Ceramic artist

by Jim Bailey

I first met Betty Woodman in 1971 in Antella, Italy. Betty and her husband George had just recently bought a small, stone house perched on a hillside overlooking olive groves with dreamlike Florence in the distance. Betty's studio was under the house. It was very simple and small with a treadle wheel and basic shelving.

The First Annual Event

Lucy's command of her material is clearly evidenced in the pots, which she throws on her Bailey wheel. There is mastery in the subtle beauty of each of her forms. We love seeing the range of her work and hearing about her inspirations.

“I first touched clay at age 40 and knew immediately that I had been a potter all along. I love to make pots! For me, the joy and the challenge comes from making things that will become an intimate part of the daily lives of others – pots that will be held, eaten from, poured from, sipped or even licked from. For me the making of pots is a way to celebrate the mundane rituals of daily life and to make them holy.”

Celebrating a Fully Creative Life

The fully creative life of Paulus Berensohn, artist, dancer, potter, teacher, journal maker, philosopher and deep ecologist is being celebrated by the many people whose lives he touched. His 1970s book, "Finding One's Way with Clay", is where many came to know him and his philosophy of ceramics. A 2013 documentary, "To Spring from the Hand: The Life and Work of Paulus Berensohn", tells the story of a long life of compassionate, creative contemplation. How lucky we are that he so generously shared himself with us.

Featured Work in the Bailey Collection

This past weekend Bailey hosted 2 one-day workshops at the Bailey Pottery Equipment Studio. Both sold-out days were packed with enthusiastic participants from as far away as Canada. Jen, in her usual fashion, wowed our guests with her unique throwing and carving skills. For the first time ever we live streamed a small part of her demonstration and even took a few questions from the Facebook audience.

When Anne was at NCECA in Portland this year she bought this beautiful mug from artist Ben Jordan. "I was immediately taken with the balance of form and function in this piece. The floral decoration is integrated extremely well with the form. The handle is comfortable and fits very nicely in the hand. The clay is a rich rust red and the glaze reminiscent of a sepia photograph. It has a perfect high pitch ring when you flick it. Even the bottom is decorated! Beyond these technical things, it's just an absolutely gorgeous piece of pottery; so well considered in each and every way. I had to have it and brought it back to Kingston with me to share with all of you. If you do not know of Ben Jordan now you do. Here is a short interview with Ben Jordan." -Anne Bailey at NCECA 2017

Two giants of the contemporary studio pottery movement passed away on the same day last Thursday. Both were important and influential leaders. We send our condolences to all who knew them and to their families who surely will miss these two dynamic potters.