OCEAN SPRINGS, AN SMALL TOWN THAT IS ALL ABOUT ART

SHEARWATER POTTERY

Peter Anderson founder of Shearwater
Pottery

Most of family has participated in making Shearwater Pottery.  Peter founded the Pottery with his parents who had moved from New Orleans to Ocean Springs where that had bought a large plot of land on an inlet to the Gulf.  Today many of the descendants of Peter's and Andrew's family still make pottery

Shearwater Pottery show room 

Alligator excellence

Shearwater Pottery show room is natural woods and rustic and speaks of the natural elements of the island it sits on

AAARGGH!

You may be two minds about the African American figures that are for sale,  but they do reflect the time period in which they were created and a culture that existed.  Even Whoopie Goldberg has a collection for her Wall of Shame.  

Pelican who filled his bill as fast as his belly can!

The Anderson family compound is still a working community of artists

Supplies are well stock right now, but disappear fast.

Alphabet cards from  wood block designs

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ocean+Springs,+MS/@30.4041945,-88.7894028,13z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x889b8b0855fd698b:0x4269255cf68f01f2?hl=en

CHEROKEE MUSEUM

Cherokee Reservation, North Carolina

Early photos of a Cherokee woman and her daughter making pottery
Photo with permission of Cherokee Museum

Cherokee Arts and Crafts(click)

Early handmade pot

Clay figure

Cherokee method of coil pottery 

THE POWER OF THE CHEROKEE WOMAN(click)

Firing of pots Cherokee style

Here is a link to Cherokee customs for children and adults(click).  One of the interesting facts is the strong role of women in the Cherokee culture.   The woman controlled the pottery making and therefore the home.  The pottery is hand built in the coil method and then a wooden paddle is used to pat out and round the pot.  It is smoothed and readied for firing.  The Cherokee used a low fire method of firing their pots, which did leave them vulnerable to cracking easily.  The fire also smoked the pots turning them into shades of brow and black.  I apologize for the quality of the photo's, but with the small camera I am using I cannot overcome the yellowing of light due to the effect of the electric lights.  

Raku and Glass Fusion Tomorrow!!!

I can hardly wait, Raku!

Raku Tongs/photo  by Elizabeth Gordon

 Being on the road for two weeks in New Orleans was wonderful, but I missed my classes and my art buddies.  It is so wonderful to discover new things and be in a studio atmosphere.  I am especially excited about Raku.  I have three pieces waiting to be fired.  I love the whole process of raku: the fire, the drama, and the surprise.  The new pieces are high relief, really sculptural.  They are based on nature, either insects, birds or flora.  I plan to work on a series of these as a homage to my Mother who will be 99 in April.  She was a biology and science teacher and taught me to love every thing in nature. I find that background appears and reappears in my work continually, even when I am not conscious of it.  

Art series with insects, clay using clay ink and transfers

detail photo showing sculptural leave design

detail shot showing high relief insect

The raku pot below is one that is similar to those I am firing tomorrow.  I used a raku glaze called Hawaiian Blue that is a matt glaze.  It brings out blues and coppers in the firing. You can see the leaves wrapping around the pot and folding to the inside.  

Raku sculptural Vase by Elizabeth Gordon

I will share the results of the firing tomorrow with you when they are complete.  Lets do art!