My Wabi Sabi Cups

Wabi Sabi is a concept that I have understood without having had a name for it. Now I do. The Japanese, with their quest for simplicity, integrity, and asperity have a term that describes how I feel about material goods. I want them to be both beautiful and fulfill a need. I enjoy them more deeply when they have a story to tell. I want them to radiate with the spirit of the craftsmen who formed them.

In pottery, it is the throwing lines or the slight irregularity of its form that gives the holder a connection to the creating process. The simple truth that nothing in life is truly perfect or permanent is something to relate and ponder as you drink your tea in a hand-thrown cup.

I see Wabi Sabi in the barbed wire fence, where I visualize the hand twisting of each spike. I see it in the lathed leg of the chair, where I detect an inconsistency with the pressure applied with the chisel. I see Wabi Sabi in the accidental paint stroke on the shed’s window, brushed haphazardly as its trim was re-painted. I can connect easily to the human involved in each of these objects.

I see the transient nature of these things too: the rust, the chips, the wear. These are elements that are often thought of as defects, detracting from an object’s beauty. But the idea of Wabi Sabi is that these natural, inevitable occurrences instead enrich it. The object has become a visual example of life’s impermanence.

When I make a pot, I know it is not perfect. It is not meant to be. I hope others can experience the Wabi Sabi nature of my work and see the value in it.

Custom Orders

Another wonderful weekend spent hanging out in Lowertown St. Paul!

In addition to selling my pots at the Art Crawl, (and meeting a continuous flow of great people), I returned to my studio with a scattering of special requests. Do I make dinner plate sets? Yes. Can I make a bunch of tea cups in the twilight blue glaze? Yes. Will I personalize a set of mugs with specific designs for a wedding gift? Yes. There are countless ways to individualize a piece of pottery. All one has to do is ask. The more information I have on a specific shape, glaze or motif that grabs a person, the more sure I am the piece will be enjoyed. And that is what it is about.

Your pottery should fit nicely in your hand. It should hold your ideal amount of beverage or food. The overall shape and color should make you smile. The design elements should speak to you. I can not have every option already made, but crafting it is simply a matter of time. There is a deep pleasure in holding your very own customized pot. It is something worth pondering.

I have a kiln full of some of these orders. They will have to be glazed and then fired again. As long as each step goes as planned, I will have satisfied the requests. Then, onto others. It brings me joy to throw pots, and especially these, knowing the hands they will be placed into are anticipating these very pieces.

Fired Up for The Art Crawl

Only three more days until this year's St. Paul Art Crawl! Judging from the excellent weather forecast, I expect to see an unprecedented turnout of folks milling around Lowertown this year. 

The perfect weekend awaits with the brightly majestic leaves along the riverfront being reflected in the water, the earlier evenings displaying a full moon in the making, and a wide range of artists sharing their treasures around every corner. 

I know I am looking forward to the festivities. There is an energy at the Art Crawl that fires me right up. 

My friends in the Lowertown Loft Artist Cooperative (#4 on the map) have graciously accepted my presence in their studio again. Come find me on the top floor, Studio 505, and see what else there is to explore on the way up. 

The crawl goes from Friday to Sunday. It is a free event and is a great way to spend the day with the whole family. Inspire your children or get that spark back yourself. There is a whole world of ideas waiting to be considered.