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About:

Name Process Statement Calendar News

Blog: http://rhoneypots.blogspot.com/

Artist Statement:

“My daddy thinks robots will take over the world!”
This came from a smirking young girl in my market stand, impishly glancing at her father like she was revealing some embarrassing truth. But I must say that, in a way, I agree with them. I am by no means a Luddite. I embrace technology, especially the robot’s original purported intent which was to provide us with more free time to pursue human activities like creating art and telling stories (Yay podcasts!). Instead, in this global climate of mass production and sweatshops, the products that appear on our shelves are essentially made by robots or by humans treated like robots. Much of the beauty of a handmade pot is the unquantifiable element of intention, the quality of human shaping and consciousness. I make my pots to be held, loved, used, and incorporated into daily life. With luck, they won’t be tossed out with the rest of the consumer goods (90% of which end up in landfills six months after purchase), but will become part of a family heritage. And maybe that remnant of human touch will resonate through that user’s day, reminding them how we are all part of the same human family, trying to create an existence where as many people as we can possibly help live healthy, happy, just and profitable lives. By purchasing my pottery, you help me to pursue my dreams and an extremely peaceful lifestyle including beekeeping. In exchange, I hope that my pottery brings a sense of connectedness, calm and beauty.

Natural forms, processes and images are my focus; from octopus tentacles and leafy sea dragon fins to cat tails and mantis mandibles. Incorporating these organic forms into the very shape as well as the drawings on my pottery, I hope to engender an appreciation and compassion for all creatures that share this planet. Living on the Russian River, I’ve become intimately involved in its endless and changing ocean journeys, as well as the creatures residing within. Working with bees further instills in me not only a seasonal awareness, but a profound appreciation for the interconnectedness of all things.

Write me:

rhoneypots@gmail.com

R Honey Pots

(707) 696-0861

Forestville, CA

or Join my Facebook Page and get email updates/invites to events

The Name (R Honey Pots):

Abuzz with dreams of beekeeping and pottery, we filed for the business name, "R Honey Pots", for many reasons.

Both our last names start with R and, as we're a partnership, we decided to condense ourselves into 'R' (and we're so funny punny; R/Our)
Until we discovered the real pain, time-consuming, and truly golden qualities of honey harvesting, we figured that we would be making custom pottery Honey Pots to sell our honey.

BUT, honey pots don't keep the honey so well. And it's a full time business just to process the honey. So now the name represents the dual nature of our business- Pottery and Beekeeping. We extract hives humanely and give the bees new homes and ways to replenish the native population. But we eat all the excess honey (and so do a few choice friends and family members who truly value the treasure of raw honey). I make pottery full-time, an exploration in self-employment that affords me the availability to throw all my stuff in the car to capture a swarm at 2 in the afternoon.

The Process: (see photo page)

First I throw the basic forms on my wheel. Then, when they are leather-hard, I trim the bottoms and add extensions/handles/spouts. When they are bone dry, I freehand with a black or other colored engobe/colored slip and etch away the details (a process called “scraffito”). Each piece is original & unique. Finally, I bisque fire the pots and dip them in an opalescent clear glaze before performing the final glaze fire.

All my glazes are nontoxic. They are high-fired porcelain-stoneware (cone 5 or 2118^o) and are microwave, oven, and dishwasher safe

In the News:

Pottery:

http://www.examiner.com/cultural-events-in-san-francisco/celebration-of-craftswomen-at-fort-mason

Bees:

http://yourtown.pressdemocrat.com/2010/03/healdsburg/swarmed/

http://www.bohemian.com/bohemian/06.18.08/bio-bees-0825.html

Community:

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20110117/ARTICLES/110119539#

Where & When to find me:

CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Follow links for hours, location & other details