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OnTheSurfaceCeramics by Jacob Cannon, Julie Hadley, Bill Tersteeg, and Matthew Ward

In the gallery April 4–May 11
Opening Reception: April 4th, 5:30–8pm

 

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_WedsizedWorkshop with Bill Tersteeg
Saturday, April 19, 2014, 10:30–4:00
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Please join us on April 19th for a hand building workshop led by Bill Tersteeg. Bill is an accomplished ceramic artist who will share unique hand building techniques as he demonstrates how to make and decorate a musical dragon. Because of their structure and length, the dragons can be used as musical horns, adding to their charm. (Several of Bill’s recent pieces will be on display in La Mano’s gallery during our April show.)

These dragons — standing as tall as 2 feet high — are sturdy cones of clay made without seams. This unique approach, which we have never seen in any hand building book or other workshop, has many applications that can enhance your own decorative or functional work. Bill will guide you step-by-step in making your own dragon and discuss how to apply these new techniques in other ways. Take home more than the dragon you will make — a new arsenal of hand building tips and techniques to add to your hand building skills.

All materials, including clay and tools, will be provided by La Mano Pottery, but you are welcome to bring along any favorite tools. Space is limited so make your reservation soon. You can sign up on line or call the studio to register or for more information: 212.627.9450

About the artist:

Bill Tersteeg owns Crystal Earth Gallery in Dalton, Pennsylvania. He is Professor Emeritus at Keystone College. His ceramic art — including many of his dragons — are included in numerous private and public collections both nationally and internationally.

To learn more about Bill Tersteeg and to see more of his work, visit www.williamtersteeg.com

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LM-FebMarShow01Richard Stauffacher, Posey Bacopoulos, Jessie Lazar and DV Hirsch

In the gallery February 28–March 29
Opening Reception: Friday, February 28th

We sat down with Jessie, Richard, DV, and Posey. Read below to find out more about each potter...

pbOval Box with Gold Decal
by Posey Bacopoulosf

What is Majolica?

POSEY: Majolica is a glaze tradition that began in the Middle East in the 9th century with a tin-opacified glaze. The majolica glaze is very smooth and white, which makes a good surface for decorating. The various colors are applied usually with a brush to the glazed surface to create the lively decorative patterns. The pots are then fired to cone 04 in an electric kiln.

Why did you choose majolica?

I choose majolica because I love to decorate. And that is what I enjoy most about the process.

What is your favorite tool?

My favorite pottery tool is my dagger brush that I use to make all the thin black lines in my decorations

dvDino Bird Daisy
by DV Hirsch

What do you hope to communicate with your art?

DV: I think that the only thing that I want to communicate and share with my work is a smile. That is their purpose. If someone looks at my creature and it tickles them, then I am thrilled and that is my biggest reward.

From a young child, I was taught and encouraged to work with my hands. I loved sewing, beading and clay and I was very lucky because my mom always made sure that if I had an interest in something then she would make sure that I had the supplies and books. Often, I would take a class to learn a new skill. Play dough was my earliest introduction to clay. Actually, I believe that my mom made a play dough like substance out of corn starch. I think that every child needs the active interest, encouragement and time from an adult to help them develop a passion for crafts because in this day and age it is just too easy for a child to zone on the computer or TV.

jlCeramic Bottles
by Jessie Lazar

Tell us about the pictures on your pots:

JESSIE: My drawings are fun and playful. If people look at my pots and smile, I feel I have succeeded.

What is your favorite pottery tool?

My silicon rib. It does the most things. It can be strong and soft and allows me to smooth the clay in order to become the canvas for my drawings and geometric patterns.

rsClose-up of Narwal Box
by Richard Stauffacher

What other artists inspire you?

RICHARD: As far as hand building is concerned, I really love the work of Shary Boyle and Beth Cavener Stichner, but I draw inspiration from all mediums. Lately, I've been spending a lot of time looking at Max Ernst's collages, Walton Ford's wildlife watercolors, and Luigi Serafini's surreal Codex Seraphinianus, all of which have all crept into my own pieces.

What is your favorite pottery tool?

Rubber-tipped clay shapers . I have a bunch in different shapes and pliability...they're indispensable.

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6939766_origWe were thrilled to have Simon Leach at La Mano to lead an informative and entertaining workshop and demonstration. We are also be hosting a month-long show of his work in our gallery. This is Simon's first workshop and show in NYC.

Exhibit: March 8–29
Artist’s reception: March 8, 5:30pm
Workshop: March 9, 10am–4pm

I Can't Sleep Waiting for Simon Leach to Teach

Diane Waller, clay enthusiast and co-owner of La Mano Pottery, shares her view on Simon Leach's upcoming visit to our studio...

Simon Leach is coming to New York City, hurray!

I don't have to tell you fellow potters how messy we get when we throw, at least I do. I get clay in my hair as well as on my apron, two towels, all my clothes, the floor and my shoes. Don't you? With that in mind, you might get excited about Simon Leach. If you haven't, then you must, watch some if not all of his 118 YouTube videos so you can be as amazed, amused and entertained as I was. I couldn't help myself; I clicked from one YouTube to the next charmed by his personality, captivated by watching his hands and listening to his tunes. I didn't get through all of them but in all of the ones I did watch, he always throws with a big hat on and it stays clean. Here's a little know fact, his grandfather, Bernard Leach, while touring in the USA in the 50's, insisted on doing demos in his tweed jacket and never got a speck of clay on his clothes. It must run in the family. Neatness that is. Not something we associate with clay which is really clean mud.

At Christmas one year while Simon was still in Cornwall with his family, Grandpa Bernard said the now immortal words, "Look for the beauty but also for usefulness in a pot." It seems when Simon was young, he had little or no interest in pottery. It wasn't until he found himself in a far away country from England, that would be Greece, with no dishes that he discovered he had learned to make pottery whether he wanted to or not.

Bernard's words are still omnipresent in Simon's work. He makes functional pottery and sells it in his studio in Pennsylvania where he moved a couple of years ago. And while he throws he makes theseinstructional videos. In them, he talks about his philosophy, plays his music and shows you the techniques he teaches. Just seeing the pots rise into shape on the rotating wheel and listening to him talk about making pottery, my hands twitched to play in the clay myself. He ends every video, "Keep Practicing." Yeah, right.

You get to his YouTube videos by going to his website www.simonleachpottery.com or just Google him. He also has a book coming in May, Simon Leach's Pottery Handbook. I'll order it as soon as they will let me.

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Party: Friday December 14th from 6-9pm.

Holiday Sale: November 23rd to December 24th.

Named one of the "best holiday-decor stores in NYC" in Time Out New York, and featured on What We Like NYC.