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.

Palouse Potters at Mud and Spirits

Two members of the Palouse Studio Potters Guild traveled to Coeur d'Alne, ID to participate in Mud and Spirits, the annual Christmas Pottery display and Sale sponsored by our friends at C.A.G.N.I. There were about 25 different potters this year.

Carolyn Guy's large bowls are featured above.

A variety of Carolyn's ware, mugs, covered jars and pitchers. Click on the picture to see a larger view.

Jeanne Wood's Display

Another view of Jeanne's Display

ArtShare

Last Friday at the home of Ryan and Joe Law the Palouse Potters held an evening get together at Art Share. Attendees were invited to bring some of their art to show others, get feedback from other artists, and a few new ideas. We also discussed the possibility of starting an additional organization to include artists of a wide variety of mediums.

Carolyn and Judith appreciate Ann's painting and her discussion.

Ryan took us out to see her sculptures. Her entire studio was full of a wonderful variety of her work. Here is "The Fawn", one of her most recent art pieces.

Bruce displays his still life watercolor while Liz looks on with interest.

Carolyn asks a question about Judith's salt glazed vessel.

Meeting More People

October 19th, the Palouse Studio Potters Guild is inviting everyone who has an interest in clay to a get together on October 19th, 2008. This will take place from 3:00-5:00pm at the home of Cindy Jette.



Then close on the heels of the Meet and Greet's, we are holding an "ArtShare" October 24th, 2008 from 7:00-9:00pm. This event will be a time for everyone interested to bring a piece of their art work for sharing with other artists. All media is welcome. Getting and giving feedback is our goal. Our host is Ryan Law.

Palouse Potters raku firing

On August 16th, 2008 the Palouse Studio Potters Guild added to the 104 degree heat in Lewiston with our raku firing.

Michael carefully places the pottery in the raku kiln.

Once the kiln has reached sufficient temperature, the pots are removed when red hot. Michael is doing the honors here, Carolyn is standing by with an air hose which will make the molten glaze crackle. Barb watches.

After the pot has been taken out of the kiln it's placed in a can with newspaper, here it has caught fire and Carolyn is putting the lid on it to force a reduction.

Judith is doing a variation on the raku technique. After the pot is taken out of the kiln she carefully places horse hair on the hot surface, which had been polished with terra sigilatta before raku firing. The horse hair immediately burns and leaves a curly trail of carbon, which is permanent. The pot on the right has already been designed with horse hair.