skennedy

2024

Over the last year or two, I’ve been working to tweak my glaze palette. I’m habitually lazy about glaze chemistry; sticking to a few well established standards, like celadon or shino, or whatever else is on the students’ beginner glaze bank. But I decided that I wanted more control over color and translucency, over application and consistency.

My undergraduate schooling at SMU was strong in glaze chemistry (thanks Peter!) but that was a long time ago, y’all. I took one of Matt and Rose Katz’s Ceramics Materials Workshop courses (if you want a review, message me). Websites like Glazy and Digital Fire were immensely helpful resources.

I did a BUNCH of testing, which can be tedious. More so because I chose to test on real work- rocks size cups decorated with my usual carved shapes (shown below), rather than on dummy mass producible test tiles, making more work for myself, as I am oft wont to do.

It was a worthwhile endeavor, as I am honing in on a color palette that suits my style, with glazes that can reliably move between soda, gas, and electric. Not so much with the wood kiln, but that’s a story for another day.

Flashback

About one million years ago, in between undergrad and graduate school, I waited tables at the sort of restaurant that required the deft use of a crumber run by a despotic maître d’.

The restaurant served good food to fancy people.

I made a series of plates specific to their menu, which was mainly seafood. This was just a creative challenge for myself, in no world were they about to switch from white china to studio pottery. I took advantage of a quiet pre-service to set up a table, and one of the chefs kindly agreed to plate a dish for me.

It was a fun project.

2023

A new year, a new me. Just kidding, I’m still the same.

A goal for the new year is to plant more seeds. Another is to expand my musical palette. Also, more poetry. If you, dear reader, have any recommendations on these topics, please drop me a line.

If you are need of some poetry yourself, The Poetry Foundation is an amazing resource. Check out ‘The Birthday of the World’ by Marge Piercy.

Fall 2021

Y’all, Texas Clay Fest is right around the corner, and this year, we’re back in person. I’ve somehow managed to direct my energy into making pots, despite the uncertainty of these recent times. The upheaval has made me think a lot about what is useful and what is not, and I hope that shows in my new work. If you can make it out to Gruene, I’d love to see you, October 23-24. I’ll have pots, Pots, POTS! For more info about the festival, check out texasclayfestival.com. Stay safe out there, ok?

Santa Fe Spikes

After over a year of hunkering down at home, I am very grateful to be fully vaccinated. To celebrate, I am happily planning a road trip with my twin cousin to see Meow Wolf in Santa Fe. We will take a slow meandering path, one that allows time to pull over for a road side vegetable stand. If the “World’s Largest” anything comes along, we will most definitely stop.

Along the way, I will be planting these mushroom/flower spikes (just a few shown here). For the clay dorks out there, the spikes were made with a variety of different clays (Grolleg porcelain, Niko’s pink stoneware, Liz Lurie Red and Simon Levin Red) and then fired in the wood kiln. I’m pretty sure this makes them genuinely magical.

I’m slightly tempted to keep them for myself. Or to plant them closer to home, so I can monitor their presence. But I’m jazzed at the idea of seeding further afar, just a small bit of the southwest, with a little mystery and beauty. If you’re curious to see their journey, you can follow along on Instagram. If you are also inspired to add some beauty to the world, I’d love to hear about it.

Happy trails!

Update: To see pics of the flower spikes in their planting spots, click here

2021

Nothing like some well used bricks to make a pot pop, eh? The side of the anagama is one of my favorite spots for a quick photo shoot.

This quatrefoil server was actually fired in a Cone 10 gas reduction kiln. The red is a Coleman copper red. The celadon is called Colby celadon, and I am very sad to report, I have lost the recipe. If anybody out there has it (probably got it around 2010 or so?) please, please send it my way.

Texas Clay Festival 2020

TCF 2020 will be virtual this year.

There’s a big difference between looking at art online (especially 3D art like ceramics) and holding it in your hands (standing in a booth, chatting with friends, enjoying a beautiful fall day in Gruene, Texas). We’d probably all prefer the latter. But, as they say, you can’t always get what you want.

That being said, there’s been some fun aspects to approaching a virtual clay fest. Many of the participating artists, myself included, have filmed themselves doing demos or studio tours. All those videos will be available on the TCF website clay fest weekend, October 24-25, scroll down to ‘Demos.' So if you’ve ever fretted between seeing Melissa Mencini talk surface design in Tent A versus Ryan Mckerley water carving in Tent C, fret no more! I’m hoping Shika Joshi is on the line up. My demo will be live at 10am Sunday, October 25th. I’ll be demo-ing how to make a rattle. You can also check out my rattles in my shop. 100% of the proceeds from the Corona Rattles sales will be donated to the ACLU, more info here.

