Ginko Gallery in Oberlin

Last Friday, I drove out to Ginko Studio and Gallery in Oberlin.

Ginko Gallery is a working fiberart studio and contemporary craft gallery.

Owner Liz Burgess is always such a delight to work with. She is kind, compassionate and such a lover of the arts and crafts. Over the years, she has given me total freedom to explore new work for her gallery and has always greeted my clay work with enthusiasm. Ginko Gallery and Studio is located in downtown Oberlin at 19 South Main Street, Oberlin, Ohio 44074. The phone number is 440-774-3117.

I love pattern and often use the dot and line together to create pattern. I very seldom use image on my work as pattern has always been a bit more meditative than secular images. These small three inch plates are a sampling of some of the clay work I brought to Ginko.

Concept to Creation,

Theresa Yondo

Belgiam Tervuren

I decided I would dedicate this blog to clay and the creative process but occasionally I do need to interject something a little personal.

Yes, today was full of clay delicacies. Ron Meyers was in town and had a show with Bill Brouillard and dinner after the show was very pleasant and most stimulating. I had a few breakthroughs in my studio this morning. I wanted to upload images from the kiln that was just unloaded.

Ultimately, Marie won the night. Today, Marie turned one year old. She is our passionate little one who is still exploring life as any young dog would if given the opportunity. Bruce and I were on a rescue list for the Belgiam Tervuren's but eventually did get Marie from a breeder when no rescue dog showed up. We so want to preserve this most unusaual breed.

Concept to Creation,

Theresa Yondo

ANTICIPATION

Waiting for your kiln to cool and your tomatoes to ripen.

Concecpt to Creation,

Theresa Yondo

Geode Gallery in Tremont

The Tremont area of Cleveland is always changing. I was trying to remember the year I lived in Tremont at the corner of Jefferson and Professor in the "City Cabin". Back then, "grandma" was still alive and I would walk across the corner to the bar on Fridays for my lunchtime serving of homemade pierogie. I often was a site as I would work until sometimes 4:00 am in my studio and then roll out of bed around Noon to get my pierogie's before they were sold out.

Not to long ago, a new gallery opened at 755 Starkweather Ave. with the quite clever name of Geode Gallery.

Whose eyes would not sparkle when entranced by a geode.

Upon entering the gallery, I felt the same way as gallery owner Gillian Barnes showed me all the treasures inside. By the way, you can now find a collection of my clay work at Geode Gallery along with many handcrafted gifts from Cleveland and around the world.

Concept to Creation

Theresa Yondo

IN MY ELEMENT

Ceramic artist's hall a lot of stuff. So, choosing a vehicle is no simple task. When Honda started making the Element I was sure I would be able to figure out how to fit everything I needed in the vehicle to set up for an art show.

I purchased a Yakima car rack which is rated to carry 250 lbs. 8 propanel's go on top and are tied down with a double ratchet system. I am always concerned about safety so, if one ratchet fails the other will kick in to secure the panels.
I was able to fit the secure rods for the propanels, tent, hardware, 11 various tubs of clay work, 3 or so additional display shelves and a small cooler. I carry very little additional stock to sell for two reasons. One, the economy is so bad that you just do not sell as much at the shows as days gone by and with the use of the Internet, images can easily be posted of your work and shipped to a collector.

I did figure that I fell under the weight restrictions for hauling in the element but do plan on changing the transmission fluid in the vehicle every 20,000 miles or so to keep the transmission running strong. Only time will tell how everything holds up.


The past four years have been quite a challenge. I am so thankful to all of you out there who so generously share information and ideas to help keep us all sane in these sometimes crazy times.

Concept to Creation
Theresa Yondo

Narrative Vessel - Just out of the kiln

Here are a few more Narrative Vessel's I unloaded from the kiln today. I will have these at Cain Park this weekend (see blog archive June 22). Exposing and staining the clay is so freeing in comparison to the glaze and wax resist I usually use on the surface of the clay.

Theresa Yondo

Concept to Creation

Narrative Vessel

Occasionally, a narrative vessel will find it's way into my clay work. The function of the vessel on the table humbly steps aside to make way for a comment on the function of the psyche. This is one of those occasions.

The form represents the mountains we all climb in life. The smooth indentation represents the caves we all take refuge in from time to time. On this form the spout and handle suggest the social niceties we all engage in although the spout on this form does not have a hole for the tea to flow so the cup can never be filled. The object is thrown, hand built and paddled. Air inside the vessel is used to steady the shape while the pliable clay is paddled and pushed. My hope is that you can enjoy the story as the object talks back.

Theresa Yondo

Concept to Creation