Remembering 2013 - Cathy Babula

Series: Remembering our Clay Teachers

When Cathy started teaching at the Clay Studio, this is the bio that was posted:

Cathy Babula’s love of pottery began in high school where she focused primarily on hand built work. Bypassing her secret dream of becoming a potter, she pursued a degree in horticulture from SUNY instead. After a career as a corporate trainer, she enrolled in pottery classes at the BMCA Clay Studio concentrating on wheel throwing and rekindled her dream of being a professional potter. She then entered the Professional Crafts/Clay program at Haywood Community College in 2010, graduating with an Associate’s Degree in May of 2012.  Since plants and nature motifs are prevalent in her decorating, Babula has come full circle by merging her original interests of pottery and horticulture.

Cathy Babula bowl

Field trip to Spruce-Pine Potters Market, l to r, Barb Rogers, John Britt, Cathy Babula

Cathy Babula at Tailgate Market holiday sale

In the last year Cathy has explored her styles of pottery and scraffito tiles more.  She is also pursuing another degree at Haywood Community College in Entrepreneurship.

Recent scraffito work by Cathy Babula

Merry Christmas

Happy holidays from some of our pottery students and teachers.

Charles Freeland, studio manager, is surrounded by happy potters, Pat, Lynda, Kathleen, Mathilda, (also a teacher), Gail, and Barbara G.  Pitcher on table was made by Charles.

Gallery Exhibit - Barbara Rogers

Two green jars, Barbara Rogers

Dragon Jar, Barbara Rogers

Gingko Jar, Barbara Rogers

Barbara is a volunteer Studio Assistant and independent studies student.  She has spent more of the last year making functional ware, many of which she sold at Tailgate Markets last summer. But she enjoys her sculptural endeavors as well.  She loves posting here on this blog and her own 3 subjects. For more information, check out her blog "Alchemy of Clay." 

Gallery Exhibit - Marlene Tynen

Picture Frames, Marlene Tynen

Marlene has recently returned to Black Mountain and pottery making.  She is an Independent Studies student, and is sparking her creativity in old and new ways.

Gallery Exhibit - Molly Keeney

Fish, Detail, Molly Keeney

Fish, Molly Keeney

Mirror with tiled frame, Molly Keeney

Gallery Exhibit - Maureen Joyce

Zeus, Maureen Joyce

Maureen moved away from Black Mountain several years ago, but comes back in the summers to teach a one-week workshop.  She was one of the earliest students at the Clay Studio, and has developed a great style of faces in various forms.  She also sells her work at Morning Sky Pottery on Cherry Street.

Her bio for her BMCA teaching says:

Maureen Joyce, who studied Fine Art at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA, has been involved in various mediums of art during her career.  She took classes at the BMCA Clay Studio, opened a studio in her home, offered a variety of classes to adults and children at BMCA, and continued her education at a community college when she moved to Pennsylvania.  Joyce specializes in face vases and raku.

Is there still time to purchase?

This is the last day...BEFORE



Before Christmas and New Year at least.

Student's work that supports the Center for the Arts, as well as the students.  Many of these pieces have sold already, but there are still some great items available.  So if you're in Black Mountain today (Fri. Dec 20) come on by!

Yesterday someone from Colorado stopped in the Clay Studio, and was looking forward to seeing the gallery exhibit of student and teacher's work.  It's also on display still, and will be in January.

Gallery Exhibit- Mathilda Tanner

Lilly Pond & Frog Vessel, Mathilda Tanner

Dragonfly vase, Mathilda Tanner

Swirling Bowl, Matilda Tanner

Fairy Vessel, Mathilda Tanner

Mathilda has recently joined the staff of instructors at the Clay Studio, teaching her unique style of forming vessels and decorating them.  She also sells her wares at Morning Sky Pottery on Cherry Street.

Gallery Exhibit - Blair McKee

Blair McKee

Blair's well crafted work has become more delicate and functional in the past year.  She is showing (and selling) her work at Geoff Bird's store on Cherry St, Morning Sky Pottery. (Click HERE to see more of her work there.)  Her popular bear mugs are a bit smaller than the one shown here.  She continues to have some architectural pieces that are very large jar shapes.  Blair is an Independent Studies student.

Gallery Exhibit - Marsha Cozart

"He Said, She Said" Marsha Cozart

Marsha has worked primarily in functional pieces and has her own style.  But here she brings her sense of humor out with these delightful and simple forms.  She is a student of Geoff Bird's and has stretched her abilities with his guidance.

