a tale of 2 vases....and mugs!

Both of these vases turned out IDEAL. You will hear me talk about the Japanese influences of my early training in college, which had NOTHING to do with sculpting little doggies or piggies on bright and fun pots later. So, like I say, I work in 2 different directions depending on the day's mood....
the wife saw the black one in progress and was like "OH!  I love big and round pots!" and the one on the left is part of an ongoing ...what?  Series?  Quest?  To make the perfect vase to give to the Quaker meeting we attend.  Quakers are utterly plain in worship and meetinghouse decor.  There was quite a bit of discussion amongst members about an offer to make and install a stained glass window in the new building, and it had to be put in the hallway because it was agreed that stained glass would not be right in the space for worship.

SO, I have made many sacred vessels before, for Lutheran and Episcopal communion and for Jewish services and Unitarians too.  But what would you give Quakers?  And a member suggested a flower vase.  She happens to supply flowers from her garden some weeks, a small glass vase of which is the only color and decoration in the whole building.

What that means to me is that I am unexpectedly nervous about offering a gift to the meeting and having it rejected, as too fancy or....what?  On the other hand, I am sure as heck making a LOT of these particular vases...trying to make one that seems perfect enough :)

 
Monkeying around with mug shapes and glazes too....

(new pottery by Gary Rith)