The Covered Container

As a utilitarian potter I seem to make a lot of covered containers.  I really enjoy making them, yet I remember as a student they were the dreaded project.  (Just as they seem to be for my current students!)  They are definitely one of the more challenging forms.  I remember back to my Junior Pots class at Alfred with Val Cushing; he had us focus on making those lids become one with the form underneath it, and it’s his voice that I remember so often as I am fitting those lids.

Below are a few of my cremation urns drying for this weeks bisque.  These urns are approximately 12″ tall.  Along side these urns are my teeny, tiny covered salt cellars, about 2″ tall.  These are new little forms which I’m having some fun with.

Money is the Issue

I spent half my Sunday reading the current issue of  “The Studio Potter” – Money Matters.  Really great articles on making a living as a potter.  Of course it led me to look up some of the featured artists online. (Oh how I love the internet!) I checked out Whitney Smith’s blog. (Newly added to my blogroll)  She has a great post on what to say when someone asks for advice on wanting to become a full time potter. 

A Few Pots from my Advanced Class

On Thursday nights my teaching methods change a bit.  Instead of focusing on the basics of wheel throwing with beginner students, I focus more on how to help a student execute their ideas.  First off , they are all required to have a sketchbook… to draw their ideas, or to write their ideas.  To write what glazes they used, immediately, so as not to forget when that pot comes out of the kiln, and it’s gorgeous, and you want to be able to duplicate it!  We talk about form and function.  How do you make a spout fit the form of the teapot, look good, and actually work!  I get questions that I love to answer, like, “ how do I make this bowl look softer”.  We get into complexities of glazing… talking about whether or not that particular glaze is distracting from the form or enhancing the form.   And then there is the ever challenging technical aspect of throwing, that all advanced students want to accomplish… making a 12″ cylinder with 4 lbs of clay. 

Gayle's Bowl

 

Two Mugs by Gayle

Soy Ewer by Dawn F.

Pitcher by Dawn F.

 

The Puppy is Growing

OK, so I know Graham is a short dog, but Willow is already walking over him, while he is standing!

Growing Willow, at three and a half months

 

Snoozing Studio Dogs

This photo was taken after the daily ritual of their morning chase. I leave the door open from the studio into the house.  They run back and forth from the house woodstove, to the studio pellet stove… about twenty times! 

Winter Pottery Classes, and Student Pots

The winter session is in full swing.  So I thought I show off some more of my students great work!   The two student potters featured here are a mother and daughter duo who took classes with me from the time Elizabeth was 13 till she was 18.  She just went off to college this past fall.  She and her mom Selena just stopped by for a visit today, and I took some photo’s of their work.  The salad bowls have been a daily mainstay in their kitchen for the past two years.  And the whimsical teapots were made by Elizabeth when she was 16… and yes she is going to college for fine art and environmental studies.

Elizabeth's elephant teapot

Grandma's Tea by Elizabeth

Peapod Trays, by Elizabeth

Salad bowl, by Selena

Selena's Serving Bowl

New Urns

So it’s that time of year again… all is quiet in the pottery studio after the holidays.  It is my time to really focus on cremation urns, a big part of my pottery biz.  I have been photgraphing new work this past week.  These are some images that will soon go up on the website, (which is in the process of getting a make-over.)  If your interested in learning more about my urns go to my website, or read about it in Studio Potter, Winter 09.

Shoes at the Fuller

 The last of the three wonderful shows to report on from the Fuller Museum in Brockton, Ma.  is the show about shoes. (Brockton was once the shoe capital of the world! )  “The Perfect Fit- Shoes Tell Stories”  featured every sculptural way of interpreting shoes you can imagine… from hundreds of tiny origami high heels, to bronze baby shoes.  The bronze baby shoes being my favorite.  The piece is called Baby Opera, by Judy Haberl (check out her website).  The piece was so intriguing.  When you come upon the piece you first hear the sound of children’s laughter, and the pitter patter of tiny foot steps.  You see hundreds of bronze baby shoes, some ancient looking, most, more modern.  All the shoe openings faced you at eye level,  like all these tiny mouths, telling you their story.  The sculpture held a special place in my heart because my Dad used to sell bronze baby shoes.  As a child I will always remember the sight when my Dad came home from work, carrying a dozen or so baby shoes from his sales calls, ready to be sent to the factory to be bronzed. 

 

Another Show At the Fuller

More from our AVPG field trip to the Fuller Museum!   Here are some pics from the ceramic installation of Francine and Frank Ozereko.  “On the Line”  This spanned three very large walls!

 

 

 

Warren Mackenzie Retrospective at the Fuller Craft Musuem

Today was an exciting field trip day for the Asparagus Valley Potter’s Guild.  We took a two-hour bus trip to the Fuller Museum in Brockton, Ma. to see the wonderful Warren Mackenzie Retrospective.  We also saw the up-lifting,  and inspiring,  “On the Line”, an installation, by one of our own guild members, Francine Ozereko, and her husband Frank Ozereko.  And last but not least, an exhibit about shoes… totally engaging!  I will report on the later two in the next few days.  For now, here are some Warren Mackenzie pots to inspire!

 

More Student Pots, and Apprentice Pots

Here are a few more pics of student work, and my apprentice’s work!

Wendy's Serving Bowl

Dawn's Oval Covered Casserole

Dawn's Serving Bowl

My Apprentice Pam's Votive Bowl

 

Another of Pam's