Portland Pottery, located at 118 Washington Avenue, Portland Maine, is the supplier for the majority of potters in the Northern New England area.  Besides carrying a comprehensive selection of prepared clays, dry goods, tools, and more, Portland Pottery is home to a community clay studio and school.

A couple of years ago, the folks at Portland Pottery began a project which would create a work of art for the front of their building.  The idea was that a number of students and friends of the organization would each hand-carve and sculpt a 12″ tile based on the theme “what Portland means to me.”  The resulting tiles, which range from depictions of popular Portland landmarks to sea-life to sports teams, would then be placed together near the Washington Avenue entrance of the facility.  This project, which turned out to be quite an undertaking, is finally finished, and the resulting work of art is wonderful!

This is a view of the entire completed project.

A close-up of my tile!

I have good news…especially for me, but also for those of you who have enjoyed reading about life at Watershed.  Since I had such a wonderful experience as a resident there, and I am fortunate to live to very close to the facility, I have decided to extend my stay!  I will be renting a work-space in the factory studios for a few more weeks.  Thus, while the official account of my session as a resident at Watershed Center for Ceramic Art ended with my last post, I have decided to continue to bring news and love from Newcastle, Maine to the outside world, for the remainder of the summer!

It is possible to spend weeks at Watershed and still find that you notice something new and lovely to look at everyday.  There are bits of sculpture everywhere…both proudly displayed and artfully hidden.  I sometimes appreciate the latter more, because it seems as though these are a special gift for those willing to look a little harder.  The other day, I took an opportunity to stroll around the gardens, grounds, and wooded trails, photographing many of these wonderful pieces of art.

Lovely daylilies and a ceramic sculpture in the front yard of the house.

A piece found on the sculpture trail down by the factory studios.

Works in the sculpture gardens behind the main house.

You must be sure to look up as well…this is a hanging piece found on the wooded sculpture trail.

As I write this last entry of the online journal of my experiences at Watershed, I find myself thinking about what it is that makes this such a unique little corner of the world.  This is what Watershed feels like, a sacred spot on the Earth set aside for growing and cultivating the souls of artists.  The ingredients are simple “time and space to work in clay.”  Yet the delicate balance of life at Watershed includes so many unquantifiable, and minute components that it is impossible to pin down exactly what makes this place so special…one simply must experience it to know.

The profusion of art everywhere on the grounds at Watershed is enough to feed any creative soul for a lifetime.  From the hodge-podge of handmade dinnerware in the dining room to the myriad sculptures covering the grounds, evidence of past resident artists is everywhere.

The staff at Watershed could not be more wonderful; everyone has been so very helpful, offering assistance when needed, or just good company.  They are are clearly dedicated to helping Watershed and the residents there continue to thrive.  The staff is also largely responsible for the all out spirit of experimentation; not once during my time there did I hear someone’s idea or request flatly refused…nothing is out of the question.

And so I would like to thank everyone I have worked with over the past two weeks (both staff and fellow residents,) for making my experience at Watershed such a remarkable time in my life.  I have truly loved every minute spent there, and urge anyone who is thinking about visiting to do it!

Technically the last day of my session is Friday, but Thursday held that same bittersweet feeling as the last day of summer camp.  It was obvious that nobody wanted this special time to end, yet many have loved ones back at home who they could not wait to see.  The electric kilns were firing the last loads of lowfire work, and the soda kiln was slowly cooling.  So residents began to pack up finished work and supplies.

However, at least one resident found time to sneak off to the hillside and create an on site sculpture.  Tom Dykas made this three and a half foot dog on the grassy slope outside the window of the factory studios.  This is such a wonderful example of “Art for Art’s Sake.”  Having some time left after finishing his other work, Tom braved the mosquitos and black flies to form this spontaneous piece “just because he wanted to make something.”

Thursday evening we were treated to an Indian inspired feast, prepared by members of Watershed’s Summer Staff.  Then, after a dessert of homemade mango and ginger ice creams, we headed back to the factory to unload the soda kiln.

Always an exciting event, it felt like Christmas morning as each piece was handed out and examined.  This was a great firing; we all got wonderful effects on our work, and there were smiles all around.

And as for the weasel?  The outcome was a little lack luster…the bones did survive the firing, but ended up being welded to the piece during the process.  However, Amy has not given up on the piece, and plans to attempt grinding the rough spots!

At the beginning of a two week residency, one always feels that two weeks is a long time.  It seems like we will have plenty of time to finish what we set out to do.  As I arrived at the Watershed grounds on Wednesday, I immediately noticed that residents seemed to have realized that the end of the session was coming sooner than they had expected.  Everywhere I looked, residents were busy at work…trimming pots, doing last reworks on large sculptures, hurrying up the drying process, and the soda kiln was firing on schedule with salt expected to be added that evening.  I spent most of my day finishing the sculpture I had begun on Tuesday; and ended up being quite pleased with the results.

I did make some time to have a look around the studios and take a few photos of the work of different residents in session 3.  Pictured above is a large terracotta wall sculpture, a commentary on invasive species of the great lakes, made over the past two weeks by Ginger Lukas.  Ginger does both 2D and 3D work, and often uses her work as a vehicle for social commentary.  To view a selection of Ginger’s body of work, visit her online gallery.

These thought provoking dishes were made by Indiana potter Lesley Baker.  Using unique underglaze printing techniques, Lesley uses ceramic forms as a ground for layering words and images.  This process builds up wonderful layers of information.  Visit her website to see more!

