Dawn Ebbing is a cosmetologist at Compass Hair Salon, formerly Raze Hair Design. She is married to Jeff Ebbing, and they have three children and one grandson. 

In January, her daughter asked her to take a ceramics class as a fun activity before graduating from SCC. She now has her daughter to thank for her current addiction to pottery. She has also enjoyed a few pottery classes at the art center before and since. But Dawn would only consider herself an amateur only starting six months ago. 

Dawn is excited to compete in the Throw Down and help the Art Center of Burlington grow. Even if her amateur abilities shine.

I teach ceramics at Burlington High School, where I've been molding young minds (and plenty of clay) for several years. My love affair with ceramics has been going strong for over a decade, and though I've only been spinning the wheel for three years, I'm constantly on a quest to level up my skills and master new techniques. When I'm not getting my hands dirty with clay, you'll find me dreaming up new projects and inspiring my students to unleash their inner artists. Let's create something amazing together!

Shumpei Yamaki was born and raised in Kamakura, Japan. He moved to Philadelphia in 1996 to study dance. He went on to pursue a bachelor’s degree in archaeology at the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse.

In 1999, Shumpei was injured in an automobile accident and enrolled in a ceramics class as physical therapy for his arm. He discovered his passion for ceramics, and in 2001 began an apprenticeship under Richard Bresnahan. He learned traditional Japanese pottery techniques, wood-firing, and ways to rely on local resources and resource conservation.

Shumpei went on to graduate studies at the University of Iowa, in 2002, taking full advantage of their strong wood-fire program.

In 2005, Shumpei moved to Brooklyn and participated in wood-firings in upstate New York with Tim Rowan and Roger Baumann. He returned to Iowa in 2009, where he is mainly working on functional ceramics and has been experimenting with local clay in his personal endeavors as a wood-fire potter.

After working with this medium for over 15 years I am so lucky to have turned it into my career. As an instructor and studio tech I have been able to make my every work day feel like play. Teaching others the joy of ceramics has become as rewarding as creating my own work. Watching the art Center of Burlingtons Ceramic Studio grow into what is has become today and seeing the enthusiasm of this community children, teen and adults alike is something I never imagined I would experience. I look forward to all the years to come i get to dedicated to the ceramics arts.