Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery
A Chicago potter’s somewhat slanted view of clay & play
Categories: bike, sunrise

A beautiful albeit chilly ride this morning… long sleeves, gloves & 48-degrees!!!… brrrrr!!! But I was ready to pedal & get this day started. And now it’s back to the garden for Day Two of ART IN THE GARDEN in Glenview, Illinois!

Looking for something fun to do today?… come on out to the garden to say “Hi” and see some great art & chat with some of my talented friends!!!

Categories: art fair, flowers, garden

Another fun art fair surprise!!! I’ve mentioned my on-going inability to grow pretty “weeds” in my garden. I LOVE black-eyed susans… and everyone says they’re so invasive & will take over in no time. And yet somehow, I can’t seem to get them to thrive. I have a couple teeny plants that have survived, but not thriving?! So it was so nice today when one of my longtime fans brought me a couple transplants from her yard for me to try. Thank you Carmie… you’re the sweetest!!! I just hope I don’t kill these too?!!! 🤣🌻

Categories: art fair, family

Always fun when my Cousin Kimberley Sue comes to the art fair… hanging out, chatting, laughing… and adding to her already HUGE pottery collection! This time it was all about some new flowerpots for her houseplants!

Also fun (for me) when someone finds a FREE pot! A little art fair game I like to play…
basically just to entertain myself!!! Well, today it was Kim’s lucky day!!!

Free pottery for the win!!!

Another freebie tomorrow…

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

Speaking of collaborations… here’s another one at ART IN THE GARDEN. My friend Retta Hentschel made this amazing stained glass window using some of my textured clay nuggets! Such a nice piece… so happy to be part of it! Retta did an amazing job here… combining her glass & my clay into one stunning window pane!

Categories: art fair, artists, collaborations, tiles

Enough of the “teasers”… now that our collaborations have made their “Bug Reveal” at ART IN THE GARDEN today, Cory & I felt it was fine to show you all what each piece looks like straight on. Again, I made all of the textured tiles & my pal Cory McCrory made all of the sculptural bugs.

We had a great day today… and there are still
a few collaborations for those who come tomorrow!
We’re back in Glenview from 10:00am-5:00pm.

Categories: art fair, nature

Beautiful day for an art fair! Here’s the view from… errr, “above” my tent!!!

Categories: animals, art fair, artists, collaborations

So it’s the night before… and one last chance for a quick “teaser” of my “buggy” collaboration with Cory McCrory! About a week ago I was wondering IF we would even have ANY bugs?! A little kiln explosion… but Cory is a Wizard!!! And she turned it all around & worked her magic. I’m so excited that we ended up with ten pieces as originally planned. Each one a singular masterpiece!

They’ll be making their “buggy debut” at ART IN THE GARDEN tomorrow morning! Hoping to spread the “infestation” to some new homes soon!!!

Categories: My Talented Friends, television

Never fear, Cory did an amazing job pulling together a fine “Plan B” after her kiln challenges this week. We may have lost a few bugs along the way… a few we’re resurrected… and she might have added in a couple retro TVs with bugs. I put them all together with my tiles last night… and we still ended up with ten amazing collaboration pieces for this weekend’s ART IN THE GARDEN show. … whew! There’s only ten of these collabs… and they might go fast?!!!

Now don’t get too excited… this “LOST” retro television is MINE!!!
A special custom piece just for me & my addiction to the best TV show ever!
I just love having talented friends!

Categories: collaborations, tiles

The bug infestation finally made it to Chicago!!!

After a few “challenges” along the way… my pal Cory McCrory finally got her bugs together & sent them my way!!! So tonight I’m putting them together with my part of the collaboration project. Windows are open… but I still feel like I’ve been sniffing glue for awhile tonight!!!

Just trying to get them done & drying so they’re ready for this weekend at ART IN THE GARDEN in Glenview, Illinois!!! Fingers crossed… with fans blowing fumes outside!!!

Categories: bowls, food

Luckily I had another bowl… as one of the Farmers Market vendors gave me a free bundle of radishes. Not my favorite veggie… but they were FREE!!! Which IS my favorite!