Archive for October, 2008
Sometimes you just can’t give’em away…
In our preparations to move from our home of 2 1/2 years in Bath, Maine to a new house in Northampton, Mass., I have been on a sort of rampage to clear out, clean up, and simplify things. Over the past few weeks we have had a giant yard sale, participated in 2 local pottery sales, and taken a car load of somewhat less than acceptable pots and sculptures to the shard pile at Watershed…I should have my own shard pile wing by now.
However, I am a big believer in the idea that in order to make space in one’s life (both literally and emotionally), it is sometimes necessary to clear out all the clutter. So, as the day of the move approached, I made a final search of the house and studio and found a few mugs that I felt like I just did not like well enough to take with me on this move. So, having taken the last load of pottery to the shard pile, I decided to sit the mugs and a few odds and ends on the curb in front of our house. I am actually a fan of doing this; I’ve gotten rid of a bunch of random stuff this way, and it feels a little like passing around some good karma…one person’s trash is another’s treasure and all that jazz. But I had never tried it with pots.
Very quickly the things I placed out front began to disappear…an old heater, some t.v. trays, etc… However, the pots stayed, and stayed, and stayed, until I finally snapped this photo three days after I placed the mugs on the curb. Someone did finally pick them up; but the whole thing got me thinking about perceived value and how we assign worth to material goods. If the mugs had been presented at a show or sale, would they have sold as well as any other piece? Because the pots were seen as something I did not want, did they then become something no one wanted? Also, by placing these things outside for anyone to take, am I devaluing my work in general?
I would love to get a dialogue started on this subject, and welcome your comments and thoughts!
Buffy the Poster Chicken
A few weeks ago I saw a random news story about a chicken in the UK who was rescued from a battery farm. Nicknamed “Buffy,” this 1 year old hen was taken from the farm by the RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). After spending her life in a cramped, unsanitary cage, Buffy had lost all of her feathers and was nearly 2 lbs. under-weight. Since she had no feathers to keep her warm, volunteers knitted Buffy a sweater to keep her warm during her convalescence.
When I first heard about Buffy, I thought the whole production seemed very silly. There are thousands of chickens, cows, and pigs right here in our own country living in deplorable conditions…all in the name of cheap, easy food for us. Why make such a fuss over one chicken, when there are so many others out there suffering everyday? But then I began to realize that by giving this random hen a name, a face, and a sweater, the RSPCA had taken a small step towards bringing us face to face with the animals that give their lives to put food on our plates. Too often we purchase our food in the sterile styrofoam packages from the supermarket without so much as a thought to for the animal that provided the meat, the farm where the animal lived, or the way it was treated while it was alive.
So, after doing some online research, I set out to create a sculpture inspired by Buffy’s story. These images show the progression of this piece as it was built, starting with the inspiration photograph of Buffy and ending with the leather-hard finished sculpture. I will be sure to include an image of the fired piece in a later post. To learn more about the importance of supporting sustainable farming, cruelty free farms, and truly organic farms visit SustainableTable.org. You can read Buffy’s full story here.
Here the piece is just beginning to look like a chicken.
In this image, I have begun to add details, and Buffy has been placed on her pillow.
Finished leather-hard piece.
Portland Pottery at Maine Audubon
Over the past few years I have developed a great relationship with the owners and staff at Portland Pottery. Located on Washington Avenue, in Portland, Maine, Portland Pottery is Northern New England’s largest supplier for ceramic artists, as well as home to community pottery and jewelry studios offering classes, workshops, and studio space for adults and children. During my first few months in Maine, while my husband and I were still setting up my home studio, I spent nearly every day taking classes and working in the studio there.
Each year the students, instructors, staff, and friends of Portland Pottery hold a sale at the Gilsland Farm Audubon Center, in Falmouth, Maine. Sited on 65 acres along the Presumscot River, Gilsland Farm is the headquarters for Maine’s Audubon Society. The center offers walking trails, apple orchards, bee hives, and a large, beautifully designed center which houses offices, learning areas, galleries, and a gift shop.
So every September a large tent is erected in a small field among the heavily laden apple trees and, for 3 days, local potters and artists come together to sell their wares. During the 3 days, Portland Pottery accepts donations for the Maine Audubon and features a smaller tent where adults and children can get short clay sculpting and throwing lessons. This year we had beautiful fall weather, and the show became, for me, a time to enjoy the lovely setting and catch up with old friends!
Firing the Soda Kiln Solo
When I first began spending time at Watershed I knew very little about firing in atmospheric kilns…but I did know enough to be sure I wanted to learn more. As I have written here, I have had the opportunity to participate in a number of salt/soda firings this summer, which allowed me to learn from experienced artists and potters. However, I feel like I always get a more complete grasp of something when I actually take the reins and attempt a project myself.
Empty Soda Kiln.
So, after spending a few weeks making enough work to fill the Watershed Soda Kiln on my own, my husband Scott and I set out to do our own salt/soda firing. On the first day, we wadded the bottoms of the pots, loaded the kiln, and bricked up the door (which can be a rather large undertaking in itself!) The next morning, after allowing the pilot flames to burn over night, Scott arrived at Watershed at 6am, lit the actual burners, and began doing turn ups. By the time I showed up at 9:30 am, we were ready for body reduction. We spent the remainder of the day working the kiln and just enjoying the lovely fall day in the beautiful Maine woods; it was just chilly enough to make the kiln a pleasant source of heat. Everything went according to schedule, and we only had to call Tyler for guidance a couple of times!
Finished work in my studio.
Scott and I unloaded the kiln the following day, and the results were an outstanding success. We got some great results from the salt and soda, as well as some beautiful glazes. And in a moment of serendipity, the low cone pack melted over the shelf and dripped into a small bowl…forming a striking, and unrepeatable glaze effect. Since I intended many of the pots in this kiln as dinnerware for our home, we will have the pleasure of using these dishes, and looking back on this wonderful experience for years to come.
More finished pots.
Thanks be to the kiln gods!!!
Obamaware 2008
We all have a favorite handmade cup, mug, or bowl. Maybe you drink your tea from a special mug every morning, or it might be just the perfect bowl from which to eat your ice cream after a long day. Whatever the particular piece, it’s that one perfect pot that you just have to use everyday. So what if that pot could also be a vehicle through which you could express to others your political views and beliefs…as well as reminding yourself of where you stand and what is important to you?
Ayumi Horie‘s Obama Cup
A forward thinking group of today’s top ceramic artists have taken the initiative to support the candidate of their choice by creating limited edition Obama-Biden themed pots. The work will be featured in an online exhibition and sale entitled “Obamaware 2008,” with half of the proceeds from the sale going to support the Obama-Biden campaign. This talented group of potters, which includes Ayumi Horie, Julia Galloway, Diana Fayt, Ron Philbeck, Michael Kline, and many other wonderful artists, join a tradition of artists and craftspeople who through out history have used their art to support a cause, raise awareness, or simply get their message across. The show and sale goes live on October 15th, with a preview of the work on October 13th. Click here to get the complete list of artists as well as a link to a great article on Political Pottery by Sarah Archer of Greenwich House Pottery in New York City. Let’s all show our support for Barrack Obama, a truly brave, intelligent, and thoughtful human being, as well as this amazing group of artists.
Justin Rothshank‘s Maverick Cups
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