Well, today was a pivotal one, for sure.
In the afternoon, we made our first delivery of pottery to Willow Creek Studio, which is having its grand opening next Saturday, May 19. The former Rock Shop building on the Parks Hwy in the "heart of Willow" was purchased by artist Scott Thompson and his wife, Joan; they've been busy setting up a gallery and gift area, lining up artists, building a deck, and preparing to operate a new business. We delivered 35 pieces of my pottery, a variety of serving bowls, berry bowls, plates, soap/candy dishes, casseroles, etc. and hope business will be booming at Willow Creek Studio.
In the evening, UAA Ceramics instructor Steve Godfrey, hosted an end-of-semester gathering at his home, recognizing a number of us who have had some recent good news or developments with our ceramics work. It was fun, appreciated and a delicious collection of fine food! I will definitely miss the wonderful people with whom I've worked over the years in the university wheel-throwing studio. Think I've had thirteen years there of making clay and glazes; loading, firing, and unloading kilns; watching demos and slide shows; throwing, trimming, altering, carving and decorating pots; participating in critiques; and more. Over that period of time, there has been quite a variety of fellow students -- and I will definitely miss most of the personal interactions. Not all, but most. It was good to hear that our UAA Pottery Sale last week raised a record amount of money to help Clay Body continue to supplement and support ceramics at UAA.
It will probably be awhile before I'll be making new work, but I will be back at it -- this time in my own, quiet, cozy studio in Willow. Meanwhile, we need to complete our move to our new home, get our Anchorage home ready to sell, and see Keith through a shoulder surgery in a couple of days. He'll be in a sling for about six weeks, so our packing, moving, and unpacking momentum has been pretty aggressive this week -- while he still has some use of his right arm. Hope he hasn't been too hard on it -- and that long-term relief will be the result of the upcoming surgery for a torn rotator cuff.
Here are samples of work that went to Willow Creek Studio today -- mostly porcelain and a few stoneware. All were high fired; some in gas kiln, some in wood, some in soda.
In the afternoon, we made our first delivery of pottery to Willow Creek Studio, which is having its grand opening next Saturday, May 19. The former Rock Shop building on the Parks Hwy in the "heart of Willow" was purchased by artist Scott Thompson and his wife, Joan; they've been busy setting up a gallery and gift area, lining up artists, building a deck, and preparing to operate a new business. We delivered 35 pieces of my pottery, a variety of serving bowls, berry bowls, plates, soap/candy dishes, casseroles, etc. and hope business will be booming at Willow Creek Studio.
In the evening, UAA Ceramics instructor Steve Godfrey, hosted an end-of-semester gathering at his home, recognizing a number of us who have had some recent good news or developments with our ceramics work. It was fun, appreciated and a delicious collection of fine food! I will definitely miss the wonderful people with whom I've worked over the years in the university wheel-throwing studio. Think I've had thirteen years there of making clay and glazes; loading, firing, and unloading kilns; watching demos and slide shows; throwing, trimming, altering, carving and decorating pots; participating in critiques; and more. Over that period of time, there has been quite a variety of fellow students -- and I will definitely miss most of the personal interactions. Not all, but most. It was good to hear that our UAA Pottery Sale last week raised a record amount of money to help Clay Body continue to supplement and support ceramics at UAA.
It will probably be awhile before I'll be making new work, but I will be back at it -- this time in my own, quiet, cozy studio in Willow. Meanwhile, we need to complete our move to our new home, get our Anchorage home ready to sell, and see Keith through a shoulder surgery in a couple of days. He'll be in a sling for about six weeks, so our packing, moving, and unpacking momentum has been pretty aggressive this week -- while he still has some use of his right arm. Hope he hasn't been too hard on it -- and that long-term relief will be the result of the upcoming surgery for a torn rotator cuff.
Here are samples of work that went to Willow Creek Studio today -- mostly porcelain and a few stoneware. All were high fired; some in gas kiln, some in wood, some in soda.
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covered bowl with Queen Anne's lace |
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| covered jar with two-tree medallion |
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| fluted bowl in earth tones |
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| covered jar varied greens and browns |
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| flirty bowl and saucer in soft jade |
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| large casserole (wood fire) |
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| birch tree dinner plate
Now I have lots to learn about mid-fire
porcelain and glazes and the life of a studio potter in a private,
quiet, cozy setting in Willow, Alaska. There was black ice on the lake
over the weekend and my expectation is that the loons will be calling when
we next return to Willow for the unpacking of more boxes and settling
in. Thank goodness for all the wonderful and extensive maple cabinetry!
If you're reading this on May 13, Happy Mother's Day! We have a date with family for ice cream sundaes at 7:00 this evening. Now I'll also post something on the WillowAK Facebook page. so I remember how to do that. If so inclined, "Like" us when you visit WillowAK Pottery on Facebook. Not sure why it's important, but maybe one of you will let me know.
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