Ceramics Technical Magazine Article

Several days ago I received messages from fellow ceramic artists mentioning that, unbeknownst to me, I appeared in the very respected industry magazine, Ceramics Technical.

After obtaining my copy and turning the pages, I found myself with full smile sat at the potter's wheel while working at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts. I was filled with delight and happiness - not necessarily for wondering what I had done (if anything) to earn my spot on the page - but more so, because the glorious memories I had of Haystack washed over me.

In the words of Stuart Kestenbaum, Haystack "represents a remarkable confluence of nature, design and creative process." 'Indeed' is the only word I can add to a perfectly stated comment.

Life and it's responsibilities sometimes pull us from the things we really enjoy doing - in my case, pottery & teaching. The challenge of finding the time to create is always present as I move through my busy life. But the universe has subtle and surprising ways of reminding us to do what we know we have been put on earth to accomplish. Viewing the photo of myself and recognizing "joy" was like a gentle finger tapping me to say "make the time and nourish the soul."

I thank the universe and Haystack for my once in a life time experience - and the sweet reminder that came two years later.

The Art of Hand Picking Great Teas & Hand-Made Pottery Blend Together

Recently opened on Morton Street in the West Village of New York, is a Parisian style cafe & tea shop filled with the finest teas selected from around the world. Run by the world's youngest tea master and successful restaurantuar Nilesh Dawda L'Age de The (in french meaning "The Age of Tea" and "The" being pronounced "Tay") offers a myriad of teas from estates that honor fair labor standards and practice organic and eco-sustainable farming methods.
Additionally, executive Chef, Hergott has taken great care to create the most delicious line of macaroons in over seventy varieties. Flavors range from the most velvety smooth vanilla to a subtly earthy white truffle, from a decadent pure origin dark chocolate to a light fruity and floral apricot lavender as well as the most satisfying High Tea Time English style sandwiches all served upon sandwich & dessert plates I designed and hand-made.
I was most happy when I was approached to design something special for the delicious offerings to be enjoyed by guests.
How very fitting that teas which are hand-picked and hand-blended should be accompany these tasty morsels on hand-made tableware!!! Be sure to give yourself a luxurious break from the bustle of city at L'Age de The and try one of their creative and rare blend teas mid-afternoon.

Upcoming Workshops & Other News

I will be teaching a workshop this upcoming week at the Long Beach Island Foundation of Arts & Sciences in NJ. Inspired by nature and beautiful gardens, which are a work of art themselves, I came up with the idea for the following workshop:

Garden Whimsy
Wednesday, August 24
9:30 am – 1:30 pm
04-AR10G-11
Instructor: Kerith Creo
Create your own clay features to enhance the beauty and originality
of your outdoor garden! The instructor will teach and
demonstrate handbuilding skills necessary to craft a beautiful
hanging bird feeder, clay flowers to mask the tough-to-grow
spots, or a beautiful birdhouse. All materials included. Return to
pick up glazed work.
Fee: $60
Fee w/ Member Discount: $45

Also I am very happy and thankful to those that appreciate and have bought my work - in the last few weeks I have sold nearly 25 pieces out of Wildflowers Too Gallery. Be sure to stop by to see new works put in the gallery every week.

Flattery from A-far

Today I received a lovely morning message in my in-box. It's very flattering to be recognized for our hard efforts, especially when the author (a stranger to me) has included my work in the company of some of history's finest potters - such as Lucie Rie, early 17th C. Japanese Potters, Otto Naztler- whose work is held in museums around the world for his brilliant glazes and John Britt, a published author on successful oxidation firing.
Of thousands of images on-line I am thankful and humbled to be highlighted in such fine company as a great example of oxidation fired pottery.

Lee's work is beautiful so be sure to visit her web-site and if on the west coast pay a visit to her studio on the Olympic Peninsula.

Hi Kerith

Just wanted to let you know that I featured one of your beautiful teapots on my blog today. I like to include pictures of great pottery that's been fired in oxidation - just to show that you can get nice results without reduction. Your piece is here www.leedanielspottery.wordpress.com. I included a link to your website.

Cheers - Lee

Lee Daniels Pottery
www.leedanielspottery.com
leedanielspottery@me.com

A Gem of a Gallery

Wildflowers Art Gallery located in Barnegat Light recently opened and I am happy to be exhibiting my work there. Crickett Luker, owner, is a wonderful energy in Barnegat Light. An artist herself, she opened her doors July 3rd showing the works of over 20 artists and craftspeople from far and wide. Inside the gallery visitors will find paintings, glass, photography, pottery and more. I am very excited to be the only potter whose work is displayed tastefully throughout the gallery mixed in good company with the work of many talented artists.

Clay Times at PS 101 in NYC (pt.4)

The beautiful child who worked diligently and patiently to create this precious flower vase for his Mother's Day gift...an original.

Clay Times at PS 101 in NYC (pt.3)

The kids getting creative with their new skills in clay.

Clay TImes at PS 101 in NYC (pt.2)

The preparation stages and demonstration for the kids on the "wee" desk.

Clay Times at PS 101 in NYC (pt.1)

Another great class at PS 101 in NYC.