Gallery Exhibit - Sarah Vekasi

Zen Lamp, Sarah Vekasi

The Tea Party, Sarah Vekasi

Sarah has opened her own studio in the last year, and has stretched her abilities to match the shows she has attended selling her work in clay.  But she still volunteers as a Studio Assistant once a week at Black Mountain Center for the Arts Clay Studio, and is part of our community.  She continues to have great interest in her role as an Eco-Chaplin, helping those who help the planet.  One of her web pages displays Sarah Sunshine's pottery (HERE).

Today Sarah is also being featured on the Achemy of Clay blog here.

Gallery Exhibit - Charles Freeland

Stacking Bowls, Charles Freeland

Charles Freeland

Charles Freeland is our studio manager, as well as teacher of several levels of classes.  He works with folks who are absolute beginners, and he works with folks who say, "can I make this out of clay?"  And he usually helps them do it on their own, with his advice.


His bio from the Clay Studio says:

 Charles Freeland is a graduate of Austin College and the University of North Texas.  He holds an MFA in ceramics with a minor in painting and drawing.  Charles has taught at a number of different programs from Texas to Illinois, where he taught for Bradley University, Lakeland Community College and Eastern Illinois University in a variety of areas from ceramics to multicultural aesthetics.

Gallery Exhibit - Geoff Bird

Geoff Bird

Geoff Bird

Geoff Bird has been teaching clay at the Black Mountain Clay Studio since it began.  He encourages technical and artistic development with his students on the wheel or with hand building.  His class meets Thurs. afternnons, 4-6 which has an ongoing schedule where you can begin the 6 week cycle at any time.  He also has his own pottery shop, Morning Sky Pottery, on Cherry St. in Black Mountain.  (Click here to see some pictures of Morning Sky Pottery.)

Gallery Exhibit - Lynda Keith

Lynda Keith

Lynda Keith

Lynda has become very proficient quickly in creating sculptures with coils and slabs of clay.  She works with instruction from Charles Freeland to bring her ideas into excellent rendering.

Gallery Exhibit - Pat Levi

Libational, Pat Levi

Pat Levi works in precise techniques, and explores new areas like the scientist she is.  Her work this year has been full of variety, from functional wares to tall vases with intricate glaze and textures.  She volunteers as a Studio Assistant once a week during Open Studio hours.  She gives ready assistance to newer students.

Gallery Exhibit - Gail Rivera

Mixed clays with cutout areas, Gail Rivera

Vegetable Bowl, wheel thrown, hand stenciled glaze decorations, Gail Rivera

Gail drives to Black Mountain from Marion, NC (often more than once a week for her class.)  She is frequently in the studio for "open studio" hours (2-5 hours daily for students to continue their projects).  Her family members have been recipients of her beautiful work for their eating and cooking enjoyment.  She has moved from delicate hand painted flowers and fruits into exploring the mixing of different colored clays together. 

Pottery Exhibit in the Gallery

Today we feature an Independent Studies artist, Fred Feldman

Self Portrait, Fred Feldman

Self Portrait, Fred Feldman

Fred is an established artist in Black Mountain.  He uses mixed media, and enjoys the clay studio as an independent artist. 

Holly Jolly, Fri. Dec 6, 6-8 pm

Tomorrow night, Dec 6, 6-8,  the Black Mountain Center for the Arts will have a gallery exhibition open.  Students and teachers in the Pottery Studio will exhibit their works.
And there will be student's pottery for sale as well.

Here are pics of last year's gallery displays.  (click here)

I hope you can come enjoy a visit (the gallery will be continuing the exhibit for the next month or so).
And maybe purchase a pottery piece (50% of sales supports the Center for the Arts).

There's also a parade, and all the shops stay open late, and have sales, and many have free refreshments.  Basically, if the weather is alright, most of the town and half again as many tourists come out.

See ya there?   Happy holidays begins with just being out in the community.  Supporting local business is only secondary.  Seeing friendly faces, maybe some you know, that's a real fun thing to have happen.

  (The BMCA Web site is here) 

Picture album, 2012 Clay Studio

Here is the roofline of BMCA Clay Studio, as seen from the lower parking area...

 
 The following pictures are of students and teachers at the clay studio throughout 2012