Post-dated update

Ok, so we lost our digital camera and I don't like to post without visuals, but that's really no excuse for not saying anything in like..... three months. Of course a lot has happened and some exciting things at that. Let's see, 2010 arrived with some bitter cold weather, which is why we went to Berkeley, CA to see some friends. Green grass and strong coffee, it was amazing.
In January Quinn went to NYC for a trade show and I tagged along to take in some culture. The highlights:
Lucie Rie's bowls at the MOMA
Anish Kapoor at the Guggenheim
Islamic Platter at the Met
I also visited Sara Japanese Pottery in the upper east side. I have some work there and stopped in to visit with the owner and see all the wonderful top-notch work represented. If you're in the city take the time to visit, you won't regret it.

In other news I've been juried into the New Hampshire League of Craftsmen. I'm just finishing up a winter wheel-throwing class and about to start another.

I post later in the week with more upcoming events.

Holiday Sale This Saturday!

THE TURNPIKE ROAD POTTERY
38TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY SALE
SAT. DECEMBER 19
1-4 PM
EVERYTHING DISCOUNTED

MALCOLM WRIGHT
ROB CARTELLI

MARLBORO, VT
802 254-2168

www.theturnpikeroad.com

PLEASE CALL FOR DIRECTIONS

Thanks E'erbody

Thanks for all those who came out for gallery walk last Friday and stopped by our show. We had a lot of peeps stop by and we "put a hurtin" that block of Grafton 3 year. Thanks for all those who took some of my pieces home with you. Thanks to all the folks who I didn't know before but got to meet and talk about my pottery with.
It feels so great when someone else enjoys what you make enough to give you money for it. For me it's not so much the financial incentive to making a sale that I enjoy (although don't get me wrong, I like and need money to pay bills), it's the reward of hearing some say why they like a particular piece or even just one small part of a pot; the feedback is what I mean. It makes all the little decisions that all potters stress over in the studio that just as easily get ignored feel appreciated.
If you missed the opening, don't fret the show will be up through December 23rd.

FRIDAY IS GONNA ROCK

This come our to the Brattleboro Gallery Walk and make sure to stop by Through the Music Gallery for the opening reception of my show with the talented Marias (of the Perkins and Chambers kind). I'm going to pick up some Grafton Cheddar Gold for the event, so first come first served.

Friday, December 4th
5:30-9:30pm

The show will be up through the 23rd of this month, so if you miss the opening stop by later.

new slides!

The incredible John Polack delivered my photos on Sunday. At some point I'd like to get to the point where I can take some of my own photos for the blog and my website, but I know they'll never look this good.

Halloween Party Preview

The somewhat impromptu Scary Home Companion Arkestra will be performing Halloween-related songs at Mike and Emma's. Here is a sneak peak(look for me on bass):

Crack!

As addictive as the making of pottery can be, sometimes it can get aggravating. Recently I've had some issues with cracking. It happens sometimes at the bottom of my porcelain bowls and is usually horizontal; it tends to aline with the direction of the throwing. It happens in the drying of the piece or in the bisque so it's not a glaze fit issue. I'm wondering if I throw them too thick and am not trimming of enough. I'm going to try throwing them off the hump and see if that changes anything.
And now a different kind of cracking that occurred in the wood-firing. Of the clay that I mixed up I made some bottles, vases, and low wide bowls. Six of the ten bowls did this:
This cracking I'm thinking is definitely a glaze fit issue. These bowls were glazed with a thick coat of temoku only on the inside. I probably won't be mixing this clay up again, so I know just to make vases out of the rest of it.