Good Dirt

2010 FALL

*Fall Classes

*Summer Camp

*Instructors

*Registration and Cancellation

*Parties and Workshops

*Try Clay

*Private Artist Studios

*The Gallery @ Good Dirt

*E-mail List Sign-up

Map

info.gooddirt@gmail.com

NOTES FROM ROB

Dear Friends of Good Dirt,

I’m pleased to report the completion of a successful summer camp season. The last few pots are coming through the kilns and getting packed up for all the happy campers. We have a little time to catch up and regroup before the start of fall classes in mid-September. I would welcome any constructive criticism of the summer programs so that we can make camps even better next year (robsutherland@bellsouth.net).

Registration has begun for fall classes. Quite a few people have already called in to reserve their spaces for fall, and I encourage you to do the same to be sure you get your first choice. We’re offering all levels of clay classes, relief tile with Caryn van Wagtendonk, youth wheel, kids’ Saturday classes, and three different glass fusing workshops. For the kids who couldn’t get enough clay this summer, we have out-of-school workshops scheduled on all the school holidays through the fall. Check it out and give us a call to reserve your spot (706-355-3161).

In the Gallery @ Good Dirt, I have a new collection of gas fired work on display. Crisha Yantis has a great new sculpture and an exciting new series of salt-shakers, vases, and three-footed cups. Tiffany Whitfield has delivered some very interesting new sculptural/functional hollow walled vessel forms. If you’re not familiar with the work of glass artist Ben Jordan, it’s worth a trip to the gallery just to check out his new pendants and hollow ware. The pendants remind me of sea anemones or flowers encased in glass. They’ve become my go-to gift in the past year, and they always seem to please. There are too many new things and too much variety to list it all here, so come see for yourself. We’re open seven days/week, but you may need to enter through the clay studio.

One final note…we’ve gone through the vetting process to get approved for our after-school clay programs at Clarke County schools. Keep an eye out at the ASP desk for a sign-up sheet for our five-week classes. It’s a great way for the kids to get some clay enrichment without having to worry about transportation to and from the studio. Thanks to all of you for continuing to support our programs, for spreading the word about what we offer, and for contributing to the positive vibe in our arts community.

Sincerely Yours,

Rob Sutherland

GREEN NOTES --

We rebuilt the arch on the gas kiln, added more insulation, and reconfigured the bagwalls two firings ago. So far, we’re seeing some great energy savings. The firing time has been cut from 12+ hours to around 8 hours. The results so far are encouraging and we’re reducing our output of greenhouse gases. It’s a modest improvement, but significant nonetheless.

EXCERPT --

Finally, I’d like to report on our successful trip to Ecuador last month. Kim, Rowan and I visited the village of Yunguilla high up in the Andes Mountains to help a women’s craft group expand their activities into pottery making. We modified an existing adobe oven into a functional earthenware kiln and successfully test-fired it with wood. I taught lessons on the potter’s wheel, which consisted of a car axle, complete with tire, turned on its side and attached to a small wheel-head. While a challenge, it was comforting to know how little technology is actually needed to produce pottery. Kim taught some handbuilding techniques, and Rowan helped out as only he can. One of the women became fairly proficient at making flower pots in a very short time. Their goal is to produce unique pots in which they will plant bromeliads and orchids that they propagate to help raise funds for the community. We learned a lot and had the amazing experience of living with a family in the village, enjoying their cuisine, and experiencing the amazing scenery and wildlife of the Andes at around 10,000 ft. elevation.

We also visited the main lodge on the Maquipucuna Cloudforest Reserve and constructed a pizza oven form out of split native bamboo. I hope to return next year to build a cob oven over this form once they relocate their kitchen facility. I would highly recommend this lodge to anyone interested in birding. There are over 300 species in the area and they have an extensive network of trails to access a variety of habitats for observing them. Best of all, the naturalists and reserve managers are gracious and welcoming hosts, the accommodations are ecologically appropriate and comfortable, and the scenery is spectacular. Give me a call or check out http://maqui.myweb.uga.edu/ to find out more. Many thanks to the Maquipucuna Foundation for working out the logistics of our visit. I look forward to continued collaborations between Good Dirt and both the women’s craft group in Yunguilla and the Maquipucuna Foundation’s efforts in conservation and sustainable development.

.

The Gallery @ Good Dirt showcases functional and sculptural work by studio potters from Georgia and beyond in an elegant, natural setting. Collectors will find an exciting range of styles, colors, and firing techniques on display throughout the year. The Gallery embraces the diversity and extraordinary quality of work from this region and is dedicated to educating the public about the processes involved in its creation. Because the Gallery represents unique works of functional art, our inventory is constantly changing as pieces find new homes and new kiln-loads of pots arrive. Be sure to stop in often to witness the impressive creative output of the potters represented by the Gallery @ Good Dirt. Exciting news in the Gallery @ Good Dirt … we will now be open 7 days a week for your shopping convenience. Just look for the open sign on the front of the building, and if you don’t see it, pop your head into the clay studio, and you will very likely find a volunteer happy to assist you in the gallery. Hours are 10 AM – 5 PM daily, and we can meet you outside of those hours by appointment. Now you can always visit when guests are in town looking for some local flavor.

GOOD DIRT hosts birthday parties, sorority/fraternity functions
and workshops for any group, any age.
Please call for more information.

