It was 1996 and was living in Rhinebeck NY, working in a restaurant in Kingston and trying to realize my dream of having a music studio and pursuing my interest in music. Things were not going all that well and I needed a diversion to clear my mind. My lady friend at the time suggested we do a pottery class and I said why not. From the beginning I was hooked. I made a few pieces and wanted to continue but not at the class but with a local potter whose work I had scene in the neighborhood. Her name was Nancee Meeker and she did these wonderful pieces of low fire earthenware clay, wheel thrown, hand carved and burnished with what is known as Terra Sigilata, the old Greek and Roman “sealed earth” technique and finally, smoking the work in hardwood sawdust. Trouble was I was changing jobs to return to the city to work again in restaurant and, Nancee didn’t want to teach. By whatever stroke of luck she decided to take me on and I would return from the city on the weekend and on Saturday morning I would have a lesson in her studio in Rhinecliff, NY.
Now retired and free to do not only music but pottery I am again trying to continue the legacy of Meeker and simply to enjoy working and creating with clay and keep her spirit alive.
New additions to the Vessel column will give you a view of the new work, but really is a return to the original idea and love of this type of technique. I will still work with stoneware but the first love will be my current path. Good to be back where I began!