Sunday, October 30, 2011

Cup: The Intimate Object VII

A cup is the most intimate piece of pottery we use. Cradled in our hands, held by our fingers using a handle, there are so many ways people hold a drinking vessel. And then of course we raise it to our lips to take nourishment and comfort from the beverage.

Here are some delightful pieces on Charlie Cummings Gallery that illustrate the variety of mugs/ cups/ tumblers made as well as the imagination and skills of makers.

This mug by Sarah Jaeger is a favourite and I would love to add it to my collection. The graceful form begs to be held. I really like the colours and the decoration. This mug has a lot of happiness in it.  I so enjoy drinking from handmade pots. It's like a visit with another potter.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Matt Long Workshop

Lately I've been thinking about much I've benefitted from workshops that I've attended. There is no end to what can be done in ceramics and I'm grateful that others share their experience and knowledge. Matt Long is an incredible potter, storyteller and instructor.

I've been enjoying the tall Matt Long tumbler I purchased at the salt-firing workshop at Martin Tagseth's in May. It was the perfect vessel for iced coffee this hot summer. Now I drink water or hot coffee out of it.  I would have really liked to purchase the mug below as well.

Here's Carole Epp's post: Musing about Mud.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Bob Reimer

Just read about this loss to the ceramics community. Bob Reimer was a warm person and very knowledgeable about ceramics. Decades ago I saw a teapot of his that he slip-glazed using clay from his back yard (70 clay/ 30 neph sy). I really liked the form, the surface and the simple glaze formula. It was probably the first honest pot I ever saw.

I will always treasure the visit with him last year when he came to Medalta.

Good for chuckle

Another slow day at the market. Had a good chuckle watching this video.

Friday, October 21, 2011

BBC video "Ceramics - A Fragile History"



"No art form tells us more about our ordinary lives than ceramics" is the introduction to a wonderful video  Ceramics - A Fragile History.  I enjoyed the hiss of the draw ring, seeing Lucie Rie and Bernard Leach's "potters' nod". Great visuals and lots of information.

Above is an image of Lucie and her work.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Saturday, October 8, 2011

The "Madly Curious" Mama of Dada

Since first reading of Beatrice Wood I've been intrigued.  Beatrice was a true free spirit.  Her approach to glazing was intuitive and experimental. Enjoy.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Guy Wolff's Steve Jobs story

Guy Wolff is a traditional potter who lives in Bantam, Connecticut who makes a lot of flowerpots for historical gardens. He apprenticed at older shops in North Carolina, Wales and Northern England.




Guy posted the following on Facebook: 


"A decade back I had a great article in Horticulture magazine on my garden flowerpots and the day it dropped I got a phone call from Steve asking if his plantsman could come for a visit so we could plan out some pots for his garden . The visit was made and the pots started but with the size of the order and size of the pots the order took the greater part of the season to get going on and with humidity I became bogged down . Clinton was in office and Steve called to ask what my email was so he could keep abreast on his order . Being a potter my answer was "What is Email"? Steve very kindly offered me one of his computers but at the time I had no idea how helpful this would have been for keeping my unorganized shop a little more together and the size of the gift seemed undeserved . Since then I have taught myself how to use his machines for designing pots here in Connecticut and making them all over the world .OH .. and I have just made a folk music CD using nothing but Garageband and planed to send Steve and Lauraine a copy to thank him for all he has done for home made music. Thanks Steve for your kindness to me."

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Ceramics Now

 Carole Epp is featured in an interview in Ceramics Now.  I have always been intrigued by Carole's sculptural pieces. She is really pushing boundaries, communicating her concerns and ideas through her work. And she is one of the most delightful people I know.

Check out her blog where she brings the world of ceramics to you.

Here's a pic of Carole and her pal Brendan Tang at her opening at the Mendel Art Gallery