{"id":234801,"date":"2026-04-16T21:44:07","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T21:44:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/234801\/"},"modified":"2026-04-16T21:44:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T21:44:07","slug":"after-fire-st-pete-ceramics-finds-temporary-home-as-rebuilding-begins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/234801\/","title":{"rendered":"After Fire, St. Pete Ceramics Finds Temporary Home As Rebuilding Begins"},"content":{"rendered":"

ST. PETERSBURG, FL \u2014 For Beth Miranda, co-founder of St. Pete Ceramics<\/a>, life is divided into two periods: before the fire and after the fire. <\/p>\n

At the end of January, a devastating fire destroyed the pottery studio. Processing the loss, including three bunnies that called the studio home, was overwhelming in the days and weeks that followed the blaze, she told Patch.<\/p>\n

But now, things are looking up, as St. Pete Ceramics<\/a> is in the process of rebuilding. Their community also moved into temporary digs in March, and is operating out of a smaller, temporary space while the work is being completed, Miranda said.<\/p>\n

Find out what’s happening in St. Petefor free with the latest updates from Patch.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are mostly past the grief stage and the \u2018oh my gosh, what just happened?\u2019 stage,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n

Demolition is expected to begin any day at their studio at 593 22nd Street S. <\/p>\n

Find out what’s happening in St. Petefor free with the latest updates from Patch.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen, they\u2019ll rehab the space,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n

There\u2019s no timeline in place for the work to be completed, and at the moment St. Pete Ceramics is operating out of two small studios, totaling less than 400 square feet, at Five Deuces Galleria at 2135 3rd Ave. S., just down the road from their space. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s nothing compared to the space we normally would have,\u201d Miranda said, noting that their permanent ceramics studio is about 1,800 square feet. \u201cBut we love our tiny space in the Five Deuces. It\u2019s tiny and so cute.\u201d<\/p>\n

These small studios provide a space for workshops and classes, and are open to St. Pete Ceramics members on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. <\/p>\n

In the meantime, the kiln is set up in the backyard of Miranda\u2019s St. Pete home. So, all completed work is fired there. She\u2019s also handling business operations for the studio from her house, which \u201cis basically just a giant pottery studio, now,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n

After the initial shock of the fire, Miranda, staff and members are finding silver linings as they move forward. <\/p>\n

She\u2019s amazed by the community’s outpouring of support in the wake of their loss. Nearly $30,000 has been donated to the ceramic studio\u2019s GoFundMe fundraiser<\/a> and donations keep coming in. She hopes to raise about $50,000 as the studio is rebuilt.<\/p>\n

This is also an opportunity to make some changes to the space, Miranda said. This includes the removal of a wall dividing the space into two rooms to create a larger open space. <\/p>\n

Reflecting on life, and what\u2019s really important to her, in the months following the fire, she has also launched a nonprofit organization, Clay Collective of Pinellas. <\/p>\n

While she started the concept last year as more of an informal \u201ccommunity hang\u201d bringing together the St. Petersburg area\u2019s clay artists, now it\u2019s more official, she said. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I realized during the mental breakdown of the fire – really, I was in bed for a week thinking, \u2018What am I doing with my life?\u2019 – was that what I really cared about, above my pottery brand, above the studio, was the community,\u201d Miranda said. \u201cI care about the clay community. It\u2019s super important to me.\u201d <\/p>\n

There are hundreds of clay artists in St. Petersburg and surrounding towns, and she\u2019s surprised \u201cby the fact that we are not super well known in the world of clay for having such a large clay community,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd I want to help them in both mental health and fiscal health.\u201d<\/p>\n

Once the St. Pete Ceramics space is rebuilt, she plans to run the Clay Collective from there. <\/p>\n

If not for the fire, Miranda likely wouldn\u2019t have stopped to explore her vision for the organization. <\/p>\n

\u201cI was always, go, go, go,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s a real blessing to have the time to examine what I\u2019m doing. A terrible blessing.\u201d<\/p>\n

And while she\u2019s still saddened by the loss of the studio\u2019s bunnies, she\u2019s taken in a new rabbit, Benjamin, who was being rehomed. He joins her whenever she\u2019s there, including for the citywide monthly second Saturday artwalk. <\/p>\n

While donations are still accepted via GoFundMe, Miranda encourages people to support St. Pete Ceramics in other ways, namely taking a workshop or purchasing pottery. <\/p>\n

\u201cAny money painting pottery is going to the rebuild,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s a great way for people to come out and support us and a way to actually do something. Have a fun date night and still support us, not just giving us money.\u201d<\/p>\n

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