Throwing Pots

 

From the first time I had ever seen it done, I have always wanted to sit at a potters wheel and throw a pot. From a child’s point of view it looks like great fun. From an adult’s point of view, there is something organic about shaping part of the earth, something meditative about watching your glob of clay spin. And, of course, there is also the satisfaction of actually creating something.

 

above:  Ah Haa – “The sound of inspiration”.

 

The term throwing a pot sounds like a destructive act as a result of anger management issues but actually comes from the Old English term meaning to twist or turn thereby explaining it’s relation to creating pottery on a wheel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Dudes have shared my desire to sit at a wheel and after the Lil’ Dude found out that the local art school was offering classes, he reminded me weekly until I signed him up.

 

 

 

left: The Ah Haa School at the 1890’s Train depot.

 

 

 

 

 

right: The school’s “mascot” kept us company during class.

 

 

 

The Ah Haa School (named after the “sound of inspiration”) here in Telluride opened in 1990, has classes for all ages and offers everything from art welding to painting. They also offer workshops, lectures and hold art exhibitions in the town’s renovated 1890’s Rio Grand Southern Railway Depot (very cool).

 

 

 

left : Getting a demonstration.

 

 

 

 

 

right: Getting a little help from the instructor.

 

 

 

 

After getting suited up in aprons decorated from many years of painting and pottery classes, the Dudes were given a brief demonstration, instructed to gather some tools and each shown to their own wheel. Initially, the instructor told the Lil’ Dude he would need to hand build his clay instead of using a wheel because he would be too small to sit properly to work the wheel. But, when she saw his shoulders sag, his chin drop, and his expression go from exuberant to shell shocked, she found a stool and a bucket to put under his feet so that he would be big enough to work the wheel. His exuberance then quickly returned.

 

above: Choosing tools.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 above: Getting “in the zone”.

 

The Dudes realized right away that it isn’t as easy as the artists make it look. Just trying to plunk their clay in the center of the wheel posed a challenge. If it is off by just a little bit, your round pot turns in to something other than say……. round.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once the Big Dude got his ball of clay centered, he went into a trance similar to the one I see him in while the TV is on (yeah! something to rival TV!). Then, while the rest of the class was still trying to get their globs started, he turned his into a beautifully formed salsa dish. Not bad for his first go at a potters wheel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

…..messy                                                                 ……. really messy

 …..not so messy

 

Meanwhile, the Lil’ Dude was developing an appreciation for the art form. The type of appreciation one only gets from realizing you’re in over your head. But, with a few pointers from the instructor, he was able to form a small bowl/dish. He then took on two more pieces. Again, with a little help from the instructor, he was able to form two more similar sized pieces.

 

 

 

 

 

 

left and below: The Big Dude finishes his first piece.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Big Dude also started two more pieces but after over working them and ending up with re-arranged globs instead of pots decided that maybe he had peaked out with his first piece and should call it quits for the night.

 

above: ooops, the Big Dude overworks his second piece.

 

Pottery is messy business. So messy in fact that the apron did nothing to keep the Lil’ Dude from creating a load of laundry. The Big Dude, being more orderly faired a little better. But, getting your hands dirty is part of the fun especially for kids.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 above: Time to clean-up.

 

 

 

above: The pots before the first firing.

 

We will head back next week after the pieces go through the first firing to glaze them then it is off to the kiln again for a final firing. I will post pictures of their finished creations in a couple of weeks. Meanwhile, I am anxious to put my camera AWAY so I can get MY hands dirty and throw a pot as photography and pottery don’t mix.

 

 

“People say ‘why do you make pots?’ Because I’m compelled to – life isn’t right without it.” David Roberts