This evening I will begin a two week period of assistantship and claywork at Watershed center for Ceramic Art in Newcastle, Maine. Nearly everyone who is a part of the clay community has been touched by Watershed in some way…the effects of this magical environment are truly special and far reaching. But for those who may not have heard of this unique program, let me give you a little history. Situated on the site of a former brick factory, Watershed as we know it was brought into life by artist and investor Margaret Griggs. In 1986 Griggs enlisted artists George Mason, Lynn Duryea, and Chris Gustin to organize a pilot project to use the site in a new and creative way. The group began to invite artists from the United States and Great Britain, to live and work at the facility. These first groups of artists began the tradition of an intimately communal, process oriented, creative environment that still exists at Watershed today. In fact, the mission of Watershed is “to provide artists with the time and space to work in clay.”

Normally, artists live in on site housing, share meals in the common dining space, and spend time working on their art in the studios of the factory building. I will be participating in all aspects of the Watershed experience, except that I will be driving home everyday…I am fortunate enough to live only 15 minutes from Watershed.

Each day, for the next 14 days, I will be posting a daily journal entry pertaining to my time at Watershed, as well as many photographs of this wonderful little corner of the world. As if the ability to spend time among fellow artists in a beautiful setting were not enough, I get the added benefit of helping out with Salad Days…Watershed’s annual fundraiser event, and one of the best times to be had in Mid-Coast Maine.

So, if you have ever wondered what it would be like to be able to spend two weeks with your work in one of the most beautiful and idea rich places in the world, stick with me and get one potter’s perspective on the Watershed experience!

Tags: artist residency, ceramics, clay, Maine, pottery, salad days, watershed

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