The Village Potters Clay Center

Tag: NC

  • Remembering Shawn Roberson

    It is with a heavy heart that we share the loss of one of our loved students here at The Village Potters, Shawn Roberson. Shawn was loved dearly by all who knew him. When he strolled into the studio he carried joy and gentleness with him.

    Shawn with Raku classmates.

    I first met Shawn at The Village Potters, during a monthly NC Clay Club that we hosted, years ago. Clay Club is a gathering of usually about 30 potters from the area sharing food, fun, laughter and demos. Our friendship began that evening and deepened over the years.

    Shawn would drive down from Tennessee once a week to study Raku and other alternative firing techniques with Village Potter Judi Harwood and a group of wonderful Raku obsessed potters. He loved be a part of this wonderful community. He made functional pots and Raku pots that most often explored geometric shapes, but every once in a while he would make work from the other end of the creative spectrum, using soft edges and closed forms. Shawn always generously shared his techniques and how he discovered his successes with clay.

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    As we have grown so exponentially and became a Clay Supply Company, Shawn was kind to stop by my office and encourage me as a business person and often gave me advice on how to sharpen our accounting.

    He loved to talk about pots and the process of making them. His favorite subject was his wife Sarah. “My Sarah”, as he lovingly called her. Shawn was the quintessential gentleman (Gentle Man) and his love and devotion for his wife was easily recognized and admired by all. Our love is turned toward her and his family now.

    Shawn was a wonderful potter and an accounting professor at King University in Bristol TN. He was an integral part of our family here. He will be missed but we feel blessed to have known him and to have shared in wild creative journey with him. 

    Sarah Wells Rolland

    The Village Potters Owner and Founder

  • You Know What They Say About Many Hands

    The Village Potters Clay Center is located along the French Broad River. Most days, this ancient river looks rather lazy from where we sit, and in the summertime we see hundreds of tubers floating on its waters, basking in the sun. Recently, during the last week of summer, we were dealing with a different type of river. Hurricane Florence was just a couple of days away from working its way inland, and predictions were grim.

     We had two days to pack up as much of our 13,000+ square foot facility as we possibly could and move it to higher ground.  What I witnessed over those two days seemed quite miraculous. The Village Potters Clay Center consists of about eight people at its core. Those eight people put out a call for help, and many able bodies showed up.Moving StoolsWe had students from our teaching center, apprentices, advanced ceramics students, and even some of their loved ones, come and go throughout those two days. We really saw our community come together.

    Loading the Big TrucksWith what felt like a village at work, we moved 10 kilns, more than 20 wheels and tables, over 50 shelves, three slab rollers, at least 11 tons of clay, and so much more!George on fork liftEverything was packed and moved to the second story or onto one of three 26-foot trucks. Almost the entire Village Potters Clay Center was empty in an incredibly short period of time!

    Barbara Moving GlazesSunday arrived and we awaited what was supposed to be tropical depression rains, but by some stroke of luck, the worst of the storm missed Asheville almost entirely. We decided to take the following day and do a deep clean of the studio while it was empty, and almost the same Rockstar crew showed up to put The Village Potters back together again!Jen in Kiln RoomMany hands really do make for lighter work, and seeing them all making this gigantic feat possible warmed all of our hearts. We could not have accomplished such a task without the beautiful community of people that come together at the Village Potters. Clay creates so much more than pots!

    Lori in Kiln Room

  • Bernie Segal: A Man of Openness, Honor and Creativity

    Bernie Segal, Sculptor, Potter, Fencer, Teacher, Mentor, Retired Army Sergeant, Father, Loving Husband and one of the original Village Potters passed away on June 7th, 2018. He and his devoted wife, Jeanne, moved to Washington state one year ago. Already in his eighties, he said he “needed to be closer to his family.”Bernie Throwing

    Bernie was a gentle man, always generous with his thoughts, feelings, and ideas. He was truly a joy to know. I will forever cherish our mid-day contemplative conversations and his generous mentoring and creative insight. Bernie entered my life serendipitously, but has had an impact that is everlasting.

