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originally published 1-6-10`5 “Caring too much for objects can destroy you. Only—if you care for a thing enough, it takes on a life of its own, doesn’t it? And isn’t the whole point of things—beautiful things—that they connect you to some larger beauty?”- a quote from the Donna Tartt novel, Goldfinch. So, though handmade pots aren't magnificent paintings, the simple mug, that for some reason gives you a short shot of pleasure, maybe helps you to pay attention to that morning coffee, or the morning light coming through the translucent porcelain cup. The rice bowl, the rim, that swirls around...

originally published 7/29/2013 Someone recently asked me how I got a particular smokey effect on a shino plate.  Did you use the glaze "Malcolm Shino to get that effect?"  I didn't know how to respond because there are so many variables in firing shinos.  How do you explain the experimentation that goes with finding the key to consistency with Elusive Shinos. I've been experimenting with shinos for a while, and the results coming out of the kiln are always a surprise.  A passion for shino  began when I made a dinnerware set that was supposed to be a creamy white,...

originally published 1/31/2012 Song on Porcelain Czeslaw Milosz   Rose-colored cup and saucer, Flowery demitasses: You lie beside the river Where an armored column passes. Winds from across the meadow Sprinkle the banks with down; A torn apple tree's shadow Falls on the muddy path; The ground everywhere is strewn With bits of brittle froth-- Of all things broken and lost Porcelain troubles me most.   Before the first red tones Begin to warm the sky The earth wakes up, and moans. It is the small sad cry Of cups and saucers cracking, The masters' precious dream Of roses, of...

On Dec. 11, 2011 Malcolm Davis died. When NCECA had it's convention in Philadelphia, Malcolm Davis gave the closing speech.   It was a wonderful and moving speech. Pretty funny in parts, - someone when introduced to him said, "Malcolm Davis?  I thought you were a glaze!" I guess all of us shino lovers do indeed have a Malcolm Shino glaze bucket in our studio. His carbon trapped pots have been inspirational. I listened to the speech again when I heard of his death.  Here's a more serious excerpt that speaks to the question of why we make pots: "But my greatest...

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....