Empty Bowls, 2009

The Palouse Studio Potters Guild together with the Moscow Food Co-op, Heart of the Arts Organizations and many individuals held the most successful Empty Bowls event that we have yet had in Moscow, Idaho. Together we raised over $1600. for Hunger Organizations. We make no money from this personally, all of the proceeds are donated. Half will be given to local food banks, the other half to the international organization, OxFam.

The Moscow Food Co-op donated their delicious soup and bagettes and helped us with publicity. Heart of the Arts donated the 1912 Community Center and helped us set up and take down. All this good work couldn't be accomplished without our volunteers.

Gary Marvin spent the entire time working away in the kitchen. Keeping the soup hot and refilled and the dishes clean.

A panoramic view of many of the bowls made by the Palouse Potter's Guild Members and our talented friends.

People listening to the jazz combo "Musaic as they enjoy the soup donated by the Moscow Food Co-op.

More bowls, and what a splendid variety!

Brad's music helped set the tone for the day.

Guild member Ryan Law discusses some of the points of interest in the bowls to appreciative attendees.

A Barbershop Quartet also donated their talents for the event.

Palouse Potters attend the Brush Making Workshop

Several members of the Palouse Potters Guild attended the Brush making workshop held at the 1912 Center and taught by ceramic artist and master brushmaker, Glenn Grishkoff.

The brushes were made of bamboo and various animal hair. They were glued together with epoxy glues and embellished with materials such as sinew, waxed linen thread, wood-burning tools, leather, and beads. These made not only beautiful and varied brushes, but also brushes that are much sturdier for practical use than commercially made brushes.

This is a group of completed brushes made by Jeanne Wood.

Here, Glen explains some of the techniques to Val Boydo.

A grouping of Carolyn Guy's varied and beautiful brushes in progress as she works on them.

Although we focused and worked hard at the Brush Workshop, we managed to have a lot of fun too as Val and Ryan Law show. An impressive array of brushes in progress, made by Val, are on the table in front of her. Ryan is in the process of writing an article on Glenn's Brushmaking and his valuable workshops.

Thanks Glenn Grishkoff, http://www.grishkoffstudios.com/ for generously sharing your knowledge, skill, ideas, and talent with us. this was a great workshop.

Saggar barrel firing

On March 1st. 2009 Judith and Gary Marvin invited the Palouse Studio Potters Guild members to a saggar firing at their beautiful home and studio outside Southwick Idaho.
Judith has done many saggar firings and taken workshops in saggar firing, so she taught the rest of us who had not previously tried these interesting techniques.

Preparing the Pots: this vase by Jeanne Wood was painted with ferric chloride, a few horse hairs were laid on it and then some table salt was sprinkled over the mixture before it dried. The next step was to loosely wrap it in heavy aluminum foil.

Loading the Barrel: Here is the "High Tech Kiln" ;-) Paige Van Weis places dried banana peels around the pots. The blue substance is Miracle Gro.

Firing the saggar: After the barrel has been filled to the brim with pots, various chemicals and combustable materials it was lit and allowed to burn for several hours. We adjorned indoors for a fantastic potluck lunch.

Adding horsehair: However, like the proverbial Children at Christmas, we couldn't wait until it was cooled down to see what the results were. It was still hot as can be judged by the red coals. At this point we ignored the pouring rain, braved the heat from the coals, and leaned in close to lay horsehair on the hot pots. You can see some carbon squiggles from the horsehairs.

Unloading the saggar: Alas not all pots came out successfully as this amphora shows.

Some came out great, however. Check out the wonderful colors on Judith's vase.

Ryan's Gallery Show

Palouse Studio Potter Ryan Law's show at Moscow's 3rd. St. Gallery had its grand opening on January 5th, 2009.

Ryan specializes in ceramic sculpture.

The antics of Ryan's dauxie, Tulley, is a favorite theme. She does a fantastic job of capturing life, movement and personality and even softness in clay.

Speaking of "personality" Ryan's appealing merecats feel like friends.

This little pig may be dirty, but Ryan's regard for animals shows through with her loving treatment of creatures.

Judith's Gallery Show

The Palouse Studio Potters Guild have been well-represented in Moscow Arts this season. Two of us have shows up in Moscow Art Galleries.

Judith Marvin's Ceramic vessels are showing at "Above the Rim" Gallery, 513 S. Main St. Moscow. Her opening reception on January 21st, 2009 was well attended.

Elegant portrayal of "The Three Step-Sisters"

Judith used some unusual firing and surface techniques for her pottery. Saggar firing, pit firing, terra sigilatta , and horse hair gave Judith unexpected colors and textures.

The large, handsome vase and a variety of colors. The colors come not from glaze, but from the surface technique and the fire. The surface design of the smaller vases are from the pit and horsehair raku.

A closer view of Judith's Horsehair raku. This pot was popular with gallery visitors.

Annual Board of Directors Meeting

Our Annual breakfast and meeting was held January 17th this year, we moved it to a slightly later date because the weather had been so snowy. This was the right date as even Judith was able to come off her snowy mountain.

We were lucky to have Elizabeth Carney and Lorie Higgens join us. Elizabeth and Lorie head the organization "Two Degrees Northwest". http://2dnw.org/ . A non-profit organization whose intention is to develop and promote entrepreneurship in local communities. The ladies told us about their many ideas and projects to help promote the arts in our area. The Palouse Potters were excited to hear we are going to have so much support for our work.

They shared their programs, upcoming plans,and ideas for future funding and projects to promote regional products to reach external markets as well as those in the northwest. Lots of opportunities! For example, they are folding us under their umbrella for bringing in artists for workshops with grant funding. The first is a 2 day brushmaking workshop with Glenn Griskoff at the 1912 on March 21&22 but we talked about many more workshops with guest artists for people in all different art forms

Carolyn listens to Lorie and Elizabeth explain the storefront for fine crafts and other local handmade items they will soon have ready to go.

Val contemplates the artistic merit of her cocoa.