    I met Bernie Segal in 2011. He was selling all his stone sculpture equipment in his studio, which was located above The Village Potters at the time. There were tables, carts, tool boxes, and shelving covered with stone dust and showing the wear of many hours of work and passion. He was resigned to quit. Leaning on his cane he explained to me that this decision grieved him, but his body would no longer cooperate with his creative passion. As we laughed and haggled back and forth about prices, I spotted a potter’s wheel in the corner. He told me that he had made pots for over 30 years and taught high school pottery for many years in California. So, I casually suggested that when he got to feeling better he should join us downstairs at The Village Potters and make some pots again! He laughed.

    To my surprise, three months later, Bernie Segal came walking into The Village Potters with his cane. He wanted to join us. We sat down, discussed details, and he openly shared his need for a creative outlet and a connection with creative community. Instantly, a true growing Bernie Potsfriendship began. Three days each week for about five years Bernie would come to work at the studio with anything from ideas, stories, life lessons for our passions, then he would settle in at his wheel in his small studio space and turn the most wonderful forms. Bernie would laugh, grunt, and sometimes cuss while making pots, but was always fully engaged. If anything was close to impossible – Bernie was intrigued! If the pot was on the edge of collapse then he was having the time of his life. I loved that about him. After about six months of making pots with us at The Village, Bernie got stronger and stronger. One day he came in without his cane, and we never saw it again.

    Bernie was a man of many talents and interests. He was a master fencer. Many young, serious fencers studied with him. Periodically, a young woman or man would drop by The Village and I would discover that they were his fencing students. Bernie was a natural mentor. He used every area of his work to teach important life lessons. I deeply valued and enjoyed his wisdom. I know that I’m not alone in that, everyone who knew Bernie well loved him. As a young man, Bernie was a drill sergeant. He said that one day he woke up and realized he “could no longer shout in the faces of beautiful, young people”. He resigned from the military and began his life as an artist, teaching young people by using clay as the guide.Bernie Sculpting

    He loved the medium, clay, but his true love was stone. “My aim is to approach each stone with respect for its unique qualities and to bring to each sculpture, my understanding and appreciation of form, my sensitivity to the emotional potential, and my willingness to explore and expose both myself and the stone in the process. Each stone presents a new and separate experience for me.” In the same way Bernie honored the creative process he honored people, and Bernie honored people well. He celebrated the uniqueness of each person around him and he shared himself openly, honestly, and with joy.

    We cannot speak of Bernie and not speak of his best friend, life partner, and wife, Jeanne. Jeanne was “the love of his life”. He shared stories of their wonderful life together. He always spoke with compassion and caring. They had what I believe is the greatest blessing in life, unconditional and fully realized love.

    All of us at The Village Potters will always love Bernie Segal, and we will be forever changed by knowing him. He is missed.

     Sarah Wells Rolland, The Village Potters Clay Center / Owner and Resident Potter

     

    Bernie Segal The Mentor

    It is rare to meet a person, for no matter how brief a time, whose words you know you will hear in your head for the rest of your life. But Bernie was one of those people, one of those mentors. He was kind yet brutally honest, a true teacher whose advice held years of experience, experimentation, and wisdom. Someone whose every teaching held meaning that would take years to understand. And someone whose humor and kindness could make you laugh on the worst of days.

    One of my favorite memories of Bernie: After several weeks of intense work on a figure sculpture, I was so excited to hear that Bernie was at the studio, that I would be able to get a bit of feedback (and possibly even a moment of praise). I had been working so hard to keep in mind the advice he had given me on my last attempt. As he ambled into the room, I heard him grunt. He made his way over, borrowed my tool, and asked if he could make a small change. Within moments he had removed the head. At first I was shocked. But with a few concise words of advice and gruff encouragement, he handed back the tool and walked away. As usual, in the briefest of actions and words, he had taught me a lesson I will keep working at for the rest of my lifetime.

