Author: La Mano

Bri Johnson is our Potter of the Month and her work is being displayed in the window. She works intricately with line design and her detailed work is admired by many in the studio.

Here is what Bri has to say about her work:

"For me, a piece isn't really "mine" unless it's been carved. I love carving. It puts me in that happy, creative, timeless place that all craftspeople search for. I get design ideas from all over the place-- museums, books, jewelry... one of my favorite designs is based on the insignia of a book publisher. I keep a sketchbook and mix them all together. I've been involved with pottery on and off since elementary school, and something feels "off" in my life when I go too long without getting my hands in some clay."

Richard's work is featured in the gallery this month.

He writes: "I find that clay has a really playful quality and working with it takes me back to my childhood.

"I draw a lot of inspiration from summers at the beach, camping trips, fishing off mt grandpa's boat and exploring the canyons behind our house. The broken dolls that frequently appear in my pieces are somewhat related to childhood as well, but in a more abstract way. For me, they embody the idea that throughout our lives we are always children, damaged to different degress by the experience of adulthood, but eternally capable of tapping into all of the wonder and joy of our youth."

This is what Elly Lonon has to say about pottery and what inspires her:

"I tend to get obsessed with a shape or technique and almost compulsively repeat and expand upon it.

"I'm almost embarrassed to admit how many of those giant silly mushrooms I've created.  With both the 'shrooms and the bright bowls, I enjoy the repetitive and meditative practice of carving into the slip.  I generally prefer hand building to throwing because I get to spend a little more time with each piece and it somehow feels more intimate.  Adding slip to thrown pieces and carving designs allows me to have that same sense of intimacy with a thrown piece."

This month, James Tan's beautiful ceramic pieces are on display in the front window at La Mano.

Recently, we asked James to speak with us about his work.  Here is what he said:

"One of the things I love about La Mano is the diverse group of people that works and plays there. I'm constantly inspired by not just the more seasoned artists but also the ones who are new to pottery and see things with a fresher eye. My hope is not just to elevate my skills and artistry but also to be someone who inspires others to do the same. My teachers, Sarah Sabourin and Nic DeStefano, have both challenged me to try new things on the wheel and hand building and I enjoy both disciplines equally. Jonathan Bergman, my partner, is my biggest inspiration. His enthusiasm reminds me of the possibilities that working in clay has to offer and it's because of him that I started studying pottery again after a 7-year hiatus.

"Working with clay allows me to create with my hands, whichis what advertising art direction (what I do during my day job) used to do before the advent of the computer. I feel I've grown leaps and bounds in the year I've spent at La Mano but feel that there's yet still so much more to learn. May that feeling never go away!"

When we asked Jessie what inspires her art, she told us:

"It's hard to name a single thing that inspires me. I find inspiration in all kinds of beauty, and sometimes in ugliness. I often recognize beauty is strange places -- in a gutter, on a billboard, tiny gems that are hidden and exhilarating when I see them.

"I love antiques and flea markets where my goal is to unearth treasure. Sometime, I'll watch a film and leave forgetting the story altogether, but fascinated by a color or form I saw. At other times, a conversation or an article will make me think and have an influence on my work.

"I love and admire crafts that don't seem possible or practical anymore -- like old doorknobs and hinges or stone mason facades.

"When I design and make Jewelry (my full time job), these are the approaches and techniques that excite me the most. And, these same techniques are the ones I most enjoy at La Mano. Refined lines and ornate decoration are an inspiring part of these processes for me. So, I concentrate on slow, detailed carving and learning to manipulate ceramic tools, which are often an exercise in patience and concentration.

"Most of all, I think the always supportive and incredibly productive environment at La Mano inspires me. The people are so committed to their work and it's all so beautiful -- I just want to do it too!"

When we asked Greg about his work, here is what he said:

"I started learning to throw pots almost 20 years ago. I think I was attracted to pottery because I can't draw! I have become fascinated with the conceptoddt of form and the space it encloses.

"I think that is why bowls are my favorite because they are one of the most basic forms -- the cupped hands. I think the greatest compliment I can receive is "It can hold things.

"My day (and sometimes night) job is as a physician. I am an attorney-physician internist who teaches internal medicine residents - new doctors to become compassionate physicians. I also provide consultation services in Bioethics. I spend time helping patients and families deal with the many issues that arise at the end of life. I love my job, but sometimes it can be very stressful. Pottery provides a great distraction. I share many pieces with friends and family while telling them that they are "sharing in my therapy."