Some cool mugs from some cool people...

This morning I was reminded of a phrase that I have kept in my head for a long time..."its not the places you go, its the people that you meet". This is a phrase that is so true for me. After I have left the place where I was either working, enjoying myself, or through travels, its often the memory of those people whom I have met at those places that brings back the smiles. This is why I am posting today. I am a lucky enough fellow to have met some really cool people in my life time and I would like to share one of my favorite ways of recalling that person and that particular memory...mugs and cups. Now, not all the really cool people I have met make mugs and cups, but at least the most recent people.
Being the kilnmaster and studio manager at Chautauqua does have its perks and meeting lots of good people is one of the biggest. Receiving a mug or cup from one of the many firings I do up there for people is also a close second! I did meet many cool painters and one cool print maker and did receive nice trade items from them too...but that's for another post, clay first baby!
My collection of my mugs and cups has grown...I drink from a different mug each morning and as I savor my favorite El Salvador beans I am reminded of the person that made that mug and where or how I happened to acquire the mug. I love making mugs and cups.I believe they are the most direct way to connect with another person through the work that I do. They are affordable for most all...they make intimate contact through use, and they are for sharing with friends either through gifting, trading, or having some coffee together. They have many of the same traits that bigger more expensive pieces exhibit such as:juicy glazes, great ash runs, fortunate flashes, and expressive imagery or graphics. They are carriers of expression as well as carriers of libations.
So here is the booty that I came away with from my summer and also a pair of beauties that I received when I came home...

The Mug to the far left is by Justin Lambert, fired in our salt kiln at Chautauqua...the tumbler is from Alec Karros...beautiful blue celedon fired in a cone10 reduction in the Blaauw kiln.

Below: Polly Anne Martin, cone 6 tumbler (perfect for a beer!). Bobby Tso, cone 6 with his own decal fired on at cone 04...a talented young student that I hope to see again in the future.
And below those: Dan Kuhn, my super studio tech at Chautauqua

...both mug and cup are porcelain and fired in the salt kiln. Then I got these in (future)trade from Nancy Smeltzer with whom I am the squatter potter firing with her and throwing in the studio. They are a couple of drippy beauties from the train kiln. The blue herons are all but obscured from the ash runs with only their heads peeking out from behind the atmospheric goodness...I love these pieces.

I hope you enjoyed seeing my new treasures and I hope you also enjoy the simple pleasures of the handmade drinking vessel...I will be working in the studio quite a bit in the next few weeks as Nancy and I plan to do 2 more wood firings before the upcoming studio tour in October... until next time gentle reader...cheers.