Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery
A Chicago potter’s somewhat slanted view of clay & play
Categories: art fair, artists, flowers, friends

After a fun weekend of hanging out with my friend & master metalsmith Sarah Chapman, I came home with a bunch of roses. I helped Sarah at the Spring One-Of-A-Kind Show in her booth. At the end, it’s the big tear-down and pack-up. Everything packs down pretty tightly. Everything in its place, and every place with it’s thing. The one thing that didn’t fit were her “booth flowers”… which I brought home and have been enjoying for a few days now. Beautiful roses that are still in surprisingly great shape?!!!

Categories: art fair, artists, pottery

Yesterday was a long day of seeing a LOT of incredible pottery. But today it was time for more!!! I returned to a couple of the studio stops on the St. Croix Pottery Tour… but I always look forward to seeing some signs on the side of the road. It started a few years back, but now The Rogue Potters have become and wonderful “unofficial” stop on MY tour!!!

They’ve done a wonderful job of creating a buzz. Handmade signs along the main thoroughfares. Bermashave-style signs to draw you in. More pottery to see???… I’m in!!!

It was such a beautiful day. So great to see that Randal and the Rogues had moved their show outside to enjoy the weather!

While there, it’s always fun to see their kiln shed and the traditional wood-fired brick kiln inside. Such a great place… that I’m sure has dozens of great stories to go along with it.

Categories: art fair, artists, pottery

Here it is again… Mother’s Day Weekend… and the Best Pottery Tour EVER!!!
The St. Croix River Valley Pottery Tour is an annual event  a bit north of Minneapolis. There are seven host potters on the tour that invite even more talented artists to their place for the weekend. This year there were fifty guest artists! Truth be told… some day I would love to be one of those invited guest potters. Dare to dream! Maybe we need to start a write-in campaign???

So here’s the deal. The pottery tour is always Friday, Saturday & Sunday. There are large tents set-up at each location FILLED with wonderful pots!!! The artists are all there and ready to chat. What’s not to like? It’s a great opportunity to see some amazing work, network and make some more “pottery friends.” We always do the full tour on Friday when the shelves are overflowing… and selling fast!

Here’s a quick peek at some of the fun! And some of the pottery!

Yes, you are correct…. it all can be a little visually overwhelming. But in a good way. With so many talented potters involved, it’s nearly impossible to see everything. So let me share a few of the pieces that caught my attention.

Large Pitcher by Steven Hill.

Dinnerware by Ikuzi Teraki & Jeanne Bisson

Platter by Shoko Teruyama

Pottery display full of work by Kyle Carpenter.

Colorful carrot plate by Karin Kraemer.

Striped & sectioned platter by Suze Lindsay.

Glazed bowl by Ellen Shankin & carved porcelain mini vessels by Sandra Byers.

Forget-Me-Not Platter by Karin Kraemer.

Dotted Leaf Plate by Kyle Carpenter.

Pottery display full of work by Matthew Metz.

Some foliage beauty on Kyle Carpenter pots.

Textured plates by Mary Barringer.

Textured flower brick vases by Bill Gossman.

 

Textured vase by RIchard Vincent and some “glaze magic” by Steven Hill.

More painted accents on Kyle Carpenter pots.

Perky petals by Karin Kraemer and textured slip tray by Suze Lindsay.

Dinnerware by Kent McLaughlin in a cool dish rack.

Sgraffito flower by Matthew Metz and a textured plate by Ikuzi Teraki & Jeanne Bisson.

Large glazed bowl and pottery display by Steven Hill.

Small vase by Suze Lindsay and teapot by Kyle Carpenter.

Incredible dinnerware by Ikuzi Teraki & Jeanne Bisson.

Textured platter by Richard Vincent and a textured plate ^ vase by Mary Barringer.

Planter by Suze Lindsay.

Textured jar by George Lowe.

Glazed platter by Steven Hill and sgraffito flower by Matthew Metz.

Textured sphere vase by Michael Hunt & Naomi Dalglish.

Of course there were SO MANY MORE pots to see. I feel based that I missed getting photos of a lot of them! Maybe because I was too swept up in the moment. Too busy admiring pots. Too busy enjoying the eye candy. Too busy shopping!

Sometimes timing is everything. It was great to capture the “courting ritual” moment of two bugs on a Karin Kraemer pot. Too funny.

And speaking of funny… here’s a quick pic of my friend Steven Hill posting on his phone. We had just had the discussion a few moments earlier that he needs to post something about the Pottery Tour. Apparently he took my advice… but was a little frightened of what I was going to post about him!!! All good Steven… good photo, nice booth shot and look, you’re posting online!!! Well played my friend.

 

Categories: art fair

We’re exactly one month away from the kick-off of my Summer Art Fair schedule. I start off on Memorial Day weekend and continue through the summer. Mark your calendars for the list of shows below. I’ve been making a lot of new work. Lots of bisque piling up in my studio… gotta start glazing & firing soon! And then it’s time to pull out the tent and dust it off. It will be fun to get out there again to see all the smiling faces of my wonderful customers!

