Besides creating with clay, travel is a huge passion of mine and so this winter I closed down the studio and strapped a pack on my back. Travelling through parts of South East Asia I got the opportunity to visit several pottery villages and studios as well as a brick factory! Along with the help from my lovely travel companion and photographer Steve Leavens.....I am able to share with you ........ this incrediable journey. 

Tour of Khmer Ceramics Centre

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I came across the Khmer Ceramics Centre in Siem Reap, Cambodia. In my opinion, this is an amazing centre started 5 years ago by a man with a passion for clay and empowering people. With so much devistation of the Khmer people over the past centuries much of their art has been lost and this centre is helping to bring the skills back and cultivate individuals artistic expression. Check out the website...www.khmerceramics.com

Tour of a brick factory  - Phu Quoc Island - Vietnam

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I saw many brick factories while travelling about but it wasn't until Phu Quoc while riding upon a motorbike that I was able to stop and take a real look around. People were busy at work and the language barrier kept me from asking many questions but it was still an amazing exploration. I have no desire to work in a factory setting but to see how it all works and that they dig the clay right out behind the production gets me excited. I dream of the day when I can just dig up some clay from my backyard and make something with it. 

Tour of THANH HA POTTERY VILLAGE - Hoi An, Vietnam

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A true delight it was to ride my bicycle through the sweet UNESCO World Heritage town of Hoi An and end up at this pottery village. It took a while for us to realize that everyone was just making pots in & around their homes.  The only thing about this village that felt touristy was paying the 20,000 dong ($1.00) to enter....after that....we were on our own for a self guided tour of every nook & cranny of this incrediable operation. Everyone was so friendly, welcoming and sharing of their talents.  A highlight was certainly being able to make my own pot on a ground level pottery wheel powered by an older ladies constant kick at my wheel. 

Tour of BAT TRANG POTTERY VILLAGE - Hanoi, Vietnam

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This place was a bit more of a challenge to get to than the others. It took almost 2 hours in a windy rainstorm while asking literally more than 20 people how to find the bus station we needed to take us the 45 mins outside of Hanoi to the town of Bat Trang.  Finally headed in the right direction we arrived at the pottery village a bit frazled and chilly but excited.  This type of ceramic production is all done with various slips and plaster molds.  We found ourselves in warehouses with huge gas kilns and groupings of people filling molds with slip & trimming the excess. Another self guided tour found us wondering into peoples homes and making the most of some improvised sign language to get the message across that in Canada...I make pots too! After spending a good part of the day wondering around it was time to choose some pieces to buy. I picked up a bowl that had circles all over it. I decided I loved it and wanted it and then I turned it over and saw the IKEA stamp on the bottom. I had travelled all this way to buy an IKEA bowl....but then again...I got to visit where this bowl was made and that made me happy. 

Tour of BANYUMULEK POTTERY VILLAGE - Lombok, Indonesia

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All my snooping in studios was inspiring but nothing comes close to this pottery village. Renting a motorbike for the day to visit a few pottery villages turned into a whole day at this place. Almost immediatly after arriving, pulling the bike over to decide where to go we met a sweet guy named Mat. He asked us if we wanted him to show us around and I am SO happy that we did. I love exploring on my own and often am not fond of the idea of a 'tour guide' but this was amazing.  Mat asked what I wanted to see and my response was 'everything.'  So, everything is what we saw. Here they make pots of all sizes with nothing but their hands, a few simple tools and what can be best described as a lazy susan.  The women do a majority of the pot making while the men harvest the clay from the land and fire the pots when they are dry.  Im daydreaming about returning here to hang out and really learn their technique.
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Just a little sneak peek of some of the newest pots that are all ready to be wrapped up for holiday gift giving. 
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It's that time of year again to announce Tara & her pots will be coming to the big city. Mark it on your calendars so you don't forget. Monday November 28th 1pm - 8pm & Tuesday November 29th 1pm - 8pm.
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I've been working hard at making pots for the upcoming holiday season. I'm especially loving the new 'love jugs' i've been making.  Check back in a few weeks for the finished product. 
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INSPIRED EATING 08/31/2011
 
A lovely friend has been sending me photos of her fabulous food creations & I needed to share them. I made these love plates as a wedding gift to her & her lovely lover this spring. The tumblers I made with their initials on them for birthdays - I think. I love seeing my pots being enjoyed so anytime you want to send me photos....just do it! 
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A few weekends ago I was invited to participate in a raku firing being held at a friends place. I have watched many videos and seen lots of raku work but this was my first hands on experience. It was glorious. I think the process of raku is right up my alley because there is SO much left to chance. The surprise of lifting the lid of the metal bucket after firing is such a thrill. I also enjoyed it because of the social aspect to the day. It started by carefully lowering the lid of the homemade kiln cover, lighting the burner, placing a pyrometer in the air vent to gauge temperature and then waiting about 1.5 hours until the pots reached temperature. During this time of waiting there were many questions to the experienced raku folks, glazing pots & putting them out in the full sun to dry, swimming in the lake and generally enjoying each others company with this shared passion of creating. After the pots reached temperature,(about 1650) different people were designated a job to make the transfer of pots .  With tongs each orange hot pot was lifted and placed onto areas on the ground where woodchips, straw, pine needles and other combustable materials lay.  Placing more combustibles on top and then quickly covering the burning pots with a metal bucket. This created a reduced oxygen atmosphere and effects the outcome of the glazes in many surprising and happy ways. I can't wait to try it again soon. Thank you SO much to those who made this incredible day possible.  
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I just wanted to post some photos of these beauty zinnias I started from seed back in April. It warms my heart to see them so happy in the full sun of summer.  The planters are the first real small planters I've ever made. This idea needs to get bookmarked for later. I can see a lot more plants in collaboration with my pots in the future. Summer is such an exciting time of so many ideas. The only way not to get overwhelmed is to write them all down for a quieter day in the winter. 
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The sun was blistering hot this past weekend in Bracebridge while participating in the 49th Annual Muskoka Art and Crafts Summer Show. Luckily I had a shady spot like usual and many friends stopped by to seek refuge from the sun and entertain me. Thanks to everyone who came out and all the great artists I got to catch up with. See you next summer!
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The talented kids from summer 2011 clay classes at Chetolah Pottery Studio. Amazing talent! Can't wait for this friday with a whole new bunch of young creators.
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