OTB at its core…
Who are we?
OUTSIDE the BOX, OTB for short, is a community art studio located at 43 N West St in the heart of downtown Bellbrook, Ohio.
What do we do?
At our core, we are a ceramic studio that serves as creative place for the surrounding communities. We hold regular monthly classes and courses such as our wheel classes or glaze & sip nights. We keep things fresh with seasonal workshops and pop-up events that we rotate with each new season. We also have weekly open studio days when the public can come in and create projects without appointments. Along with this, we have a plethora of kids programs such as regularly scheduled after school club, pop-up summer camps, home school classes, kids clay days, pottery painting parties, and so much more! Last but certainly not least, with ceramics being the backbone of our studio we offer ceramic memberships for our clay lab facilities.
Why do we do it?
Everyone is creative, whether they believe it our not! “Art-making” “Crafting” “Experimenting” No matter what you call it, creativity sparks personal growth and connects communities! Our goal is to serve as a safe space to make and foster creativity in our surrounding neighborhoods. We do what we do because IT IS IMPORTANT.
How it started…
OUTSIDE the BOX Art Studio was established in 2021 in downtown Bellbrook, Ohio, by Carmen Ferraro. The idea for a community art studio first emerged a year earlier amid the challenges of 2020, as Carmen spent over a year searching for the ideal location for her business. Ultimately, she struck gold by acquiring a 1,200 square foot warehouse, which became her "blank canvas" situated in her dream location and hometown. Initially, the studio operated with just one day of public hours and a few private wheel sessions each week while Carmen transformed the warehouse into a creative haven. The growing demand for creative activities spurred rapid expansion, leading to the launch of after-school programs, summer camps, and other offerings. A significant milestone for both the studio and Carmen was the addition of her mother, Kim Ferraro, as a studio partner in 2024, who has always been her biggest supporter turned co-worker. Today, OUTSIDE the BOX has blossomed into a lively community hub that provides ceramics lab memberships, weekly public open hours, party hosting, hands-on workshops, and community outreach initiatives aimed at engaging and inspiring individuals of all ages. Looking ahead, OUTSIDE the BOX eagerly anticipates meeting new faces and hopes to expand not only its offerings and events but also its physical space!
Our Founder
After working in the art field since 2014 and receiving her BFA from the college of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) at the University of Cincinnati, Carmen Ferraro knew she wanted to combine all of her experiences into a public studio space in her hometown. Teaching such a tactile craft in both small and large studios of all ages, she brings an experienced voice to the world of ceramics. She has always loved the effect art-making can have on a community and hopes OUTSIDE the BOX continues to connect people through the arts.