apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

This has been the year of pottery for me... Mom threw me some plant pots (and built a very cool set of square vases) and a friends' mom gave me a pair of noodle bowls, a mug and a non-cheesy spoon rest (that last one is very hard to find.) You can get microwave/dishwasher safe pieces, and they hold heat beautifully.

I have tried throwing my own pottery, but I'm not very good at it. 'Wedging' the clay beforehand takes a lot of work - and strength! - so I ended up with lumps that would pull the pieces apart. I did end up with an interesting freeform bowl shaped like an ear, though, from one of these mishaps.

If you're looking for handmade ceramics created by amazingly talented people, go to www.archiebray.org or if you're in Montana visit the Archie Bray Foundation in Helena. It is a magical place. Artists from all over the world do residencies there...functional pottery, installation work, wood fired, salt fired.

After living in Helena and getting to know the art community there, I am biased, but from the perspective of someone who collects ceramics, there is no better place to find what you're looking for.

It seems that Perch and Heath ceramics are quite ubiquitous these days. Even a little generic, in my opinion.

Why not support the local scene? There are a bevy of amazingly gifted ceramic artists and sculptors here in Chicago - many of them have studios and are based out of Lillstreet Art Center.

While some shops that sell ceramics have registries (Heath among them), I know of a few artists from there that have been commissioned to make tableware for restaurants, newlyweds, and then some. I don't think anything compares to getting to personally know the artist that has created something for you, as well as supporting their livelihood.

My husband and I have been collecting hand-made ceramics for years, and I have to say, I don't think I could buy ceramics over the internet. So much of a piece's quality lies in its heft (or lack thereof) and its feel. Pictures don't tell the whole story.

As for the examples you cited, most appear to be either slipcast or ram-pressed, which means the original artist likely had very little direct contact with the piece you get. Both processes make for lovely dinnerware, much like the Homer Loughlin my grandmother had.

I much prefer wheel-thrown pottery, though. Artists who are making much shorter production runs can experiment much more freely with glazes and firing techniques. And the traces of "wheel information" in the bottom really connect a piece to it's maker.

As far as sources go, I highly recommend American Craft Council http://www.craftcouncil.org is a great place to start. They have shows and markets in several major cities over the course of the year.

As an option for those folks who cant afford the types of wares at say Heath or even Lillstreet (sorry, but a lot of what's shown there is a bit too pricey) and are beginning a collection, always remember the thrifting option. I've collected a number of interesting handmade organic pottery pieces over the years at thrifting locations throughout Chicago, and never paid more than $15 for anything.

Look into local potters clubs and associations, too: they often have yearly sales and usually something will appeal.

That said, more than two-thirds of my hand-thrown pottery is from Value Village and Goodwill. There was a while where everyone in Toronto seemed to be getting rid of heavy hand-thrown stoneware, and I stocked up. It all looks very Carmel in '74, but it's got a certain charm.