Unique and Handmade in Vermont
Stoneware and porcelain pottery handmade in Stowe, Vermont. Surface decorations inspired by nature using slip, carving, and textures that create unique glaze surfaces in atmospheric kilns. Mary fires her work in gas reduction, salt/soda, and wood kilns.
Come visit if you’re in Vermont and see Mary’s new studio. She just built a new soda kiln.
Making pottery forms connections to people, nature, and aesthetic life.
I began working with clay years ago when I was in college. The process of throwing pots on the pottery wheel is where my passion for clay began. Now, working in clay has become a part of who I am, how I live, and my connections to others. I make pots for others to enjoy. I like to think the pots I make are well thought out and purpose is foremost. How does the handle fit on the mug and does it compliment the cup? Is it comfortable to hold? I feel that my pots have evolved to a place where the surfaces complement the forms. And, my ideas have evolved as I have grown as a potter.
As a perfectionist by nature I am continually working towards embracing the imperfections in my life. My mantra for years has been Wabi-Sabi. It is a core concept of Japanese culture that can be a feeling peripherally associated with Zen Buddhism. It’s the art of imperfection. Perfect for a potter. It is a beauty of things imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete. It is a beauty of things modest and humble. Wabi-Sabi to me is a nature based aesthetic way of living that goes hand in hand with being a potter. A walk in the woods leads to an idea that can be molded into an object. It is related to a more aesthetic approach to living. A simpler life, close to nature. As a potter, I make objects out of clay that people can use in their daily lives. These handmade objects are unique, imperfect, and connect us with one another. My passion for working with clay stems from this concept; simple objects, inspired by nature, and the art of imperfection.
I moved to Stowe, Vermont a few years ago from Maine. I set up a new studio and built a soda kiln. Besides making pottery, I love exploring the mountains on foot, on skis, or my bike. Being outdoors is where I get my inspiration. Making pottery has been a journey that with each day brings new ideas, forms, and surfaces to explore. My hope is that others find joy in using my pieces in their daily life.
“We mold clay into a pot, but it is the emptiness inside that makes the vessel useful.”
— Lao-Tsu