510 North Thomas St. • Athens, GA 30601 • 706.355.3161
info.gooddirt@gmail.com

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		2010 FALL *Fall Classes Summer Camp Instructors Registration and Cancellation Parties and Workshops Try Clay Private Artist Studios The Gallery @ Good Dirt E-mail List Sign-up
Map info.gooddirt@gmail.com

NOTES FROM ROB
Dear Friends of Good Dirt, I’m pleased to report the completion of a successful summer camp season. The last few pots are coming through the kilns and getting packed up for all the happy campers. We have a little time to catch up and regroup before the start of fall classes in mid-September. I would welcome any constructive criticism of the summer programs so that we can make camps even better next year (robsutherland@bellsouth.net). Registration has begun for fall classes. Quite a few people have already called in to reserve their spaces for fall, and I encourage you to do the same to be sure you get your first choice. We’re offering all levels of clay classes, relief tile with Caryn van Wagtendonk, youth wheel, kids’ Saturday classes, and three different glass fusing workshops. For the kids who couldn’t get enough clay this summer, we have out-of-school workshops scheduled on all the school holidays through the fall. Check it out and give us a call to reserve your spot (706-355-3161). In the Gallery @ Good Dirt, I have a new collection of gas fired work on display. Crisha Yantis has a great new sculpture and an exciting new series of salt-shakers, vases, and three-footed cups. Tiffany Whitfield has delivered some very interesting new sculptural/functional hollow walled vessel forms. If you’re not familiar with the work of glass artist Ben Jordan, it’s worth a trip to the gallery just to check out his new pendants and hollow ware. The pendants remind me of sea anemones or flowers encased in glass. They’ve become my go-to gift in the past year, and they always seem to please. There are too many new things and too much variety to list it all here, so come see for yourself. We’re open seven days/week, but you may need to enter through the clay studio. One final note…we’ve gone through the vetting process to get approved for our after-school clay programs at Clarke County schools. Keep an eye out at the ASP desk for a sign-up sheet for our five-week classes. It’s a great way for the kids to get some clay enrichment without having to worry about transportation to and from the studio. Thanks to all of you for continuing to support our programs, for spreading the word about what we offer, and for contributing to the positive vibe in our arts community. Sincerely Yours, Rob Sutherland

GREEN NOTES -- We rebuilt the arch on the gas kiln, added more insulation, and reconfigured the bagwalls two firings ago. So far, we’re seeing some great energy savings. The firing time has been cut from 12+ hours to around 8 hours. The results so far are encouraging and we’re reducing our output of greenhouse gases. It’s a modest improvement, but significant nonetheless.

EXCERPT -- Finally, I’d like to report on our successful trip to Ecuador last month. Kim, Rowan and I visited the village of Yunguilla high up in the Andes Mountains to help a women’s craft group expand their activities into pottery making. We modified an existing adobe oven into a functional earthenware kiln and successfully test-fired it with wood. I taught lessons on the potter’s wheel, which consisted of a car axle, complete with tire, turned on its side and attached to a small wheel-head. While a challenge, it was comforting to know how little technology is actually needed to produce pottery. Kim taught some handbuilding techniques, and Rowan helped out as only he can. One of the women became fairly proficient at making flower pots in a very short time. Their goal is to produce unique pots in which they will plant bromeliads and orchids that they propagate to help raise funds for the community. We learned a lot and had the amazing experience of living with a family in the village, enjoying their cuisine, and experiencing the amazing scenery and wildlife of the Andes at around 10,000 ft. elevation. We also visited the main lodge on the Maquipucuna Cloudforest Reserve and constructed a pizza oven form out of split native bamboo. I hope to return next year to build a cob oven over this form once they relocate their kitchen facility. I would highly recommend this lodge to anyone interested in birding. There are over 300 species in the area and they have an extensive network of trails to access a variety of habitats for observing them. Best of all, the naturalists and reserve managers are gracious and welcoming hosts, the accommodations are ecologically appropriate and comfortable, and the scenery is spectacular. Give me a call or check out http://maqui.myweb.uga.edu/ to find out more. Many thanks to the Maquipucuna Foundation for working out the logistics of our visit. I look forward to continued collaborations between Good Dirt and both the women’s craft group in Yunguilla and the Maquipucuna Foundation’s efforts in conservation and sustainable development.

.		The Gallery @ Good Dirt showcases functional and sculptural work by studio potters from Georgia and beyond in an elegant, natural setting. Collectors will find an exciting range of styles, colors, and firing techniques on display throughout the year. The Gallery embraces the diversity and extraordinary quality of work from this region and is dedicated to educating the public about the processes involved in its creation. Because the Gallery represents unique works of functional art, our inventory is constantly changing as pieces find new homes and new kiln-loads of pots arrive. Be sure to stop in often to witness the impressive creative output of the potters represented by the Gallery @ Good Dirt. Exciting news in the Gallery @ Good Dirt … we will now be open 7 days a week for your shopping convenience. Just look for the open sign on the front of the building, and if you don’t see it, pop your head into the clay studio, and you will very likely find a volunteer happy to assist you in the gallery. Hours are 10 AM – 5 PM daily, and we can meet you outside of those hours by appointment. Now you can always visit when guests are in town looking for some local flavor.


GOOD DIRT hosts birthday parties, sorority/fraternity functions and workshops for any group, any age. Please call for more information. 510 North Thomas St. • Athens, GA 30601 • 706.355.3161 info.gooddirt@gmail.com
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