2011 new work

Warm morning out in the studio today. The smell of the clay musk was reall nice. Made me think of my first apprenticeship out of highschool and how far I've come with this clay thing. I've definetley simplified alot in my life and complicated a few things but thats how it goes. My lil family is kickin butt. We will be celebrating ten years of doin juried fine art shows on the road this year. Where has it gone? A fine little boy has entered our lives as well as a new house for us all to grow into and together. I am very thankful for being able to walk outside to the shop and work. It's allowed me to be a good dad to my boy, good husband and friend to my wife and keep our house from getting to carried away with the crazy schedule a family has to have in todays economic faster than hell rat race. I set up My show at SAS Gallery "Eat, Sleep, Clay" in Sewannee,TN I will have the reception march 24 and teaching two 90 min highschool classes as well as a sat adult workshop. I am very thankful for the opportunity. Also I will have a show at Mudfire in Decatur, georgia march 12 -april 16th. Look for a show called Firedworks in Macon Georgia. I have a few pieces in that as well. I kick off my show season with 4 bridges here at home in Chattanooga TN. I will give my " Bold Pots" workshop at Tn Tech may 21-22. theres alot more and will be on my events page @ www.shadowpottery.com Alot is happening with this clay thing. i will do the SHCG shows in july and oct. I am really excited to represent and show all those NC potters what Tn has to offer. Here are some new work pics of whats brewing and whats to come.

refiners fire for the potter

I picked a 2 liter coke off the conveinient store shelf and one of them dropped on the floor and exploded. The whole day has gone like that. actually not just from 6pm till I made a cocktail to wind down for the day. What really set the evening off was my electric kiln was programmed to start a hold at 250 degrees and dry out my greenware before going into the bisque firing. Well it didnt and 2 hrs later I walk into the studio and i hear boom...pop and 600 degrees reading on the display screen. I opened the kiln to find the bottles and teacups that are pictured blown up. I have a trunk show at mudfire gallery in decatur georgia on the 23 of this month(jan 2010) and was hoping to add these pieces to my sale. I am pretty sure that I can throw the pieces again and green glaze them on time for the next weekend. It blew me up at the time but now that I've wound down I realize that I can make it happen and in the process learn a few things that might not have come up had this not happened. I have a couple months before show season and workshops start so I might as well Diagnosis the kiln and fix whatever might be wrong. I couldn't help put to preach a small line off my own artist statement to myself which says " I welcome mistakes and struggles, it brings triumph and character." Lookin at my little boy helped me realize also that Everythings fine and will be as long as I keep my head focused on what is important which is my family. So thats that...yesterdays gone and today is here. come check out the trunk show On Jan 23 2-6pm at mudfire gallery in Decatur Georgia. keep pottin and try not to sweat the small stuff.