For me personally, the shift to virtual has allowed me to slow down a bit. Typically, I get a little frantic as clay fest approaches, feeling the pressure to make more and more pots, just one more batch! Classic pottery baggage. Somehow stocking an online shop feels different, less pressured than stocking a festival booth. I sure am happy not to have to worry about the EZ-up blowing away in stormy weather.

Niko and I are getting ready to fire up the soda kiln so we’ll have fresh pots to show in our online shops. You can follow Niko on Instagram or check out his website. Here’s my Instagram and shop. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email me. If you want to read a sad and true poem, check out When people say, “we have made it through worse before”

2020

Sometimes a teacher says a (perhaps) offhand thing that sticks deep, for whatever reasons. I am lucky to have had many teachers, so I have a whole bag of sticks speaking to me. One that has been poking me recently is a professor proudly stating that our incoming guest artist didn’t have any holes in her resume; she always made work despite job changes, moves, children.

I get what he was saying- work, always work. And I respect that. I think all of us potters, all artists, have that deeply ingrained in us, whether by nature or nurture (probably both). So I’ve been bothered lately to have been out of the studio. It’s not by choice, my love for making work has not waned. I feel cranky and out of sorts.

The thing is (as those of you that know me know) we’ve been building a house. Well, that’s perhaps an exaggeration. More like presiding over the build of a house? Fretting over the build? Agonizing and stewing? It’s the biggest project I’ve ever been a part of. It’s hard. Sometimes the labor is hard (please remind me to never install floor tile myself, click here for pics) and sometimes letting others do the labor is hard (if I could do the plumbing, I just might. Seriously, Mr. Plumber! Step one: show up when you say you’re going to show up, ya big cotton headed ninny muggins!).

I digress.

I have to be kind to myself, in a way that old teacher never was. Sometimes life gets in the way. Sometimes you have to lay tile or build kitchen cabinets or figure out how to install fencing. In the (abridged) words of Janice Joplin, “You got it for one day. That one day better be your life. Because you could cry about the other 364, but you're gonna lose that one day and that’s all you got. You gotta call that love. That's what it is. If you got it today you don't wear it tomorrow, cause you don't need it. As a matter of fact, as we discover on the train, tomorrow never happens, man. It's all the same fucking day.” Click here to hear her version, it’s got all the feels.

Maybe a weird thing to hold tight to, but (for me anyway) it helps. And, as another voice speaks in my head, “This too shall pass.”

Fall 2019

The studio has been a hoppin’ as we prepare for the busy season. My class unloaded the first soda kiln of the semester last week (see some pots from the firing over on Instagram).

I’m fixing to get back into wet clay to make more work for a gas kiln. The best clay event in Texas in fast approaching, the 27th Annual Texas Clay Festival will be October 26 and 27. If you love clay, this is the place to be, 10 to 6 on Saturday and 10 to 5 on Sunday. I happen to know a handsome fellow will be demo-ing in tent A on Saturday at 1:30, so be sure to come on by.

We are also gearing up for our second annual home sale, so stayed tuned for more info about that…

For the lovers of poetry out there, here’s a nice one I recently came across: “Small Kindnesses” by Danusha Laméris

Fresh pots at The Barn!

Tldr: New work available for purchase at The Barn Pottery in Gruene, Texas!

Long version: Some years back, at my first Texas Clay Festival, I didn’t really know what I was doing. The experience was amazing, overwhelming, fantastic, and exhausting. I donated what I thought was my BEST piece to the silent auction. It did not get bid on. at. all. Feeling a bit dejected, I gave it to Kyle White, who, at the time, worked for Buck Pottery (owned by the lovely Dee and Terry Buck) and helped make Texas Clay Fest happen. It was the start of a friendship that grows every year.

These days, Kyle and his talented wife Angie own the pottery, now called The Barn. I am honored and excited that they have invited us to show our work in their space. So if you are in the Texas Hill Country, New Braunfels, specifically historic, idyllic Gruene, Texas, please stop by. You can see our pots, as well as the beautiful pots Kyle and Angie make.