    Hannah McGehee, Apprentice 2015-2017, The Village Potters Clay Center

     

    We have a tribute collection of Bernie’s work currently on display in our main gallery through July 31st, 2018.

    Our gallery hours are Monday-Saturday, 10am-6pm and Sunday, 11am-5pm.

  • It’s All About The Clay

    Every artist, every maker, every craftsperson knows that the materials they work with are the foundation for everything they make. For the potter, it is all about the clay! Anytime potters are gathered clay is sure to come up in conversation. “What clay do you use? Do you have any issues with it? Why do you love it? Does it come too wet? What about drying? Do your handles ever pop off or pull away?”

    the village potters, asheville, nc, pottery, ceramics, laguna clays, open house, sarah wells rolland

    Potters are very concerned about clay. The needs are many, including plasticity, consistent moisture content, drying nature, gritty or smooth qualities, temperature range, and the overall quality of materials used that make up the clay. We have a lot riding on the consistent performance of our clays. We learn our chosen clay’s personality and quirks. We form a relationship with it. Needless to say, the potter desires to find a clay they can trust.

    I have been making pots since the 1980’s and have experienced almost every kind of clay failure. From pop outs, late outgassing that causes pinholes, wet clay which increases the shrinkage rate, bringing a gamut of troubles, to firm clay which damages our wrists. I could go on, but I won’t. Potters have a tendency to blame the clay when things don’t go well. Many times it is the clay itself, but it can also be the potter.

    In the 1990’s, my relationship with clay had a major breakthrough. Vermont potter, Barbara Knutson and her life partner Karl Miller had moved to Haywood County. She saw my work
    somewhere, called me up and we became lifelong friends. As providence would have it, I had just experienced a major disaster firing, opening my kiln to discover pin holes everywhere. Karl told me he had owned a clay supply company for decades in upstate NY, and that upon his retirement, he sold all his clay recipes to Laguna Clays. Laguna built a northeastern clay facility in Ohio and was mixing Karl’s clays under ‘Miller Clays’. I shared with Barbara and Karl my constant pursuit for a quality clay and Karl said, “Kiddo, try Miller 900. I can see from the nature of your work and the glaze responses exactly what you’re are going for. Miller 900 clay will meet your needs.” That was over 20 years ago and his suggestion changed the trajectory of my future as a potter. It was and remains one of the best clays I have ever experienced.

    I had the vision back then for what is now The Village Potters. What I did not foresee was that one day I would be selling Laguna and Miller clays. I am thrilled everytime a potter discovers a Laguna or Miller clay that is right for them. Karl and I have had many clay talks. He taught me so much about the quality of different materials. He shared what is required to make clays that professional potters can rely on. Now in his eighties, Karl is a true renaissance man. He has made sculpture, pots, outdoor installations, built kilns and buildings, and even raised carrier pigeons. The last time I spoke with Karl and Barbara, they had been to China and Karl was entertaining making some life size Chinese soldiers.

    Laguna Test Tiles

    I know from 20 years of experience that Laguna makes every effort to make quality and consistent clays. It is easy for me to recommend these clays.

    Please join us on May 12th, 2018 from 11am – 4pm for our Our Open House. This event is made for you, the potter, to check out for yourself our clay center and the clays we sell. We will be giving away clay throughout the day and having loads of fun! This is a great day not only for potters, but for the collector too. Come experience the clay from right out of the bag to fired and for sale. See and learn for yourself the different clays in  finished forms. It really is “ALL about the Clay.”

    — Sarah Wells Rolland, Founder of The Village Potters Clay Center

    TVP Open House Invite

    TVP Laguna Logo

     

     

  • 17 Questions with Hannah McGehee

    17 Questions with Hannah McGehee

    The Village Potters is pleased to feature the multi-talented and multi-faceted ceramic artist, Hannah McGehee, for our 17 Questions series. Hannah also happens to be one of our studio apprentices. We have had the pleasure of working with her since October 2015.  We hope you enjoy getting to know Hannah as much as we have!

