Artist Statement

I have been potting since 1976 and became committed to learning about the historical Redware potters after learning of the Colonial and Early American industries that existed in my native Central Massachusetts.

Pied Potter Hamelin can be taken linguistically apart and understood as a “Colorful Potter from a Small Town”. Pied means multicolored. Potter is my trade. Hamelin translates into “one from a small town”.

I make redware pottery that is hand-thrown on the wheel and after a drying period, my wares are bisqued. Following bisquing, they are covered with a lead-free glaze, of my own formulation, and fired again. An antiquing finish is applied to the unglazed surfaces as a final step.

I have taught and worked in museums and currently, I demonstrate and lecture throughout Massachusetts.

The running cat paw prints on the reverse of all the Kulina Folk Art and Pied Potter Hamelin plates and platters began by one of our cats leaping onto the slab of clay. I had found an old brick with a dog’s paw print on it and thought it to be a unique way to make an association between our work.

KEEPERS of TRADITION 2008-2009 Exhibit in Lexington, Mass.

TELEGRAM & GAZETTE 2006 Article

Resume

Group Exhibitions

2008 Sept-Oct. - History in the Making III, a National Juried Exhibition, The Firehouse Gallery at Genesee Pottery, Rochester, NY, Honorable Mention

2008-2009 May 18, 2008-Feb. 8, 2009

Keepers of Tradition, National Heritage Museum, Lexington, MA

2005 Lincoln Library and Museum, Springfield, IL, permanent collection

1999 The Clay Studio, PA

1998 National Redware Exhibition, Pennsylvania Designer Craftsmen, Richboro, PA

1993 Worcester Center for Crafts, Faculty Show

1988 Early American Life Magazine, Pennsylvania

1987 Summer’s World Center for the Arts, Faculty Show, Worcester, MA

1986 Southbridge Arts Center, Southbridge, MA

Recent Publications

2008, 2006 Early American Life Magazine,

Directory of Traditional American Crafts

June 2006 Worcester Telegram & Gazette, article

December 2005 EAL, “Best 25 Holiday Artisans”

September 2005 New England Antiques Journal, featured artisan

July 2002 EAL Magazine, “Best of American Folk Art Award” August & May issues feature pictorial

January 1999 Country Living Magazine,

featured artisan

1986-98 EAL “Best of American Folk Art Award”

1986-Present Many other Mass. newspapers

1984 Public Broadcasting Stations,

“A Visit to Old Sturbridge Village”

Grants and Honors

1985-Present Massachusetts Cultural Council, Over 250 grants for pottery demonstrations and lectures

Redware pitcher on display, Keepers of Tradition, Lexington, Mass.