Spring Wood Firing

Our recent wood firing was a SUCCESS! You never know what you’re going to get weather-wise this time of year in Texas. We were very happy that the weather cooperated, with highs only in the 70s and thunderstorms that skipped on by us. If you’re interested to see pics of the load, unload, and finished pieces, you can find them in the ‘Extra’ gallery or by clicking here. If you have any questions or suggestions, let me know:)

Summer 2018

Summer is here!!! I'm not too excited about the impending 100 degree weather, but I do love having a bit more freedom in my schedule. I have a To Do list that will take waaaayyy longer than one summer to complete, so I'm gonna be busy!

I recently started showing work at a local Waco arts space called Cultivate 7Twelve. They're at 712 Austin Avenue, right in the heart of downtown Waco. Depending on when you know your Waco, you might remember it being the Croft Gallery. Or maybe as a bakery? Anyway, check 'em out, they've got a LOT of activities going on. 

Pottery Friends

There are *many* things I love about ceramics. I could go on and on and on and on. One of my favorites is the community. Clay people stick together; we openly share our recipes and techniques with each other, we depend on each other as we load and fire kilns, and we bond together to market and sell our work. We also put on AMAZING spreads of food and drink. For reals.

One group I am particularly pleased to be a part of is the Pottery Friends. The current group consists of Chris Gray, Jillian Cooper, Karen Hamilton, Brandon Phillips, Chris Melia, and Niko Weissenberger. Past members, still friends include Annie Chrietzberg, Ryan McKerley, and James Tingey. For the last several years, we’ve been putting on a holiday sale at the ArtCentre of Plano. Well, we’re at it again! We’ll be at the newly renovated ArtCentre of Plano on Friday, December 15 from 4 to 8, and Saturday, December 16 from 11-5. We’ll have lots of pots and tasty snacks and sips, too. For more info, directions, and to see all of us artists, you can follow The Pottery Friends on Fb here. Hope to see you there! Happy Holidays to you and you and you!

For those that are interested, click here to hear the best Christmas song ever.

Fall 2017

As school starts, and the weather (hopefully) cools, there are lots of things happening. The Art Center of Waco is launching its Exhibit on the Go, which will turn a trailer into a mini gallery space, fill it with art, and bring it to area schools. I am happy to be part of the show. The Texas Clay Festival is fast approaching, save the dates: October 28 and 29 in Gruene, Texas. Be there, or you're a square! For a little eye candy, check out some pictures from my blue flower planting through the midwest here.

Summer is coming...

The cliche is true: the older I get, the faster time moves. I can't believe we are already on the brink of summer! While I'm NOT looking forward to the Texas heat, I am excited about some upcoming events and opportunities. I'm also super jazzed to get some dedicated studio time- a chance to make without interruption is egg in my beer. 

For Waco area peeps, I now have work featured in two local art spots, Interior Glow and The Art Center of Waco. Stop by sometime and take a peek! If you're a bit further south, say in San Marcos, you could check out my cup in The Eye of the Dog's 1st Annual Mug Show. Their Dirt Dauber Festival will be held May 20-21, and is a fantastically fun clay family event, full of great people and potters.

Spring 2017

I've gotten off to a slow start after the new year, but I am rallying. The group of pots shown here is making its way to The Lion's Nest in Austin, and will be available for purchase just in time for SXSW. I am also (slowly) working on putting some pieces into my Etsy shop. Hopefully, I will soon line up a gallery in Waco, stay tuned!

Soon we will fire both the wood kiln and the soda kiln, so I need to get busy and make some fresh work. Being a podcast addict, I am always looking for new, interesting things to listen to while working in the studio. If you have any suggestions, please let me know!

To see what's happening in the studio, check out my Facebook page. For a peek at what I am looking at, check out skennedyart on Instagram.

Fall 2016

Here in Central Texas, I am happy to report that we’ve made it through another hot Texas summer and into cooler fall weather. This is an especially busy time of year for me, what with the start of a new semester and the preparations for my favorite event of the year, the Texas Clay Festival. More information about that here.

Summer!

We started out the summer with a (too quick!) trip to Canada. I was so busy looking at all the beauty around me to take too many photos, but here is a shot of gorgeous Banff, with a small plant of mine in the foreground. As summer stretches before me, I have a long 'To Do' list. I consider this a great start!

ARTS Cafe - Brown Bag Lunch Series

As part of the "Texas Clay" show, of which I am happily a part of (more info on that here), Niko and I will be at Collin College in Plano giving a talk about our practice of making art. I might throw in some poetry as well.

