Senator Rosenberg’s holiday gifts. by Angela Fina

Massachusetts State Senator Stan Rosenberg has been a supporter of western Massachusetts artists for the 25 years that he has been in the State government. He offers space in his Boston office for artists to display their work. He also selects a western Mass. artist each year to make the gifts he gives to the other legislators and the governor and other cabinet members.  
This year I was honored to be chosen to make the gifts, small spherical vases in 6 different colors.

Angela Fina

 

 

Senator Rosenberg’s holiday gifts

Senator Rosenberg’s holiday gifts

What’s It Worth

by Steve Earp

Twice during the last two shows I have been asked by customers about how I place value on my work.  The second time was due to the presence at the show of another potter who makes (somewhat) similar items but at phenomenally lower prices.  As I’m generally best at coming up with replies several days later, (it helps to spend hours alone driving home from a show) here’s my stab at it.

In particular, when comparing two potters’ work where one is considerably cheaper, the question of value is relevant to both potters, ie; not just “why is yours so expensive;” but equally “why is the other’s so cheap?”

There are probably several things that could be said.  For example, given the costs involved and the nature of the art market economy, I really don’t know how we can do retail at bargain basement prices and stay in business for too long.  Or I could go into a painfully long and overly aesthetic discourse on how I try to “go the extra mile…”

But perhaps a more straight forward response would be to ask the questioner to think of the item sitting on their shelf five years from now.  Will the fact that it was “kind of cute and really cheap” be enough to care whether it collects dust in the attic?

More photos from the AVPG Show at Pinch

Setting by Robbie Hidinger

 

Asparagus Valley Potters Set the Table at Pinch!

Tonight was a wonderful opening at The Pinch Gallery in Northampton Massachusetts!  “AVPG Set the Table”   Go see the show this month if you can!

 

 

 

News from the Studio of Lucien Koonce in Haydenville

Two juried shows to mention…currently I am in Atmospheric Fired out in Carbondale, CO at the Carbondale Clay Center. These two  pieces were selected for exhibition…

Tokkuri (Sake Flask)

Chawan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Going to Strictly Functional Pottery National, to be held Sept. 24 – November 06, 2011 in Lancaster, PA is this guinomi (sake cup):

Guinomi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 The June wood firing of the anagama at Chris Gustin’s studio in South Dartmouth, MA was a great success. Here are a few images of pieces from the kiln:

Tea Caddy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Black Seto Guinomi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tokkuri

 

Additional images of pieces from this firing can be seen on my blog at http://lmkoonceceramics.blogspot.com , as well as a short video clip showing the process of pulling the black seto guinomi (above) out of the kiln at 2300 degrees F and immersing it into water…hikidashi .

from Donna McGee

Megan Hart’s show at the Artisan Gallery in Northampton is filled with her beautifully thrown porcelain. It runs through July 3rd. Chuck Stern took this photo at the opening:

from Donna McGee

Here’s a photo I just received this morning from a wonderful collector. It was titled “Favorite Dishes.”

Favorite Dishes

Making a weekend trip of the Asparagus Valley Pottery Trail, and need a place to stay, a place to eat, or buy snacks, etc. Go to the Pottery Trail website and check our sponsors!  If you need a map of the tour download it here!