Creating a market
Individuals strolled through the grounds of Koucky Studios Saturday morning and afternoon during the inaugural sale of the Pine Island Potters Guild, which will be held on the second Saturday of every month.
Pine Island Potters Guild member Barbara Darling had a table set up displaying a variety of her pottery creations. She said she began taking classes about 12 years ago with Chuck Koucky to learn the tricks of the trade.
At an early age, Darling said someone got in her head that she was not artistic, which she overcame more than a decade ago when she gave pottery a try during Koucky’s first pottery class.
One of the things she enjoys the most is when she sells her creations to individuals knowing that they will enjoy her work.
“I love to put texture into my pottery,” Darling said, along with pushing the clay to its limits to see what she can create. “I love the colors.”
She felt that Saturday went very well and was excited that they were getting the word out about the newly formed guild.
There are currently eight to 10 members of the guild, which the group hopes will grow for those who are interested in pottery, or are potters themselves.
Boyka Kriakova, also a member of the guild, said she began pottery 10 years ago as a hobby in New Jersey. When she moved to the island three years ago, she began taking classes with Koucky.
“I enjoy the whole process,” she said. “There are many different things to learn.”
The inaugural sale was successful for Kriakova due to the six pieces of pottery that she sold.
Louanne Wells, another member of the guild, also thought Saturday went very well. She said there were a lot of people who came out and she had a few sales.
“They are kind of trickling in,” Wells said about shoppers as the day went on.
Pottery began 10 years ago for her when she received a kiln and a wheel and she had no idea how to use either of them. In order to learn to use the different equipment, she took classes with Koucky for seven years.
“I have made lifelong friends by coming to these classes,” she said.
Now Wells has her own studio in her garage and takes occasional classes as she needs them.
She said she is excited that the guild has formed because it is a great way to meet people, while having fun and creating pottery.
“I think it’s going to be a great thing,” Wells said.
The pottery sales will continue to be held until May on the second Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Kriakova said they hope to educate more people so they, too, can have fun creating pottery. She said they will have demonstrations and discussions on all ceramic aspects during the sale.
“People who come to buy pots will be able to learn how pots are made, decorated, glazed and fired and may show interest to become members of the guild or try their hands in the mud,” Kriakova said.