You lay your head on the pillow. You look up at the ceiling, and the room is spinning. You feel like you’re on a carnival ride when you shut your eyes. No, you didn’t drink too much. You just sat at the potter’s wheel too long!
A few weeks ago, Kent and I had the opportunity to teach a workshop at Mudslingers 2021, and we sat at the potter’s wheel for so many hours the room was spinning. We and two friends, Von Venhuizen, Associate Professor of Ceramics at TTU, and David Echols, Ceramics Art Educator at Frenship High School, were invited by Roger Holmes at the Helen DeVitt Jones Clay Studio to participate in the event. The Clay Studio is part of the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts in Lubbock, Texas. It is a working studio dedicated to inspiring and enriching the community through the ceramic arts, and it has a group of dedicated members who attended our workshop!
Roger dubbed this year’s event the “Reunion Tour” since Von, David, Kent, and I have been friends for many years. The event is an annual tradition, and this is the second year we have been invited. At the 2018 Mudslingers Event, we had an exhibition of our work in the Texas Tech School of Art Satellite Gallery, but this time, we displayed our pots in the Clay Studio. It worked out great because people could look at our finished artwork while we were demonstrating.
After setting up our display on Thursday afternoon, we headed to the Firehouse Theatre, where each artist presented a slideshow and gave an Artist’s Talk. Kent and I made pots all day on Friday, so we would have them ready to trim, flute, and add handles on Saturday. If you aren’t from the Texas Panhandle or some other dry climate, that sounds crazy. When I lived in Virginia, I waited weeks for pots to dry. Around these parts, we usually wrap our pots lightly, and they are ready to finish the next day! To our surprise, it rained a lot on Friday, slowing the drying process! Fortunately, we could dry our pots outside Saturday morning and finish them in the afternoon.
Kent and I made bowls, mugs, cups, and vases for the workshop. Kent also made several tall pitchers, a teapot, and a pilgrim bottle. I made a family of three fluted pitchers with attached slab spouts and demonstrated fluting techniques and tools. Kent also showed how to use porcelain slip to make waves and natural patterns. We both love making lots of pots, but the best things about a workshop are meeting new people, catching up with friends, and sharing ideas with fellow creatives. Of course, we also love to go out to eat, and we enjoyed visiting our favorite Lubbock restaurants like Capital Pizza and Flippers Tavern!
Kent and I continue to be amazed by all the support we have from our Lubbock friends. Thanks to everyone who came out to the event. We thank Studio Assistant Andrew Carrizales and Director Roger Holmes for an incredible weekend!
Bowls and cups by Megan Harris.
‘Demo pots’ by Kent Harris.
Drying mugs by Megan Harris.
Kent finishing a teapot.
A few of Kent’s finished pots.
Tools of the trade.
