I absolutely LOVE this guy's work,

He is a New Zealand potter; lives on the western side of the South Island in Hokitika, a place where New Zealand jade is plentiful and jade galleries abound in town. We marveled at a solid jade breakfast table and a bolder the size of a small settee.      

Weaver's main gallery space is a nice showroom at the edge of town. When we arrived, the owner said he had just left. He was one potter I really wanted to meet. I so admire his work. I had intended to buy one of his black teapots, but found a sauce pot I liked even better.

I don't know if he steam bends the wooden components of his pots or if someone else does them, but they always look just right on the piece.  I especially like the yardstick handles.

New Year; New Clay

Today I went to my first class at the local community center. It's rather a strange feeling to be sitting in a classroom. I'm there just because I don't have any of my studio equipment here and haven't decided whether to get a wheel and a kiln and work out of the garage. Space is tight. So, for the time being, I'm in a low-fire hand building class and a cone 10 wheel class which meets day after tomorrow.

I've never worked with terra cotta before, but I found that this particular clay develops a very interesting texture if it is slabbed, then flung out on a canvas covered table top, turned and flung out again. I made a couple of three-sided salt/pepper shakers on pointy feet.

Also will experiment with a press-molded plate form, a little sculptured mouse and a plaster bowl form. We'll see how the clay reacts.

Pictures to follow.

Thinking about the new year

Today I made preparations to attend the Shadbolt Center for the Arts Canadian Clay Symposium in March by researching maps on the computer and figuring out places to stay. Reviewed the artists who will be presenting and zeroed in on who I want to see work. Looking forward to seeing my old friend Mark Hewitt from North Carolina. Took a workshop from him in Seattle a few years back and really respect his skills as a potter.

Trying to decide which piece of work to take for the "Roadshow" exhibit and may take my tall white teapot.



It and some other pieces that is now languishing at the gallery I left it at for the jury committee. The gallery is 30 miles from my studio and the weather has been foul, so I'm not real anxious to drive back and pick up my stuff.