August 22nd, 2013
This isn't actually part of the construction process, though I do consider landscaping to be an essential element to all building structures.
After I finished graduate school, I spent
most of the summer in Biot, France, working at a pottery that had been
producing classical olive jars since the early 1900's. They were very
open about their process, which dated back to the time of the Roman
occupation of their village (I was told by another passenger at the
airport who saw the stamp on my pot that Biot translates to two 8's
which refers to the original inhabitants of the village when the Roman
occupation took place. )
My time there was extraodinary! I would hike down the hill at 6 am from
my host's house. From their homestead, I could see the French Alps to
the north and the mediterranean sea to the south. After a day's work, I
would often hike down to the beach and listen to the waves of the "la
Mediterranee" lap against the rocks. While the Pottery often took on
students to teach them their unique process, my skill level actually
allowed me to contribute to their production line. In short, I produced
more than they would have charged a normal student, so my "fee" was
waived. I worked primarily with Alberto, a man from Portugal who had no
prior pottery experience. The beauty of the technique was that it
allowed workers unskilled in pottery to create these large, beautiful
Jarres de Biot. Alberto and I, though not sharing a common language,
were able to communicate through the motions and gestures brought about
by a mutual understanding of working with clay. As I said, it was a
remarkable experience. In gratitude, I gave them a climbing rose bush to
thank them for my time there. They then offered me the choice of any
pot I wanted. The result was this beautiful vessel. I had made similar
ones during my time there, so I wanted a remembrance of what I was
taught to create. It stands approximately 3 feet tall and has a golden
lead glaze on the it's outer surface. It was given to me the day before I
flew out of France so I didn't have time to check it with the airlines.
Fortunately, the flight crew of each leg of my journey stowed it in
whatever nook or cranny they could find. I shudder to think what the
result would have been post 9/11. I am eternally grateful that the
airlines helped me to transport this treasure home. I recently turned
it into a fountain to bring the wonderful sounds of falling water on our
environment. With the completion of the studio, I hope to resurrect
the process and tradition they taught me so many years ago. Thank you to
the potters of Auge' Laribe Potterie in Biot, France and to my great
friends, Marco and Deborah Brothier. Without their assistance, this
never would have been possible for me!
Thank you!
Barry