Just as swiftly as the vibe at Watershed slipped into inactivity after Salad Days, so did everything seem to reawaken on Tuesday.  Residents and summer staff were out and about, working in the studio, glazing pots, and loading kilns (pictured below is Philadelphia potter Lauren Sandler at work in the studio.)  I think the rapidly approaching end of session three on Friday gave everyone the little bit of incentive needed to get things back on track.  Whatever the reason, I am happy to report that the atmosphere was perfect for me, and I was able to get down to work!

However, the big event on Tuesday was the preparation and loading of the soda/salt kiln.  In grand Watershed style, this was to be no ordinary salt firing.  Among other oddities, the carcass of a dead weasel (found on route 1) was added to the kiln, in hopes that during firing, the skeleton would act as a resist to the atmospheric glaze and leave a faint impression beneath it.  This is a perfect example of the true spirit of the place…total freedom to experiment and create.

It is interesting to observe how a close community of artists living within a place will actually change the energy of that place.  As the days pass, I have noticed the life force of Watershed shift and change with the general mood of the residents.  Last week, as the weekend of Salad Days approached, the energy and excitement seemed to be running so high, that the air almost crackled with electricity.  Then, on Sunday, there was a palpable drop in activity, as everyone seemed to be in recovery mode.  This gentle lull persisted into Monday, and although there were still artists at work in the studios and other activity on the grounds, people still appeared to be a bit more relaxed than usual.

As for my own work, I feel like I may have gotten a little off track from what I had hoped to accomplish at Watershed.  My goal was to work in stoneware, and create some prdominately sculptural pieces that I would then either salt/soda fire or wood fire.  And I did start off on this track.  However, I perhaps lost my way, and made a few pieces from earthenware…which I am by and large unhappy with.  So, my plan for Tuesday is to go in with a fresh mind and begin again.  But isn’t this what we are always doing…Beginning again??

On Sunday, the day after Salad Days, there was a definite change in the atmosphere at Watershed.  The kitchen staff, although still recovering from the past few days, found time to prepare a lovely brunch.  But on the whole, things were much quieter; and although some residents headed down to work in the factory studios, most had chosen to spend the day relaxing and seeing the sights of the beautiful coast of Maine.  Since I am not staying at Watershed 24 hours a day, I sometimes forget that, for many people, this trip to Watershed is also a chance to visit Maine for the first time.

I enjoyed the quiet time in the studio Sunday morning to take some great pictures.  Since visitors to Salad Days often like to wander through the studios, some current residents had set up informal displays of their work; so it was a great opportunity to photograph beautiful pottery, in a great setting (pictured here are works by Adero Willard and Monica Leap.)  Afterwards, I was happy to finally get some work done in the studio, since much of my time over the past few days had been spent helping out with Salad Days.

“…My salad days, /when I was green in judgement, cold in blood…”

-Cleopatra in Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra, 1606

The term “Salad Days” can be traced back to the Bard himself.  But it did not become popular until the middle of the 19th century when it began to be used in reference to “a period of youthful inexperience or frivolity.”  Since then, the term has become part of the zeitgeist of our culture, cropping up randomly everywhere from an episode of The Simpsons, entitled Simpson and Delilah, to the lyrics of Party Doll, by The Rolling Stones.

But nowhere are the words “Salad Days” more aptly applied than at the annual fundraising event, held at Watershed Center for Ceramic Art, in Newcastle, Maine.  The old fashioned picnic atmosphere takes everyone back to the carefree days of their youth, and a relaxed, laid back vibe is the theme of the day.  This year, the day of the event dawned clear and lovely…one of the most beautiful days of the summer thus far.  And by the time guests began to arrive at 10 am, all was set, and the band had begun to play.  Adero Willard’s lovely plates went on sale at 11, and food was served a half hour later…to a round of applause from the hungry crowd!

Activities continued all afternoon, and included an invitational pottery sale, children’s face painting and games, and a benefit wood fired raffle.  Finally, with full bellies and light hearts, people began to depart.  Most made a stop at James Patrick Gallery, in Wiscasset, ME, where a show featuring the work of a group of Watershed board members had just opened.  Part of the sales from this show, entitled Claymates, will be used to help fund the operation of Watershed.

Excitement filled the air as I pulled into the grounds at Watershed, early Friday morning, and it was so great to see everyone coming together to help out.  The area around the main house resembled a bee hive, with everyone hard at work on the final preparations.  However, the kitchen was absolutely teeming with activity, as the staff and assistants prepared a beautiful lunch of quiches, fresh fruit, and vegetables…while still working to prep salads for Saturday.

The preparations went on all day Friday, but the big news of the day was the annual lobster bake and party hosted each year by Jay and Maureen Barrett, of Westport, Maine, and attended by friends and supporters of Watershed.  An artist herself, Maureen is part of the Watershed Board, as well as a great friend, and patron of the arts in general.  My husband and I had the pleasure of attending this event for the first time this year…and what a wonderful time!  The Barretts were such gracious hosts, opening up their lovely home, with the kindness one usually reserves for the closest of friends, to all those in attendance.  The food, a traditional New England Seafood Boil provided by Robinhood Free Meetinghouse, of Georgetown, Maine, was simply delicious.  I met so many wonderful people, and had such a great time…I feel lucky to have been included in this gathering of so many artists and friends.