Open Studios Juxtapositions

After a whirlwind week of recovering from the Asparagus Valley Pottery Trail and firing students' work for finals at my (relatively new) clay tech job at UMass Amherst, it's time to get the studio in shape for Open Studios this weekend!  My fabulous assistants, Anna and Leah (who are rather camera-shy, or I'd put up a photo of them) actually did most of the set up while I went over to UMass this a.m. to unload one last kiln and sit in on a final critique.  When I got to the studio, we really only had to unload things from my van that I'd taken to the Pottery Trail, and tweak some details.  I appreciate the help of my assistants so much.  After a spate of office work which piled up while I was doing other things, I took a spin around the room where we are usually either making, processing or glazing things.  I noticed some interesting little images.  The slab roller has some rather-less-than-successful (in my opinion) tiles we attempted, some left over plant stakes from a plant sale show I did a few years ago, some odd plates playing around with new colors and mugs and vases and a sign indicating which direction the slab is supposed to roll through the rollers.  I also noted the juxtaposition of one of my show booth display units with some new items, next to my shelving that holds a lot of the "stuff" we use to keep things running around here, next to the open door to my kiln room.  It takes a lot of process and tools to take clay from a lump to a plate, platter, bowl or vase.  You can see some of the process if you look around during Open Studios. 

The studio always looks so different when set up for Open Studios.  I'm hoping some folks will remember or be able to come check it out and see if there's anything scattered around that really needs to come home with them.  

Open Studio hours are:
Saturday, May 5th from 10-5 
Sunday, May 6th from noon - 5.