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.

For fifty-one and a half weeks of the year, Watershed is one of the most laid back, peaceful places in the world.  Things seem to move in a very organic, rolling rhythm…basically, the only schedule revolves around mealtimes.  However, for the three days leading up to Salad Days, the activity level at Watershed increases exponentially.  As this event, with an annual attendance of around 300 people, is Watershed’s only major fundraiser, it is a huge part of the facility’s ability to host resident artists each year.

Preparations for Salad Days began on Wednesday, with the arrival of a large tent, which will house the annual invitational pottery sale.  That same day, we carted the majority of the plates for this year’s event, made by resident Salad Days Artist Adero Willard, up from the factory studios to the main house.  These plates, made each year by the resident Salad Days Artist, will be sold on Saturday for $25 dollars each…and will then be used as the lunch plates from which those in attendance will feast on the wonderful array of salads provided by the Watershed Kitchens and various local restaurants.

As the big day drew closer, Thursday saw an even greater increase in activity on the grounds.  Everyone pitched in to clean and tidy-up the house, studios, cabins, and all outdoor areas.  Amy Lemaire created beautiful floral arrangements for the house, using locally grown flowers, handmade pottery, and her own lampworked glass beads.  And, of course, the kitchen staff had prep work well under way!

Each evening at Watershed, residents and staff have the option of presenting a short slide shhow and brief talk on their work.  So, after the day’s work was done on Thursday, we all had a lovely dinner and sat down to slide presentations from our guest artists Richard and Martha Shaw, as well as some of this session’s residents…including myself.  Not having had the opportunity to make presentations on my work to audience, I am not quite as comfortable with this process as I would like.  However, the environment and people at Watershed are so accepting, that I was able to at least give it a go…and I feel like I have gained the experience that will help me know how to do a better job of presenting in the future.