Schaumburg Prairie Fine Arts Festival
Saturday, May 28th, 2016 – 10:00am-6:00pm
Sunday, May 29th, 2016 – 10:00am-5:00pm
Robert O. Atcher Municipal Center
201 Schaumburg Court in Schaumburg, Illinois

Hinsdale Fine Arts Festival
Saturday, June 11th, 2016 – 10:00am-6:00pm
Sunday, June 12th, 2016 – 10:00am-5:00pm
Burlington Park on Chicago Avenue between Washington & Garfield Streets
in Hinsdale, Illinois

Evanston Lakeshore Fine Arts Festival
Saturday, August 6th, 2016 – 11:00am-6:00pm
Sunday, August 7th, 2016 – 11:00am-6:00pm
Along Lake Michigan’s shores at Dawes Park on Sheridan Road at Clark Street
in Evanston, Illinois

Art In The Garden : A Grassroots Art Fair
Saturday, September 1oth, 2016 – 10:00am-5:00pm
Sunday, September 11th, 2016 – 10:00am-5:00pm
1205 Hutchings Avenue, Glenview, IL 60025
One block west of Waukegan Road, between Lake Street and Glenview Road.
It’s a special weekend to play with some of My Talented Friends!!!
We’re at the home of metalsmith Amy Taylor, with our other artist friends…
including wonderful & whimsical paperclay artistry of Cory McCrory, glass bead jewelry by Donna Sauers, metal jewelry by Carole Axium, paintings & sculptures by Martin Chadwick, stained glass by Retta Hentschel and ice-dyed scarves by Jill Wheeler.

Art In The Barn
Saturday, September 24th, 2016 – 10:00am-5:00pm
Sunday, September 25th, 2016 – 10:00am-5:00pm
Located on the grounds (and in the barns) of Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
on Route 22 in Barrington, Illinois – Lower Barn E4 & E6

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And then it’s never too soon to start thinking about the holidays, right???

“My Home For The Holidays” Home Show
Saturday, November 19th, 2016 – 10:00am-6:00pm
Sunday, November 20th, 2016 – 10:00am-6:00pm

“Mud & Metal” : A Collaborative Holiday Home Show
A second Holiday Home Show for those who need some last-minute gifts!
Saturday, December 10th, 2016 – 10:00am-6:00pm

 

 

Categories: art fair, mugs

SORRY – This online sale is now closed.
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Here we go… WANT A HUG?  GIVE A MUG!!!
And the “official” Online Mug Sale begins NOW on Facebook!!!
Just in time to be the perfect gift for your Valentine!

The “official” Photo Album of the ten mugs up for sale today was just published on Facebook. I’m going with one album so as not to flood your News Feed with a post for each individual piece. Please “Share” the album with your friends.

Click HERE to go directly to my Facebook pottery page.

Each mug is $50 which includes shipping & handling. For ease of getting everything out in time for Valentine’s Day, contiguous US please.

Simply find the piece you want on the Facebook Photo Album… not here on the blog! Then add a Facebook Comment on the individual picture in the Photo Album. If you’re the first person to claim it with a simple “MINE. MINE. MINE”… or something similar… you get the mug. It’s first come, first claimed. Be sure to Comment on an individual photo, not the album. If you’re the first person to “claim” a piece, I will try to confirm quickly to send you some final purchasing details.

If you want to see both sides of a mug, scroll down through the blog for more photos of the mugs up for “adoption.” You’ll both sides and some close-up detail shots!

This online sale ends on Friday, February 5th at midnight. That gives me enough time to ship them out so you get them before Valentine’s Day!

 So hurry up… what are you doing here wasting time reading?
Start clicking through the Facebook Photo Album. Snatch ’em up quick!!!
And be sure to “Share” the Facebook post with your friends. Handmade mugs are the perfect gift for Valentine’s Day for that special someone… or better yet… yourself!!!

WANT A HUG?  GIVE A MUG.

Categories: art fair, artists, friends, My Talented Friends

For those of you who may have missed MUD & METAL this past Saturday, here’s a quick glimpse of the beautiful metalwork by Amy Taylor. She had quite a few beautiful pieces in my dining room!!! If you’re still looking for holiday gifts, be sure to check out her website or shop on her Etsy page.

Website : http://amytaylorjewelry.com
Etsy : https://www.etsy.com/shop/hingedjewelry

Categories: art fair, artists, flowers, holiday

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who stopped by my place yesterday
for the MUD & METAL Holiday Home Show. Me the MUD… Amy the METAL.

We had so much fun playing with so many great people!!! I love knowing that so many pieces are going to good homes, whether as holiday gifts to the loved ones on your list, or to yourselves!!! Special thanks to my friend & talented metalsmith Amy Taylor for joining me again this year. Her work is amazing, she’s so much fun to play with… and I came away with a few new pieces in my “Amy Collection”!!!

Categories: art fair, mugs

Just one hour until doors open for “MUD & METAL : A Collaborative Holiday Home Show.” Amy Taylor is here setting up her amazing jewelry… and I’ve already replenished the pottery shelves inside & out! Lots of great gift ideas. Swing by today for a little holiday shopping! Plus, the first Fire When Ready Pottery Fan to come through my door singing “Jingle Bells” will get a FREE MUG!!! Giddy-up!!!

Categories: art fair, ornaments, soda-fired

Need some new holiday ornaments for your tree???
There will be plenty of them available tomorrow at our MUD & METAL event.
Stop by my place between 10:00am-6:00pm tomorrow to do a little shopping,
or just hang out & enjoy the festivities… and the comfort of my couch!

Categories: art fair

Don’t forget… tomorrow is the big day.
The perfect day to cross some names off your holiday gift list.
The perfect day to get yourself a sweet little somethin’-somethin’.
The perfect day to see the BIG REVEAL of our Mud & Metal collaborations!!!
It’s a one-day event from 10:00am-6:00pm!!! Be sure to swing by!!!