Gina Mars on mon 13 mar 06
As a potter for 18 yrs I recently decided to think about changing
from a raku/stoneware potter to a porcelain potter. I had always been
a huge fan of Tom Turner and decided to visit his Mars Hill NC
studio/school. Tom charges his students a modest fee for 2 full
days of whatever you want to do. Talk,make pots ect. I was
lucky enough to catch him when he was firing his geil kiln
porcelain with copper reds/flambe. It was an incredible
experience. I feel you can always use a new perspective
and learn something new even if you have years of experience.
Tom has 45 years experience and his work is incredible. He
has so many incredible potter friends and stories that I could
have stayed much longer and learned something new everyday.
You know a potter still has his spark when he wakes up at the crack of
dawn to peak inside the kiln when it is hot.I would recommend Tom's school
to any beginner or advanced potter who doesn't have alot of time or money
I really felt it was worth every penny.
One night Tom took me out to see the surrounding towns that
are full of galleries and college students. His place is 30 minutes from
Penland. Apparently there are 150 potters in the area. When Tom
runs into college students he usually invites them to visit his studio
which I thought was an amazing offer. The college kids reply
was something like."Thanks, but I have lots of potter friends."
This I found amazing because living in New York is totally
different. If I mention that I am a potter,people usually
look at me like i have two heads. What's a potter? You mean
you smoke pot? Of coarse I find this equally irritating as
Tom must find these student potters in NC. If Tom approached
me with an invite i would certainly take it.
I will never forget waking up early and removing one of those
red pots from the kiln and holding it close for warmth
in the morning chill. What an experience.
Gina Mars www.marspottery.net
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