I made this weed vase in 9th grade. It was in Mrs. Costa’s art class. She was the most inspiring and encouraging teacher that I ever had. She was also a potter, with a studio at her home. I had my first wheel experience in her class. I was the only kid that had a successful pot that could be fired. I don’t know what happened to that one, but I have hung on to this slab built piece. It has had a place in many of the homes I have lived in. The macrame was replaced sometime in the last ten or twelve years.
The story of the lidded jar:
I made this jar during the first year of pottery at the NH Institute of Art. It was the first thing that I ever made a lid for. When the academic year ends, NHIA has an exhibition of the continuing ED student work. My teacher was none other than Jeff Brown. He asked me what I was submitting to the show. My reply was, “Nothing, I am don’t make pots good enough for a show!”.
He was really disappointed.
He said that no one from his intro to wheel work class was putting anything in the show.
I felt really bad, so I agreed to put this piece in. It obviously didn’t sell because all these years later, I still own it. The next year I was much more confident and submitted a goblet for the show…
and was totally shocked that it sold! I interrogated all of my friends, certain that it was one of them that bought it. So far I haven’t seen it in anyone’s cabinet.
As much as I cringe at some (most) of my early pots, it’s good to have them around as reference point… or heavy weapon should I ever need it.
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