Who's got big bowls...

...I got big bowls...and 20 of them ready for the bisque almost. That will be my small contribution to this year's Empty Bowls Fundraiser event that will take place here in the greater metropolitan area of Indiana, PA. on March 2 right outside the Commonplace Coffeehouse. Nancy Smeltzer, Josh Floyd and Harmony Ritchie are organizing this year's event and potters from all around the area are donating their bowls and time. It also serves as a nice kick in the ass for me to get back into the studio...brave the snowy roads and just get back to doing what makes me feel good. I spent a couple days in the studio throwing and trimming 20 or so bowls that I will be firing with a group of others down at IUP. My friend, Dan Kuhn, who was recently the grad assistant there, will be firing all our work in the big Baily gas kiln. Other local potters will be stopping by the ceramic department there for a bit of a "throw down" in the next couple days. IUP is supplying the clay and the firing...awfully nice of them...all you have to do is show up and crank out some bowls. Above are bowls by Nancy that she threw for her friend and neighbor Marilyn to carve and decorate and below are some of mine from the other day. More to come about this event!

Speaking of snowy roads, the winter is dragging on here and the snow seems never ending..."relentless" as a friend put it to me today. The studio up at Nancy's is half buried in snow and the kilns, like us, just seem to be waiting for some better weather. In the meantime, I am getting back in the swing of things and plan to be making a good bit of work including a bunch of teapots for a show I will be in this summer in Chautauqua.

Whenever it decides to stop snowing and our weather changes a little for the better, I will be ready to load a kiln and chuck in some wood. Until next time...think warm thoughts.