    Hannah Looking at Her Pots

    1. Why clay?

    I grew up exploring the American Southwest, finding remains of Anasazi pottery in desert caves and ruins; these shards, nestled in orange dust, exposed me to the value of functionaland sculptural pottery throughout cultures and ages. At the same time, I began to feel that clay is the medium closest to the earth, the medium which feels most tangibly made from earth and rocks. As I continue my own journey with clay, I am constantly amazed by the endless variety of forms, lessons, and ideas which bring me back to nature.

    1. What about clay resonates with you that drives you to choose this unconventional life path?

    Clay offers many of the same benefits and challenges as osteopathic medicine, the slightly-more-conventional life path I originally saw myself taking. Clay is hands-on, requiring you to literally “play in the dirt” for work. It requires patience and learning, adapting to the demands of the material. It promotes collaboration as the exchange of ideas endlessly leads to creative growth. And, the more I teach the more I realize that clay offers amazing healing benefits, just as good medicine should.

    1. Where did you grow up?

    I grew up adventuring in the mountains of Colorado, the lakes of Minnesota, the canyons of the American Southwest. The Colorado Rockies are my home.

    1. Two things about your family.

    I was very fortunate to grow up in a family where time outdoors—hiking, biking, climbing, skiing—was our priority. I also grew up with two parents who, in their earlier days, enjoyed creative pursuits—music for my dad and photography for my mom. Neither followed these passions professionally, instead making their livelihoods in mental health. I am fortunate to walk a path which allows me to do both— follow my creative passion while helping heal both mind and body.

    1. When are you most at peace in your creative process and why? What part of your process brings you the most joy?

    When I am working on a figure sculpture, the rest of the world disappears. I feel completely focused and completely at peace.

    1. What time of day do you most enjoy creating? 

    Early morning when the birds are chirping but the rest of the world still sleeps is my favorite time of day. I love the peacefulness of the studio and the quietness of my mind.Hannah Small Pots

    1. Does this path ever scare you? 

    Yes and no. When I graduated from college, I intended to go to osteopathic medical school after a one year ceramics apprenticeship. While that path may be seen as more traditional and secure (and thus to many, less scary), the meandering path I have found will in the end bring me to the same place—a place where I can help people be in touch with nature, their bodies, and their inner sense of peace. I take comfort in the fact that my goals and destination can remain the same no matter the path.

    1. Do you consider yourself a driven person? What drives you?

    Most certainly. I am driven to be good at what I do, but more than that I am driven to help people heal themselves in this crazy, hectic society we live in. That may mean creating a sculpture or piece of pottery which makes them stop and appreciate the moment or it may mean working with them one-on-one, teaching them to become aware of what they can create. Too many people don’t realize their creative potential and I am driven to help them realize it.

    1. Is there a spiritual element to your creative process?

    Indirectly, yes. My inspiration derives from my love of the outdoors and when I am in nature I feel a spiritual connection to this world.

    1. Artists are always into something “exciting and new.” What is the “new and exciting” thing is this season for you when you get up to go to work?

    Hannah Pot and HandsTrees! And colors! I am engrossed in making my work look as if it is growing into and out of itself. I am also exploring new glazes and glazing techniques which make me look forward to going to the studio each day. I am currently preparing to embark on my first formal study of figure sculpture in Italy and couldn’t be more excited to integrate what I learn into my body of work.

    1. What does saying you are an apprentice mean to you?

    Apprenticeship is a traditional yet underutilized means of learning. Being an apprentice goes beyond lectures into the nitty gritty of every step of the process. As an apprentice, I am am privileged not only to learn technical skills but also to allow my mentors’ work to influence my own.

    1. What is the most significant thing you’ve gleaned as an apprentice at TVP?

    Being an apprentice at The Village Potters has shaped how I think about community clay studios. Previously, I had worked at studios in school settings where other formal structures were in place. At The Village Potters I am coming to truly understand the value in being surrounded by constant inspiration, collaboration, and learning.

