By Alisha Ebling, The Clay Studio

As a part of The Clay Studio’s 40th Anniversary events, Iraqi war veterans and artists Ehren Tool and Jesse Albrecht transformed 1,000 pounds of clay into hundreds of military and war-themed cups while onlookers watched and interacted with the artists, provoking discussion on the cultural impact of art.

In an effort to raise the question on disposable versus hand-crafted products, The Guerilla Mug Assault allowed Philadelphians to swap their paper or plastic cups for a ceramic mug created by Clay Studio artists in exchange for a story about something handcrafted in their lives. The Clay Studio’s own Curator of Artistic Programs, Garth Johnson, explains the impact of these two events.