My share of space

I've got 3 shelves of pottery for sale at the Old Depot in Black Mountain.  I do hope some of these will be going home soon with smiling folks to be used, or given to friends!  

Here's the Old Depot link, and if you are in the area this Saturday...they sponsor Art by the Tracks...with lots of canopies of arts and crafts along the streets.

The Depot is open Tues through Sat, 10-4, and has every kind of craft imaginable...little to big, kitchen, bedroom, living room and dining room. Paintings, cards, CD's wood working, wind chimes, jewelry, clothing, you have to browse these wonderful hand created things.

The planters

I've started plants in my own planters.

They are all out on my front porch.  There are a couple of hanging plants that I didn't make, and at least one regular kind of pot.

a 'second'

Potters have many failures. If we didn't we wouldn't be stretching our (and clay's) limits to find the extent to which we can go, and no further.

So here's my first plate/shallow bowl which had an s-crack. I agree with John Bauman (blogger, potter) that I tried to dry it too fast.  He showed when the outer areas dry (and shrink) faster than the innermost ones on flat shapes, they cause s-cracks in the center.  I had slowly waited with it under loose plastic for a week, and the outside edges weren't white yet, but I put it uncovered in the kiln room.  Too early.  I should have let it dry uncovered until it was white green-ware on my shelf, then moved it to the kiln room where it is hotter.

And thus the bisque firing showed the S-crack (very small) was there.

So whether to bother glazing it or not, when I was pretty sure the crack would remain.  It didn't go through to the back side. If it had, I would have tossed it after it came out of the bisque kiln.

Sure, I could try some glaze overlays and thus see how they worked together.  Some Raspberry, some black, and some white.  Interesting results (remember them in case I ever want to use these combos again.) But the plate is a second.

My personal critique is that I like the edging effects, more with one glaze than another.  I am thrilled to see how white glaze over raspberry causes a grayish pebbled effect.  I don't like black over raspberry - where no red shows or makes a bit of difference. I like white over black...a nice grey also, but my application was uneven in pouring the glazes. Remind myself that one pour doesn't work if there are touch-ups.  I don't like trying to use glaze in the grooves on the foot...I'd prefer it to all be bare clay. I don't like the "wiped" effect with the white glaze, which looks better when left on the backside.  But having carvings that disappeared with glazes that don't break well, I did the wipe.

Glad I can make another one soon.

The apple pie plate

In order to be more artistic (yep, I think I've succumbed to that as a goal) I made some decorative plate/bowls. They are basically a shape like a pie pan...maybe a serving bowl for pasta, or just a small pie pan.

First let me share the Apple Pie Plate...

 The painting is pretty loose in this rendering of an apple...not to mention painting it with glazes that require 3 coats for good coverage. I'm ok with the way it came out.

It's actually a bit deep, and since I fix apple pie once a year, and usually for myself, I think it will work. Or maybe I'll sell it. Who knows...

Some Swannanoa Valley History of pottery

As a docent at the Swannanoa Valley Museum and History Center (SVM) I want to share some of the pottery that has been made here about 1300 years ago, and more recently, by Native Americans in the area.

The archaeological display speaks of firing pots by the time Woodland Indians were living in the area (640 A.D.)

These display boards are about the digs by Warren Wilson college professors and students.

"Maude Welch, a Cherokee potter, lived as a young woman in Sough Carolina in Catawba surroundings, later moving to the Qually Boundary. She died in 1953.  Her descendants still live in Cherokee."  Qualla Boundary is a Cherokee reservation, including the city of Cherokee NC.

 (See below for reading the sign about the Wedding Pot)

A stirrup jug is a style that was often used in Meso-America, so it comes from the Western North America and Central and South American indigenous peoples from before there was European contact.

Three periods explained on story boards for the exhibit.

The display about Native Americans is rather small, and I'll share more about the rest of it in my other blog, Living in Black Mountain NC.

Must be busy

After days of low energy, I tried going to studio yesterday. Ugh. My body said, not yet.
But I did sign up to be there as much as possible next month.

And it's not really hard to wiggle my fingers on these keys, so I'll start blogging again at least.
I see I need to use my hands holding cay tools, because the muscles need that exercise.

Thanks for all the good wishes from my blogging buddies.  You're the greatest!

Barb

Quote for today:

Gratitude for the gift of life is the primary wellspring of all religions, the hallmark of the mystic, the source of all true art.

JOANNA MACY

Taking a break

See you in the funny papers...when I get over this cold/allergies!

The forgotten dish for the planter

A week or so ago...I mentioned a medium sized turquoise green planter (HERE) and concluded that I could use a tin pie plate under it.  I had completely forgotten making the dish for it when I threw the pot! (Something about being 76-1/2 years old perhaps?)

Look Barb, you signed it! It's yours!

As soon as I can, a new little plant will be added!

These mountains I love

a bit of haze that gradually cleared, giving us sunburns which we gladly welcomed in early spring.

 The motel part of the Pisgah Inn

 looking toward the restaurant and gift shop

my favorite easily identified wildflowers!

When a vase has a face...

Once again I've made a face, or a vase. Or somehow a Victorian lady popped out of the vase I'd thrown.

I added torn pieces of slab to make the vase taller. Then I made a face, and gave her frills of more torn slab pieces.

You may note that she's not completely finished.  There's a touch of white to be added in the eyes...to give the sense of light being reflected, instead of the dead look they have now.

So as soon as I do that, I'll post the final photo...here.

Incidentally, I may try to show this in a juried show that is being held in July. I want to have something that is more than just a decorative piece of pottery. Leaning toward Fine Arts, don't you know?

And PS for the last 4 posts about the show at the Red House Gallery...there are many more pieces that I didn't photograph, so I encourage anyone in the area to drop in and look at them...

"Passages" Chapter 4

This is the end of my photos from the Opening Reception at the Red House Gallery.

 I was happy to meet Tina the first time she came into the Swannanoa Valley Fine Arts league...and am so glad to see her work.

 An excellent description of Homeward Bound was given, since a percentage of sales is going toward that non-profit to help end homelessness.