USF Tampa’s only ceramics club hosted an informational session on Friday — but wheels and kilns were nowhere to be seen.

After 21 years of using USF’s facilities, Lil Muddy’s Fun Bunch members were notified in July that they would have to relocate off-campus permanently.

The club was removed from USF’s ceramics studio in the Fine Arts Building back in May after access to the space was restricted to studio art majors.

Related: USF’s ceramics club is at risk after losing its facilities.

Club president Kaley Geu said she worked with Student Government (SG) and USF’s College of the Arts over the summer to find a new on-campus space. However, there weren’t any facilities available at USF to accommodate a new studio, she said.

“We’ve had to look in other directions, and while off-campus might not be a very viable option for a lot of people, it’s pretty much our most valid choice,” Geu said.

Lil Muddy’s is considering two possible studio options: an old funeral home 15 minutes away from USF and the Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI).

The goal is to secure a new space by the end of the semester.

Geu said Chuck McGee, Lil Muddy’s adviser, recommended an off-campus space the club could use  — the Guinn Center on North Nebraska Avenue, which was known as the Adams & Jennings Funeral Home until 2023.

“Even though it is an old funeral home, it technically has everything we need: tile floors with drains and an open concept — but maybe some dead people,” Geu said.

The Guinn Center is a 5,000-square-foot non-profit and multi-use center that hosts free events for the Tampa community. 

Amber Nguyen, Lil Muddy’s secretary, said the struggle of moving to an off-campus studio is that it is not as convenient for students to get to.

Nguyen said McGee brought up the idea of adding a new Bull Runner route to go to the studio. Still, the option would have to be explored because there would be a lot of paperwork involved, she said.

Sumit Jadhav, student body vice president, said USF Parking and Transportation will have to review this plan once the club makes an official choice of off-campus space. 

Jadhav said SG and Chris Garvin, the College of the Arts dean, suggested utilizing a studio in MOSI since it is a convenient place for anyone on campus. Transportation there could also be easier since there is a Bull Runner stop right across from it.

“It is up to the club how they go through the process of choosing the off-campus location, because we recognize the club’s need and tradition and are more than willing to support them,” Jadhav said.

While members continue the search for a potential home, the club will hold outdoor meetings in the Fine Arts Building breezeway.

They will also shift to hand-building projects until the club makes the full off-campus transition, Geu said.

Geu said anything students want to make on the wheel can also be made with their hands. Even if they are unfamiliar with some of those techniques, club members will teach them, she said.

Kalyn Webber, Lil Muddy’s vice president, said the club will need to get fans because of the hot weather outside. The tables where they meet also have holes, so they’re considering using pieces of wood to block them, she said.

Lil Muddy’s open studios are on Wednesdays 4:30-7 p.m. and Fridays 9 a.m.-3 p.m, with the first one taking place this Friday. 

Even though it was uncertain whether Lil Muddy’s would still exist after being evicted from USF’s ceramics facilities, Webber said she isn’t worried about this possibility anymore.

“We keep getting knocked down, but I keep seeing new opportunities, which keeps me hopeful,” Webber said. “I think I’m more scared of how long it may take to rebuild and actually get a space we can call our own.”