue to do it but it depends on whether we can get more people involved.”

Student artists receive 75 percent of the proceeds, the Ceramics Department receives 20 percent, and five percent goes to the Art Club.