Brush Valley Artists Open House

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This is the map I promised. Ned Wert is located in Brush Valley, just near the post office. My place is off of Luciusboro Road between Old Mission Road and Fire Academy Road, which is closed. From the south on 119 from Blairsville, you can find Luciusboro Road right off of 119. Just follow Lucisusboro all 5-6 miles to my place. From Johnstown on 56, stop at Neds first and he can help you find me! From Indiana, South Sixth St(Route954)ends at Rt.56, where you can turn left. Just at the base of the next hill, less than a mile will be signs for to turn right onto Old Mission Rd. Follow until you come to a stop, turn right and then keep your eyes peeled for the pottery in less than 1.5 miles.

Brush Valley Artists Open House

Come on out from 10-5 both Saturday and Sunday.

I'm working hard around the studio and the property to get things ready for your visit.

10lb planters, about 12" tall with the tray on top.

In the center of the above photo is an unfinished 20lb planter.

Just above are the 5lb planters.

This is the back stack of the kiln loaded up with 10lb planters.

Looking forward to the event.

Long time gone

It's been a while since I've posted, but I have been making and firing work. I have a permanent home for the light box setup now and a new sheet of background paper, as well as a replacement for the retired cybershot.

 The above mugs will hold about 8-10oz, standing 4" tall and 4" at the lip.

These vases are certainly inspired by historic shapes.

Check out this post of mine from earlier in the year. Sure took a long time to get those pots fired. wow. 

The gold one stands about 8.5" tall



I'm gearing up for another wood fired load of earthenware planters and other gardenware.

Pictures will be forthcoming 

Thanks for looking.

Cub Creek

Just wanted to share the link to the Cub Creek Foundation where I spent a couple years making pots and firing wood kilns with John Jessiman and met some great folks along the way, including friends such as Kala Stein, Kat Antis, Josh Manning, Ed Feldman and Michelle and John Williams.

We had the chance to work with Jack Troy, Donna Polseno, Sylvie Granatelli and others while I was a resident there. John has a great place in central VA for the ceramics community and I just wanted to give you all a chance to check it out!  

Pots and process

 Somethings up with the ol' cybershot. It looks like I took this pic from a galloping horse.Ugh.

On a lighter note, I have been thinking about my next firing, and I was trying to get it going by early Feb. But alas, I'm not gonna worry about it. When I'm ready, I'm ready.

Process. I like it. Every part of my life is some sort of process, from heating the house and studio with wood (and carting it out of the tundra on an old sled), to making coffee: grinding the beans, boiling the water, plunging the french press...I love the steps.

It took me a while to get started back making work after the Indiana County Potters Tour. It was a process. ha. I spent time in the woods cutting trees and making clay, etc. But I wasn't in the studio. Working none the less, but not making work. Then the holidays came and went, and I could avoid it no longer. With no excuses left, and no weather for trudging around in the woods, it was time to crank up the wood stove, grease the wheel and kick away.

After a week or so of throwing, the pots get better which is something I often forget. By the end of a cycle of pots, when I'm loading the kiln, I'll load in a pot that I've already moved beyond, an idea that came and went, an idea that I worked through or a form that could/should/would be made again, and more successfully. This firing, I'm going to give myself the time to return to those forms.

Keep in touch and I'll do the same.

Enjoying the snow and making work. Strap handles or ear handles, what do you think?



A batch of 9" plates to be stack fired.

Back to the frozen tundra!

Seeing the Forest for the Trees...



We had a couple of days of sunshine earlier in the week, which allowed me to gather up some windfall limbs around the property here in Brush Valley. It’s been a cold and snowy winter so far and I’ve been burning through the wood. So when we get a little break in the weather and some of that snow melts off, I like to get out in the woods. It gives me a chance to see the forest for the trees.

I realize how blessed I am to be here in the country(thank you Betty), living such a simple life. But it is very isolated and I really didn’t think I’d be here by myself. Occasionally I have to remind myself of why I’m here. Getting out in the woods helps.

Another post soon, and I’ll tell the story of how I ended up here in Brush Valley, but for now it’s back to the studio.

New Year

Wanted to share this link from some wonderful folks out in Australia who've been great customers. They have a really nice collection of wood fired pots, in which I'm included.

http://theridoureport.blogspot.com/2010/12/here-are-some-of-wood-fired-pots-that.html