offcntr | Mar. 23rd, 2024

Mar. 23rd, 2024

Once again, I'm vaguely famous. As part of the UO Craft Center's 50th anniversary celebration, I've been asked to be a Visiting Artist for spring term. There'll be a small art installation, Artist's Reception and talk, and a couple of workshops.

I started my professional career at the Craft Center. Just out of grad school, looking for a teaching position, but the only one I could land was as Resident Potter at the Center. I'd go on to spend 10 years there, during which time I threw production ware for Slippery Bank Pottery, started my own business, Off Center Ceramics, connected with my first gallery owner, Candy Moffett, whose Alder Gallery carried my sculptures for years, and eventually sponsored me to do a show in Washington, DC. It's no exaggeration to say that, without the Craft Center (and the Saturday Market), I wouldn't be a working artist today.

So it's wonderful being asked back, even if I won't recognize the place. A few years after I left, the Erb Memorial Union did a total remodel of our former wing, moved the Center to a new space. I get thoroughly lost whenever I visit.

Including last Friday, when I came to set up the show. I'd thought about bringing only pottery, like I did for Desk and Table, but honestly? After I got the van ready for Saturday Market, I just didn't have enough work. And the surplus pots from Wisconsin wouldn't arrive back in time to fill the gaps.

So I decided to stage a small retrospective. There's current decorated pottery, but there's also one of the first pieces I ever painted, a poppies plate made at the Tuscarora Pottery School in 1984. I have a story tile from my grad school days, raku and pit-fire pieces from classes I taught at the Craft Center, a painted tile that was published in Lark Books' 500 Animals in Clay, an earthenware painted albarello jar from my first summer teaching at Buck's Rock summer camp. A tile surround mirror, pots from my cupboard, a face pot inspired by the Southern Ugly Pot tradition. It's a transect of my pottery life, spanning decades and miles. And it's kinda cool to see all in one place.

Some samples:

I was able to dry pots outside!

...and now, back to our regularly scheduled rain. sigh.

I have to:

1. Finish throwing pots for this firing cycle--24 toddler bowls, 32 soups.

2. Complete the first pass on state and federal taxes (Including LTD Self-Employment).

3. Run the bisque at least twice more (currently at about 1024° F.).

4. Send out spring e-cards to my Eugene email list.

5. Track down and collect from a half-dozen buyers from our Desk and Table show. Email, phone, remembering the two-hour time difference.

6. Fly back to Wisconsin to pack and ship unsold pots and paper collages (the books will come back in my suitcase).

7. Attend a Club Mud meeting, take notes, publish minutes. (Pay my bill.)

8. Be back in time for the opening of Saturday Market!

Fortunately, the van is all sorted and loaded up. When I get back from Wisconsin two days before, I just need to make cookies, count the change pouch, load up Denise's paper box (she's working on making new stock now) and draft a bear or two. Easy peasy.

A mixed bag of pix taken during the last throwing cycle. Lots of round bois with lids. Teetering teapots. A few pitcher-perfect pourers. And some carefully assembled butter dishes--after all, there's no margerine for error.

I'll see myself out.