Hunkered down, along with everyone else

My recent entries here seem so long ago, although it’s really just a few weeks.  Like the rest of the country, we’re hunkered down here, social-distancing to help flatten the Covid-19 curve.  Life has an apocalyptic feel, and yet in a day-to-day sense, little has changed for me.  I usually just stay home and make pots in my studio (albeit with more contact with friends and neighbors).

Since NCECA 2020 didn’t happen and my Black Iris Gallery show folded before anyone got to see it, I am going to share some images of pots from the show here.

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Black Iris Gallery Show – Simply Functional: Pottery by Nan Rothwell

We’re almost finished setting up our shows at Black Iris Gallery.  First Friday Opening starts tomorrow (3/6/20) at 6:00 pm, and then the gallery will be open by appointment during March.  Once NCECA starts, we’ll be open daily, 11 am to 7 pm.  There’s an NCECA Reception on Friday, March 27, beginning at 8 pm.  I’ll also be there for an informal “At Home” on Thursday, March 26 4:00 – 5:30 pm.

My friend Matt Hardwick took these photos during our setup process.  Matt’s show features his Ceramic Vessels; mine has Lamps, Pitchers and Vases; and Hamish Jackson has curated a Functional Teapot Show.

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Final Two Firings for Black Iris Show

I’ve labeled and packed the pots for my show at Black Iris gallery in March.  Over sixty pots!  Here are images from the last two firings:

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Images for Black Iris Gallery Show

I’ve fired four times in the past short while, gearing up for the show next month. Here are some images from the first three firings, front and back tiers. The kiln is cooling from firing #4 as I write this. I will post images from it and from the fifth and final firing as soon as I can.

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Details on my March 2020 show

I’ve been working hard for the past few months getting ready for a show at Black Iris Gallery in Richmond, Virginia next month. My exhibit will coincide with NCECA’s annual conference, so Richmond will be full of potters, ceramics exhibits, and all things clay

Here’s a little backstory about the show. I started potting fifty (50!) years ago.  Ordinarily, I set aside a few favorite pots from each firing, stowing them in bins marked Racers. Then, when the bins overflow, I find somewhere for a gallery show.  This time though, I didn’t know this space was an option until recently. (It’s a long story…)  So instead of my usual slow accretion of favorite pieces, I have been potting like crazy, concentrating on large lamps, pitchers and vases. It’s been energizing to set aside my usual cycle of work for these pots. The weather has cooperated, providing several warm patches for me to glaze, and the firings have gone well.  I’m excited about the pots for this show!

I just posted times and dates for the show. Please note that Black Iris Gallery is usually only open by appointment.  They will host a First Friday and an NCECA Reception, plus will open every day during NCECA (which stands for the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts).  I will be in the gallery for both receptions, plus for a brief At Home on Thursday, March 26, at 4:00-5:30 pm. 


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Announcing a March 2020 Show in Richmond, Virginia

Simply Functional:
Pottery by Nan Rothwell
Lamps Pitchers and Vases
 
 
March 1 – 29, 2020 at Black Iris Gallery
321 West Broad, Richmond VA 23220
 
First Friday Opening
 March 6, 2020   5:30 – 10:00 pm
 
Nan’s At Home at Black Iris Gallery
Thursday, March 26   4:00 – 5:30 pm
 
NCECA Reception for Joint Shows
Friday, March 27   8:00 – 11:00 pm

 
Also at Black Iris Gallery March 1-29
Ceramic Vessels
by Matthew Hardwick
Juried Functional Teapot Show  
curated by Hamish Jackson
 
Black Iris Gallery will be Open Daily during NCECA 
March 25-28    11:00 am – 7:00 pm 
(otherwise open by appointment only)
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Artisans Studio Tour on November 9 & 10

I’ve just loaded the kiln to fire this weekend, in time for the Artisans Studio Tour in ten days. I’ll be joined this year by guest artisan Charlotte Friese, who makes wearable art and objects inspired by nature. We’re in Studio #9 — directions and details are here.

Here’s a photo of one of my favorite techniques — creating a textured lamp using a wiggle-wire. I will have several lamps like this in my Studio Tour display.

photo by Kathy Plunket Versluys
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Virginia Clay Festival – September 21-22

I’ll be at the Virginia Clay Festival in Stanardsville, VA on September 21 & 22. It’s been decades since I showed pots at a festival, but this one is such a nice event that I couldn’t resist signing up. I’ve been to it as a friend and visitor every year since it launched, to visit with the variety of Virginia potters. This year, their 5th Annual Festival, will feature 35 of us. There are demos (mine will be Saturday at 1:00 pm), music, food, and a chance to see some lovely clay work. Join us Saturday and Sunday on the William Monroe school campus in Greene County, Virginia.

Glazing with wax resist
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Chapel Hill, NC workshop in August

I’m happy to announce a throwing workshop on August 10-11, 2019 workshop at Cely’s House in Chapel Hill, NC. We will focus on extending thrown forms beyond the circle. Projects will include multiple ways to alter thrown components into new shapes; throwing multi-part pieces by adding rings of clay; texturing using wiggle-wires and carving, and adding thrown feet and pedestals to leather-hard forms. It will be a two-day, hands-on workshop geared for potters who already know how to center and pull up a wall. If you’ve got questions, you can contact me at nan@nanrothwellpottery.com. To register, contact Cely Chicurel at celyc@me.com or 919-225-7349.

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Spring/Summer Workshops

I just posted my 2019 workshop schedule on this website. I’ll teach a workshop at the Bay School in Mathews, VA; three at City Clay in Charlottesville, VA; and one in Chapel Hill, NC. There’s still a little space on the calendar, so if your group or venue is interested in what I have to share, please get in touch.

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