Summer 2011 Classes at Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Science

Adult Classes

TIme to Get DIrty

Friday, July 29 7:00 – 9:00 pm 04-ar10d-11

Friday, august 12 7:00 – 9:00 pm 04-ar10d-2-11

Friday, September 9 7:00 – 9:00 pm 04-ar10d-3-11 Instructor: Kerith Creo Come with friends, bring a date, or meet someone new at the LBIF Ceramics Studio. You’re sure to have a great time at this monthly event. our instructor will walk you through a few intro- ductory projects, or you’re free to make your own creations. Materials are included. Return to pick up work once it’s fired. Fee: $35

Fee w/ member discount: $20

Garden WhImsy

Wednesday, august 24 9:30 am – 1:30 pm 04-ar10g-11 Instructor: Kerith Creo Create your own clay features to enhance the beauty and origi- nality of your outdoor garden! The instructor will teach and demonstrate handbuilding skills necessary to craft a beautiful hanging bird feeder, clay flowers to mask the tough-to-grow spots, or a beautiful birdhouse. All materials included. Return to pick up glazed work.

Fee: $60 Fee w/ member discount: $45

Clay Jewelry

Wednesday, July 20 9:30 am – 1:30 pm 04-ar10J-11 Instructor: Kerith Creo Create the perfect piece of jewelry to personalize your wardrobe or give a gift to someone special. Demonstrations to create clay carved pendants, disc beads, or a brooch will be given. Learn pigment techniques and use of recycled or sea glass for a wide range of color. All materials included. Students will return to pick up completed works.

Fee: $60 Fee w/ member discount: $45

FAMILY CLASSeS

creatIve FamIly Fun WIth clay

Sunday, July 10 10:00 am – 12:00 pm 04-ch86-1-11

1:00 – 3:00 pm 04-ch86-1b-11

Sunday, august 14 10:00 am – 12:00 pm 04-ch86-2-11

1:00 – 3:00 pm 04-ch86-2b-11

Instructor: Kerith Creo enjoy family time together in a creative and inspired atmosphere. handbuilding techniques will be taught to assist you in making a personalized bowl, party plate, or mug. Bring your creativity and your own ideas. All materials are included.

Fee: $45/one adult and one child. each additional person is $20 Fee w/ member discount: $35/one adult and one child. each additional person is $15

Sign up for my next workshop on April 10th! - www.lbifoundation.org

In the Ceramics Studio: Clay Tiles

Artist, Kerith Creo

Clay Tiles

Sunday, April 10

9:00am - 1:00pm

Instructor: Kerith Creo

Fee: $50

Fee w/ Member Discount: $40

Learn important techniques to make your own unique tiles. Class will cover the best bodies of clay to use, slab rolling, clay thickness, how to avoid warping and cracking, equating shrinkage, cutting and putting impressions on tiles and grooving for backing. All materials included. Students will hand paint with under-glazes the same day or select an LBIF glaze. Return to pick up works when they have been fired.

Free Abandon

Put a young student on a pottery wheel and let the clay and good times roll! I have been teaching kids of all ages in the tri-state area for nearly 5 years. Teaching children is a great joy and poses different challenges & perks then working with adults.

A fair observation built on teaching hundreds of students - children & adults alike - is that as humans we often become more critical of ourselves and sadly, sometimes each other - taking it all too seriously. Our ability to jump in with free abandon wanes as the years roll by. Luckily, not the case with most 5 year olds!

I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to teach the arts & enjoy silliness all in the same moment. My young students are a great reminder of how we should approach life...energized with insatiable curiosity and spiritedness.......one moment at a time.

Fun Times with the students of PS101

I had a wonderful day with the kids of New York's Public School 101! The students ranged in age from 4 - 12 years old and were so much fun to teach. With the older children we took on the challenge of making fun & scary masks that can be hung on the wall to enjoy. The younger students did a great job of working with clay to create bowls, cups, or as in one case, nearly 65 mini men! (see photo)

Getting Glazes Workshop - March 13th

Check out this very informative workshop I will be teaching about the wide world of glazing. March 13th at the Long Beach Island Foundation of Arts & Sciences.

Some Recent Works

The large 20" platter and pitcher with 3 mugs are reduction fired. The black carved set of vases are black burnished clay. Inquire if interested in the platter or pitcher.

Springtime Pottery Workshops

The Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences is a great place to take inspiring & creative classes - not to mention it's half a block to the ocean in case you need a little more inspiration. I'll be teaching three fun workshops as well as a kids pottery class! Come Visit...

Chasing the Dragon

The pursuit of the "perfect pot" can indeed become a practice of Chasing the Dragon - a term sometimes used when referring to pursuing the ultimate high. The ultimate high for a potter is when the magic and mixology of experience, skill and luck collide to deliver a divine piece, one that you know is ever so hard to reproduce - such is the case with the dramatic and intense ruby red platter I was gifted from the Kiln Gods a few months back.

The color - "Copper Red" is an elusive beauty. For every 50 pieces you put in the reduction kiln you may be lucky to have just one turn out with the delicious and desired color of red. Yet, even with these challenging odds I find myself time after time selecting this fine color with fingers crossed the color will "perform" and outshine the competition.

"Red" - the color of Fire and Blood, Passion, Desire, Danger and Love. Is there a finer color in all the world's color wheel? For some yes, but once you have opened the doors of the kiln and found your beauty sat on the shelf in its rich strength there is no turning back. Strive, strive and strive again I will........always Chasing the Dragon.