Designing a Collection on the Wheel

I am proud beyond words to present the complete collection of my latest class at The Hermitage Museum's Goode Visual Arts School — Designing a Collection on the Wheel. I’m delighted to say that everyone arrived to this course with considerable skill. Two-thirds of participants were returning students and the two new attendees proved perfectly capable for the challenge. Their task was simple: within seven weeks, as a cohort, conceive, design, throw, and glaze a cohesive and attractive 6-piece collection of housewares.

My job was to teach specific techniques, push each artist to new creative heights, guide the production process, and train students in the ways of completion. The hardest part of creating a body of work is actually concluding the intentions that initiated the work. I pushed progress over perfection and had us work with a sense of urgency to keep everyone on target.

Y’all know I encourage working expansively so I requested everyone come prepared with several ideas of varying challenge, scale, and purpose. The group embraced their breadth of ideas and unified the set with sharp, chic glazing on striking silhouettes.

An incredibly heartfelt thank you must go to The Hermitage Visual Arts School’s inimitable Studio Manager Amber Pierce for keeping work moving through the studio’s kilns week after week, ensuring we received things in a timely manner. We simply couldn’t have done this without you!

Let it be known that I’ve wanted to facilitate this specific class since I started teaching but it’s taken three whole years to get the right combo of students, facilities, and timeframe. This class has created a truly collaborative collection — the voice of a company of artists captured in ceramic form. They have successfully harnessed that most elusive of powers — the magic of completion. This is the completion of a dream and my heart is so full.