From 4-7pm on Thursday, April 28 (same day as the lecture) there will be a reception for the show, which was curated by Chris Gray. Show participants include some of my most favorite-est Texas ceramists: Annie Chrietzberg, Jillian Cooper, Ryan McKerley, Christopher Melia, Brandon Phillips, James Tingey, and, of course, my most favorite of all, Niko Weissenberger.

skennedy in Cameron Park

Fairly often I leave small pieces in Cameron Park, in Waco near where I live. In the past, the art plantings have been casual and random. But there is a big (HUGE) log at the start of the trails that I usually pass by when walking with the dog. It got me to thinking. So I decided to make a grouping specifically for that spot. Below are some images of the work in progress, and in place. I love the shot of the kids on the stump the most! My hope is that anyone who happens along and snaps a pic will send it my way over at https://www.facebook.com/skennedyart. Cheerio!

Postcards!

If you'd like to receive the "Coffee Party" postcard featured here, just message me your street address. I have plenty (perhaps I over-ordered?!), so don't be shy. 

Also, I have added a short video showing us dropping out the arch form back when we built the soda kiln. I am happy to report that we have fired the kiln seven times now, and the arch still looks good. If you'd like to see the build pictures and the video, check out Soda Kiln Build under the Events page. 

Fall 2015 News

This past summer in Texas was mild, as these things go, and a very productive time for me. We fired the wood kiln in June and the soda kiln in August. My main project for the summer was making beetle rattles, which culminated in the 40 Beetles Project. You can view the entire album here and also read more about the project here, where you can also hear all the rattles get rattled.

Currently, we are gearing up for the 23rd Annual Texas Clay Festival, held in scenic Gruene, Texas on Saturday, October 24th, and Sunday, October 25th.  This is an absolute favorite time for us, so if you’re in the area, come by to see us smiling. Find more info at Texas Clay Festival.

Lastly, I have reopened my Etsy shop. There are some things already available, and more to be added. Check it out and let me know what you think.

Beetle making

Summer is here and I have (too) many projects I want to tackle.

Project #3.219: Make a lot of small beetle rattles

I don’t quite know what the end result is going to look like, but I know I need A LOT of beetles. So I’ve started making a lot of beetles; hopefully I will figure out the rest out as I go along.

Previously when making small rattles, I would make two mini pinch pots, add a rattle, then seal them together. I like the effect on the rattle sound that the pinched, compressed clay makes. However, using the slump mold, I can make about 10 times as many rattles as the pinch method in the same amount of time. The sound is a bit different, but still interesting.

Since sound is one of the elements that I am interested in, I’ve been taking careful notes about what is inside each rattle in relation to the surface design. The book Pheromone by Christopher Marley sits nearby, so I can steal design ideas from some amazing arthropods. 

Also, having the skit movie Coneheads running in the background might be influencing form…

Some finished beetle rattles, as you can see by the pencil, fairly small in size.

I’ll post ongoing process pics over on facebook, any input or ideas are most welcome!

Wood and Soda kiln firings

This past weekend, we fired up the soda kiln (for the second time ever!) and also the wood kiln (for a record 34 hour long firing). Overall, the results are good. Now I can't wait to get back in the studio to make pots to fill up the kiln again. It is a good life.

Flashback
Do you ever look back at something that you made and cringe? I do. The logo (on the left) that I made for my first website back in 2005 is not my favorite work. However, I am mostly pleased as I look back through 10 years of images. I can see how some things have changed (drastically) and some things have remained (faithfully). January 2015 begins with a new website (let me know what you think) and new adventures (stay tuned). As I begin, I can hear the words of beloved James Watral whispering encouragement in my ear, “be brilliant.” 

Airplants

Lately, I’ve been making quite a bit of sculptural work and incorporating found objects into small landscapes. A sudden fascination with and addiction to air plants has inspired a series of symbiotic pairings. For a look at the first few examples, visit the 2014 gallery. And if you are interested in air plants, also known as tillandsia, take a gander at http://www.airplantsupplyco.com/

skennedy was here
We are taking a slow paced road trip to the pottery mecca that is North Carolina, starting along the southern route, then making our way back through Tennessee and Arkansas. In anticipation, I made a series of blue porcelain flowers, which were fired in the wood kiln at Baylor. Along the way, I will leave a flower and a hand drawn calling card wherever the mood strikes me. If you are interested to see the pairings in place, check out my Facebook page. I might also post some images on Instagram. Happy trails!