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originally published 10/11/2013 This is a paraphrase from an article I read about Edmund Waal.  He has an exhibit at the Gagosian Gallery in NYC that ends on Oct. 19th.  Can't wait to see it. In his book, "The Hare With Amber Eyes" he writes"  All this matters because my job is to make things.  How objects get handled, used and handed on is not just a mildly interesting question for me.  It is my question. I have made many, many thousands of pots.  I am very bad at names, I mumble and fudge, but I am good on pots....

originally published 01/12/2011 Preparing for my holiday sale next week, I loaded my kiln, and put fencing wire on top so that my chickens wouldn't roost on the arch. I left to continue glazing, and when I returned I thought I saw house insulation on the bagwall.  How did that get there? A closer look revealed a chicken. Should I have unloaded to get her out, risked her flaying about and knocking down pots and shelves, or simply roasted a chicken?

originally published 9/18/2011   A couple years ago I made a dinnerware set that was supposed to be a creamy white.  I chose a beautiful shino that, when thick, was a rich creamy color.  When I opened the kiln this is what it revealed: carbon trap rice bowls The entire set was anything but creamy white- a variety of black spots, smokey blushes, crystals that excited me with the possibilities for glazing.  When I tried to reproduce these results, I didn't succeed, but often got delightful glaze effects. vase with smokey carbon  vase with smokey swirls   For many years...

originally published 3/20/2011   Potters share the pleasure received from seeing a shelf of finished pots waiting to be fired, or a kiln opening brimming with pots still warm from that fire.   I work for weeks and can hold the tangible product of my labor in my hands.  There’s no ambiguity of accomplishment.  For better or worse, I have objects that describe my work. My table full of pots drying is an exhilarating sight.  At this stage of the process, I usually don’t want to stop the making- it’s a time when I have more ideas for the forms that...

originally published 2/20/2011 I’ve been spending time rereading old STUDIO POTTER magazines From Joe Spano, Studio Potter Vol. 13 # 2 “I live with many of [Joan’s] pots.  Some of them I handle every day.  They illuminate my life in daily ways, quiet and unremarked pleasures.  Others stop me in my tracks.  They are the master’s slap, the laugh of god.  They tell me that it’s wise to pay attention.  I value both, as both have gifts to give if I’m in the receiving vein.” And then: “I came to love the handmade pot because I saw in it what...