Potter’s Meeting… the AVPG

Last night we had a great AVPG meeting held at my house and studio…  good talk, great food… too much food, (is that possible?)  Why are potter’s such good cooks? 

We welcomed new member, Lucien Koonce to our Guild tonight, and hoped to welcome Molly Hatch to her first meeting, but she and baby Camilla were home sick. 

Here are some pics.  We are missing a few from the group tonight,  it’s quite impossible to get us all in a room together, unless we are having a group show.  We especially miss Angela Fina our faithful leader as she is recuperating.

We all have our holiday sales coming up… more on next post.

posted by Lucy Fagella

Front to back.  Pam Adorno, Rick Epstein, Mary Barringer, Lucy Fagella,  Mara Superior,  Evelyn Snyder,  Valerie Brunnell,  Lucien Koonce,  Molly Cantor,  Donna McGee,  Michael Cohen,  Nancy Magnusson,  Meghan Hart, Tiffany Hilton, Robbie Heidinger, Jamie Guggina, Andrew Quient, Steve Earp. 

TOUCH FIRE… Japanese Women Ceramics

I also went to the Touch Fire exhibit at Smith College.   It was great to see contemporary Japanese women’s ceramics.  Like Mike said it’s a don’t miss.  There was some really funky stuff.  The woven (paper clay?) wall hangings were gorgeous.  My main problem with the whole show was that there was only one tea bowl.  It was definitely exclusive of functional, contemporary ceramics… a bit of an injustice to the rich history in functional ceramics of Japan. 

Lucy Fagella

Japanese Women (clay) Artists

Right now there is a great exhibition at the Smith College Art Museum.

Japanese Women  Artists. 90% clay plus some woven screens that are  beautiful. The work is technically astounding. The most intricate, time consuming,  ways of working clay that you can imagine.

All of the work is fantastically detailed and carefully executed. My problem is that artistically,  it falls short.  Some of the pieces are almost silly. That is not to say that all the work is weird. There are many gorgeous  pots and pieces of sculpture. There is also a five minute film loop of one of the women working. Don’t miss it.

The display is beautiful except that you have to squat to read the labels. Some works, one can walk up to and others are in cases. I found myself walking up to a case and muttering  “WOW!”

I think that this show is a must see for anyone working in clay.

Michael Cohen

Fun with Pottery Blogs!

My bi-monthly blog, titled “This Day in Pottery History,” is taking off! In it I post various stories from my research on early pottery. It’s getting over 60 hits a day. Huh? Blog Catalog, a clearinghouse site for blogs on the Internet, has given “This Day…” their top rating of five stars. It is also listed on Clayzilla’s “20 Coolest Ceramic Blogs.” Thanks to Lucy for helping us all get going with this stuff!

Merchant services

I have been paying 5% for charge card transactions!!!
(Elavon)  {Wachovia Bank}
Last week I get a letter (from Elavon) saying that I have to meet “Payment  Card Industry -Data Security Standards” $299.- per year! They imply it’s mandatory. $20.- per month if you don’t comply by November. Plus all the extra little charges.

I have an old sliding “knuckle buster” and I call in charges on my phone.
I do only $7000. per year in charges. Half is with stores, the other half, three little local shows.
Have any of you come up against this PCI-DSS?
Should I drop this company and find another?
Some companies advertise “low fees, free equipment, etc.”

Any suggestions?  anyone? anyone? Bueller?
posted by Michael Cohen

What does your pottery apron look like?

The potter’s guild purchased these great aprons a few years ago.  I wear mine every working day.

posted by Lucy Fagella

 

 

Passing it on

Tanner Harris working on an electric kiln

When I first started my pottery business in 2005 I had never worked with an electric kiln before, but it was the only kiln I could afford to purchase at that time.  I bought a new L&L which is still in great shape after  about 30 firings each year.

When the elements needed to be replaced for the first time it was (of course) a week before a big show and I had never changed elements or thermocouples before in my life.  I put a call out to my new friends in the Potters’ Guild and found a few people willing to show me how to do the work myself.  Lucy Fagella lives right around the corner from me and I made her lunch in exchange for a quick lesson in electric kiln maintenance.  Thanks Lucy!

A few years later…I’m able to pass on those skills to my apprentice, Tanner Harris.

Now if I could only figure out how to fire my new gas kiln!

Posted by Tiffany Hilton

$$ and being a Potter

Even though I wouldn’t trade being a potter for anything… sometimes you have to wonder how do we make a living??

I did a dinnerware set from start to finish and calculated the hours it took to make… check it out on my blog… lucy fagella pottery.

 

Kiln for Sale

Josh and I did the “Celebrate West Hartford” show this weekend. We had a good response and would probably do it again.
Saw Nancy M. there. really beautiful wood fired stuff.
I ran into an old friend, Bob Fishman.
He is selling a 40 cu. ft. stacking space Minnesota flat top gas car kiln
(with a sprung arch) $3000.
He is in Rhode Island. The kiln has to be dismantled. Bob will help with plans and photos.

     Robert Fishman Pottery
       576 Central Pike
       N. Scituate, RI  02857

       phone: (401) 647-7981
       email: bob@fishmanpottery.com
       web:   http://www.fishmanpottery.com

posted by Michael Cohen

New show for Mike

This weekend 6/13  & 14/09 I’m off to “Celebrate West Hartford” on the Town Hall Green. I have heard good things about the quality and the gate.

I will report back next week.

Posted by Michael Cohen