    1. Who has been a significant mentor in your life? That person that you feel has encouraged you to be this kind of risk taker, a creative, a potter?Hannah Checking Bertha Kiln

    Since arriving at The Village Potters, each of the members has in some way served as a mentor to me. Sarah Rolland, however, has been the one to guide me throughout this apprenticeship, from life advice to critiques of my work to encouraging my dreams of one day having my own studio and chronic pain retreat center. Her guidance has helped make what once seemed a crazy dream a soon-to-be reality.

    1. Do you think/ feel pottery has intrinsic value? 

    Every piece of worked clay, from sculpture to functional pottery, was shaped by someone’s hands, someone’s decisions, someone’s dreams. This effort alone gives pottery intrinsic value.

    1. Share something about your work that speaks of who you are.

    Most of my pieces feature some element of raw clay, often rough and un-sanded. This intentional roughness reminds the holder that clay comes from the earth and rocks. As an avid rock climber, I love playing with textures more reminiscent of rock than traditional glazed pottery.

    1. What about the business part of your life? How do you marry business and creative process?

    I mentally separate my clay work into “business” —commission or production pieces—and pieces which are made for the pure joy of letting my creativity run wild. This keeps days at the studio exciting and never feeling like I am going to “work.”

    1. What do you want to say to those who buy your work?

    I hope my clay pieces can serve as a reminder to rejoice in the beautiful colors and textures of this world. I hope your hands can trace some of the same paths as mind when you hold them. And most of all, enjoy! If my work can bring some beauty and peace to your home, them my mission is accomplished.

  • It’s a Beautiful Day in Our Neighborhood

     

    Welcome PartyThe Village Potters are a wonderful creative community teaming with amazingly generous people. Now our block is growing and we are thrilled! Wedge Brewery Co., 12 Bones Smokehouse, and RAD Skatepark are now in our back yard, literally! So, come visit us and see the amazing pots being created here at The Village, stroll through Riverview Station, then walk on back to 12 Bones and Wedge for BBQ and a pint!

    YOU’RE INVITED:

    We will be celebrating our current and new neighbors (Wedge, 12 Bones, and RAD Skatepark) on Thursday, March 2nd from 12:00 – 7:00 pm for our very first “WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD” party – open to the public! Spend the afternoon with us exploring art, a BIG POT show, food, and libations!
    TVP Building12 Bones Cropped

    Wedge photo by Scott Douglas
    Lori Throwing

  • Spring Blooms

    While things are most definitely blossoming inside our studios, thanks mostly to VP Sarah Wells Rolland, the garden in front of the Gallery is constantly giving us new beauty to behold! Here’s a glimpse of what greets us each day – we’ll add more pictures as things continue to bloom!

    the village potters, asheville, nc, pottery, ceramics, gallery, garden, spring, blooms

    the village potters, asheville, nc, pottery, ceramics, gallery, garden, spring, blooms

    the village potters, asheville, nc, pottery, ceramics, gallery, garden, spring, blooms

    the village potters, asheville, nc, pottery, ceramics, gallery, garden, spring, blooms

    the village potters, asheville, nc, pottery, ceramics, gallery, garden, spring, blooms

    the village potters, asheville, nc, pottery, ceramics, gallery, garden, spring, blooms

    the village potters, asheville, nc, pottery, ceramics, gallery, garden, spring, blooms

  • The Allure of Sculpture

    By JUDI HARWOOD

    the village potters, asheville, nc, pottery classes, sculpture, judi harwood

    Our teaching center at The Village Potters is happy to announce the addition of Beginner Sculpture classes!  As the resident potter who will be teaching these classes, I’d like to give you a little background.

