Saturday - Big pottery day

Saturday was a big annual pottery day.

First, the Mint Museum's 7th Annual Potters Market Invitational.  I try to get there every year to see the latest work by some of my favorite artists, meet new artists, and occasionally purchase some small items.  (This year I snapped up two cups and will post them later.)


It was steamy inside the huge tent on the Mint's lawn, but it was well worth the perspiration.  I caught up with Matt Jones (whom I hadn't seen since the last Thrown Together sale).  He had a great selection of new work fresh from the kiln.  Michel Bayne was there with his great faces and other decorations, like lobsters.  I stopped to see Kim Ellington and his great wood-fired work.  The last time I saw Kim, he was giving a lecture inside the Mint. I also had the pleasure of meeting Judith Duff and Donna Craven.  I have been a big fan of their work for a while now.


I stopped to talk with several other artists, including Bruce Gholson and Samantha Heineke of Bulldog Pottery, David Stuempfle, I could only wave to Ronan Peterson of Nine Toes Pottery since he was swamped with customers.  I stopped in to see Amy Sanders, but quickly got out of the way when some people wanted to become customers.  For the third year in a row I tried to meet Ben Owen, but when I saw him in the booth he was surrounded and when I looked again (and again) he was gone.  One of these days I will catch up with him.

Matt Jones

Michel Bayne

Kim Ellington

Judith Duff

Donna Craven

After I left the Mint, I picked up my friend (and teacher) Greg Scott and his children to take them with me up to Hal Dedmond and Corine Guseman's house where a wood firing was in progress.  It was great to see everyone there and enjoy the firing and the quiet of the country.

It was a lovely day and the firing went well.  A wood firing is a very dramatic thing to watch.  The almost constant stoking, the flames, the smoke, and the (hopefully) steady climb of temperature in the kiln are fascinating.  One day I soon I hope to share in one.

It was a great day with wonderful friends and lots of pottery.

The firebox at one end of the kiln.

The firebox.

The other end.

Finished firing.

Hot pots.

Hot crew.

Miller time.

The moon rose on the way home.

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