Time needed

This is the time of year when most potters have their heads down to their wheels.... due to the sales on the horizon, especially on the coming Holiday season.. the Summer is definitely the time for the tourist. If you're selling anywhere you have to get your pots out there now! Yet as most of us are exceptionally busy and working our asses off... I have learned from a number of people that hard work deserves hard play. In Montana the time to play is now... the snow level is well above 5,000 feet?? The people are shaking out their cold weather feathers... and are ready to... p-p-p-p-play!!!

Staring this Sunday I will be playing hard on the Smith River of Montana. The Smith river is one of the more renowned destinations for river floating enthusiasts. It's a permit only float area and the odds are something like 1 in 60 to aquire one..and every year my family (since they've been in Montana) apply..and this year we got it. We have an extended family from Washington, Oregon, California, and Michigan all converging here in Helena tonight. 12 people. We'll be spending 5 days out camping and floating along one of the most beautiful destinations this side of the Mississippi.

So remember my potter friends: if you work hard... don't forget the simple fact that you deserve to play, easy or hard. Making that thing called Art, as we all do in one way or another, requires a point of detachment and escape- without appreciation of that outside and natural world... (away from the studio) our work would succumb to a lifeless, numb state of being. Take the time to do something good for yourself ...and your work will benefit from it... bon voyage.

it's a Family thang

Last Saturday morning my sister and I did a duo-mini-workshop in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. http://www.artassociation.org/ I've given a few talks and firing demos but never sat in front of group of people and made pots for their viewing pleasure. It was a fun experience for sure though..and it was a good time to make fun of my sister- but I kept it clean, mostly, and we both had a good time. Everybody was totally awed by Emily's line decoration and cupcake holder she made and everybody seemed to learn a lot from the cups, bowls, pitchers, whacky bottles and the large platter I made for the three hours before lunch time. Afterwards a local guy, Dean, (who took the pictures) thanked me for the great demo and that he learned a lot. He asked if I taught anywhere professionally..and I had to say nope. He said, "you should definitly think about it..you're really good at it." I learned from some really good teachers since Highschool: Nathan Eckman, Karl McDade, Mark Messenger, Scott Parady, Bob Brady, Dan Murphy, Trevor Dunn, Tony Clennell, and John Neely... and not to mention all of my close friends who spin clay for a living or those whom I went to school with. Nice group of guys I'd say.

I guess it takes just one comment like that to get you pointed into the right direction. Gradschool could be in my future..but I feel a lot like I did after highschool.. I can't believe I made it... and I never want to go back to school again. Maybe I'll be content with teaching community classes.... I don't think you need a masters degree for that, right?

It only gets faster

Since my last blog:

I graduated.

Two exit shows from school.

Moved.

Unpacked.

Fired Anagama in Missoula

Unloaded Anagama in Missoula

Made pots.

Worked.

Dug a big hole for a basement window

Drank lots of beer.

Growing the mustache back.

Drank too much beer.

Now I'm in Jackson Hole, WY. Last night was the Rendezvous ceramic show opening. I sold a teapot for $155. No way!!!

And now my sister and I are going to do a 3 hour demonstration at the artcenter... it should be fun.