    In 1999 I took a pottery class (wheel) with a friend for something fun to do together before she the village potters, asheville, nc, pottery classes, sculpture, judi harwoodmoved away.  My friend didn’t like getting her hands dirty, but I got hooked!  As my hands touched the wet clay on the wheel I knew I wanted to learn more about how to gently move this amazingly responsive material into wonderful shapes.  As I pursued learning to make pots on the wheel there was always a nagging desire to ‘draw’ 3 dimensionally with clay without the use of a wheel.  A bit intimidated about the process, I couldn’t make the leap to ‘just do it’.

     

    the village potters, asheville, nc, pottery classes, sculpture, judi harwoodSo, several years ago, I took my first sculpture workshop with Nan Jacobsohn, a nationally recognized sculptor (www.theclayhorse.com).  Watching her work unlocked something inside of me to be free to move this fascinating substance we call clay into the shapes or forms I envisioned.  Since then horses, lions, and human figures somehow, almost magically, continue to make their way out of a lump of clay, through my hands.

    Feel it.  Experience what you can only perceive through touch.  Sculpture.  Tuesdays at The Village Potters from 3:30 to 6:00. Register Online for February 18 start date.

    the village potters, asheville, nc, pottery classes, sculpture, judi harwood

     

     

  • Visitor’s Center Volunteer Appreciation Event at The Village Potters!

    Some images from our event to say “thank you” to the many volunteers at Asheville’s Visitor’s Center at the Chamber for all they do to promote Asheville in every way, and in particular for all they do to promote The Village Potters in the River Arts District. We wined and dined them, gave them a tour, and even sent them off with a lovely holiday ornament. It was a small token of great appreciation, and we hope they had as much fun as we did!

    the village potters, asheville, nc, pottery, ceramics, gallery, gifts, visitors center, asheville chamber
    VPs Judi, George, Karen, & Bryan take in the event.
    the village potters, asheville, nc, asheville chamber, visitors center, pottery, ceramics
    VP Lori pours out festive libations (special thanks to Lisa and Asheville Brewing for a delicious IPA!) and enjoys telling guests about our studios.
    the village potters, asheville, nc, pottery, ceramics, asheville chamber, visitors center
    A rapt audience being welcomed to the event.
    the village potters, asheville, nc, ceramics, pottery, asheville chamber, visitors center
    mixing and mingling while being wined and dined…
    the village potters, asheville, nc, ceramics, pottery, gifts, asheville chamber, visitors center
    VP Lori welcomes the crowd and shares our appreciation of the volunteers’ dedication and hard work.
    the village potters, asheville, nc, pottery, ceramics, volunteer appreciation, asheville chamber, visitors center
    Each of us brought goodies to cater the evening, and we were all gratified by how many times we were asked “who catered this? it’s wonderful!”
    the village potters, asheville, nc, pottery, ceramics, asheville chamber, visitors center
    It was a wonderfully warm and festive atmosphere!
    the village potters, asheville, nc, visitors center, asheville chamber, volunteer appreciation
    Each guest left with a lovely holiday ornament, a very small token of our great appreciation!

     

  • Studio Stroll at The Village Potters

    November Studio Stroll will take place
    Saturday & Sunday, November 9-10, from 10am-6pm.

    the village potters, bernie segal, weekdays with bernie, appreciation

    At The Village Potters, you’ll find at least one of us demonstrating some facet of our production process between 10am – 2pm.

    In addition, we’re very excited to welcome some of our friends as guests:

    Saturday, November 9, 11:00am and 2:00pm
    “Winter Skincare” lecture

    cara mae potters skin butter

    Cara Steinbuchel of Cara Mae Skincare will be in the studio with her fabulous Potter’s Skin Butter, and at 11am and 2pm she will give a brief presentation on “Winter Skincare”.

    Sunday, June 10, 10am – 2pm
    Demonstration by Painter Jenny Buckner

    the village potters, asheville, nc, studio stroll, jenny buckner, painting

    If you’ve been to our Showrooms, you’ve seen Jenny Buckner’s exquisite paintings. She’ll be in our studios painting on Sunday, from 10am-2pm during Studio Stroll.

    We hope to see you here, and thank you for supporting Hand Made!