On to Charlottesville the Self Serve Pottery Kiosks roll!  But first a stop in Indiana PA, where I teamed up with another potter, Kyle Houser to install our first "Collaborative Kiosk."  There (and soon to sweep through Pittsburgh), Kyle will be the Kiosk Keeper.  The first Collaborative Kiosk was installed at the The Philly Street Cafe in downtown Indiana. Here are some pictures, courtesy of Kyle's blog Homefry Sketchbook. 

The Philly Street Cafe

An excited Kiosk customer (or just me, but I do look excited)

For more information on the Collaborative Kiosk, Kyle Houser, and the Indiana Arts Council (20% of Phillly Street's Kiosk income go to Indiana Arts Council) be sure to check out Homefry Sketch Book.

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And now for the first Charlottesville area Kiosk, newly located at the aptly named C'ville Coffee shop.

 Ten percent of all Charlottesville area Kiosk sales will go to The Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative. The Bridge PAI was an easy choice for me because they embrace all forms of artistic expression while providing meaningful outreach to Charlottesville and the surrounding area.  The successful "bridging" of progressive art with community has made for a hip, yet accessible venue that serves the Charolettsville community well- but don't take my word for it, check it out The Bridge PAI!

Now back to the C'ville Coffee Kiosk which is EXTRA charitable!  Not only do 10% of sales go to The Bridge PAI, but the owner of C'ville Coffee, Toan Nguyen, is donating the 10% that he would normally receive from Kiosk sales, MATCHING it, and donating that total to Freedom In Creation (FIC).  The mission of this organization is to provide increased access to therapeutic art, water, and educational infrastructural to former child soldiers of Uganda.  This is an important non-profit that brings attention and healing to a war-torn part of the world.  Please visit their website Freedom In Creation to see how they blend art, education, and water services with healing and empowerment of young people formerly forced into the atrocities of war. I am very proud to know that this Kiosk plays a small role in helping  many in need. 

Monika Fallon & Becca Deeds, part of the friendly C'ville Coffee staff:

Great food!

Even a music series:

You can also find C'ville Coffee on Facebook.  In fact you can find all of today's posts topics on Facebook (of course you can).  Let's make a list!

C'ville Coffee's Facebook

Philly Street Cafe, Indiana PA Facebook

Kyle Houser Facebook

The Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative Facebook

 Freedom In Creation's Facebook

Even I have a Facebook page

Kiosk 2.0

Now back to the Self Serve Pottery Kiosks!  First things first, remember these?

    

 These were the original Self Serve Pottery Kiosks... Ikea used to carry this sleek, red, steel and glass shelving unit (I think the model was "Bibby").  I added a fancy maple cash box below and viola- Self Serve Pottery Kiosks were born.  Then one day (without consulting me) they stopped making the shelves!  So where was a poor boy to go?  I looked and looked, and called and complained, bothered my wife and annoyed my dog- but to no avail.  Self Serve Pottery Kiosks would have to find a new look.  And wouldn't you know it- Ikea came through again!












Introducing- the new Self Serve Pottery Kiosk:

Aside from the change in the cabinet, which is larger and has a handy glass top, I decided that I had enough of making the wood cash boxes. Wood working is fine and all, but it is time consuming when I'd rather make pots.  Besides,  a wood box in the new kiosks just didn't seem to fit.  Instead, I am finding old, classic lunch boxes and converting them to cash boxes.  The kids call it "upcycling", I call it awesome.  The lunch boxes are secured by a stainless steel cable and padlock.

But where do old lunch boxes come from?  Well, I'll tell you.  You see, some people get excited when they hear there is a need for lunch boxes... real excited.  And when they hear that they get to harass dealers on Ebay, then off they go, and lunch boxes magically start appearing on your door step.

And so I introduce to you, the new Patron Saint of the Self Serve Pottery Kiosk!  We'll call him Mark, and pictures of this mysterious man usually look like this. 

Nice brown trout.

A grayling! Well you don't see that in the south- click and check out the beautiful red dorsal fin.

I took this one of my brown trout- I think it's bigger...

So the lunch box/money box is an exciting new world for me!  Here are some pictures of future kiosk money boxes, crowding out  bisque work in need of glazing.

Thanks Mark!  So the new style of kiosk is all worked out.  Stay tuned-- I have two new locations to tell you about very soon.  Let's wrap things up today with a few pots. 

Tumbler

Vase

   

 


Tumbler

 

Catching Up Part 3/3 Charmed

This last bit of catching up takes us to St. Ives; a more charming place I cannot imagine. As a studio potter, St. Ives holds a special place in my heart, because it is the home of Leach Pottery. Here are pictures from that visit:

Photo of Bernard Leach and an introduction that was posted:

Great functional forms:

The original studio space:

The three chambered oil-burning kiln built by Leach and Hamada- a beauty.

They have a museum space as well as a great pottery gallery.

Various pots from the gallery. The first are a couple of mugs and a teapot from Walter Keeler.

The next four photos are of some fine work. Unfortunately I forgot to write down the artists names.

One mug made the long trip back to Virginia, and is always a good companion while decaling pots!

Mug from Leach Pottery, designed by Jack Doherty

I will leave you with a link, check out a truly wonderful place for pots- Leach Pottery.