Opening Reception: California Clay

Opening Reception:

Saturday, January 13, 2024. 12-2pm

You’re invited to visit California Clay and see a selection of Mary’s pots from January 13 through March 31, 2024. Visit Bedford Gallery’s website for more information about the event and how to visit. Bedford Gallery is located in Walnut Creek, CA at the Lesher Center for the Arts.

From Bedford Gallery: “Dedicated to all things fired, California Clay presents a survey of California artists working in clay.

In response to the recent ceramics renaissance in the contemporary art world, California Clay features an intriguing mix of functional and aesthetic works that highlight the versatility of the medium, and celebrate ceramics as both functional and fine art, showcasing the talent and creativity of contemporary ceramicists.”

Participating Artists:

• Robert Brady, Sara Bright, Reniel Del Rosario, Christopher Fortin, Mark Goudy, Phyllis Green, Kat Hutter & Roger Lee, Mary Law, Ahn Lee, YehRim Lee, Brandon Lipe, Cathy C. Lu, Mary Alison Lucas, Nathan Lynch, Liza Riddle, Erik Scollon, Nancy Selvin, Sandy Simon, Ehren Tool.

Mary Law & Friends Holiday Pottery Sale

Mary Law & Friends
Holiday Pottery Sale

Dec. 2 & 3, 2023
Saturday and Sunday 11 – 5
Mary Law's sale continues for two more Saturdays: Dec. 9 & 16

My firing crew (see below) and I have been making and firing, and we're excited to show our new work! I've made a series of bird pots, teapots, mugs, plates, bowls and more. I hope you'll come see them all!

Firing squad, from left: Francine Hudson, Colleen Garland, Mary Law, Gianna Benetti and Nathan Ring.

Covid safety protocols will prevail: weather permitting, we'll be showing in my backyard and inside the studio, masks preferred.

In addition to these 4 drop-in days, my studio is open any day of the week by appointment, even last minute. Here's how to contact me:

Home/studio # (calls only): 510-524-7546
Cell # (call or text): 510-890-6395
Via my website: http://www.marylawpottery.com/contact

I so look forward to seeing you!

Fall '23 Studio Update

Hello, friends! I want to remind you that for now I’m still open by appointment only; this has proven to be a lovely opportunity to visit with folks on any day of the week, rather than being open for drop-in on Saturdays only. I hope you’ll use one of the contact means below anytime you’d like to come and see what’s in the studio. A last-minute call often works, too.

Since my spring sale I had a great group of folks here for my summer seminar, in which we focused on vessels incorporating plants or animals; then my crew and I had two beautiful soda firings by early August. Those pots are in the studio now. I hope you’ll come see them!

Mary Law, Teapot, soda fired stoneware. Photos (above): M. Lee Fatherree

Save the date: Now I’m working towards another soda firing followed by a glaze firing, both to be out in time for my firing squad and me to have our Holiday Sale with Friends, Dec. 2 & 3. I’ll make another post with more details much closer to the event. And as of now, I’m planning on being open for drop-in visits the 2 Saturdays in December following our sale.

The snapshots show some recent faceted teapots in progress (top), and you can see what goes into making sure the pot has an effective filter for loose tea (bottom).

To visit my studio at other times, any day of the week, even last minute, contact me for an appointment. Here's how:

Home/studio # (calls only): 510-524-7546
Cell # (call or text): 510-890-6395
Via my website: http://www.marylawpottery.com/contact

Spring '23 Pottery Sale

Spring Sale: Mary Law & Friends

May 13 & 14, 2023
Saturday and Sunday 10 – 5

After a long wet winter, spring is popping here! I'll be showing pots from a recent glaze firing and an imminent soda firing. There'll be some new teapots, bird ewers, vases, mugs, bowls, and a series of new painted jars and platters. Also, for the first time in four years, I'll have seconds and older stock at reduced prices! My "firing squad" will be showing their pots, too, though not all of them will be here both days.

Firing squad, from left: Colleen Garland, Francine Hudson, Mary Law, Dave Wheeler, Gianna Benetti and Nathan Ring.

Covid safety protocols will prevail: weather permitting, we'll be showing in my backyard and inside the studio, masks preferred.

To visit my studio at other times, any day of the week, even last minute, contact me for an appointment. Here's how:

Home/studio # (calls only): 510-524-7546
Cell # (call or text): 510-890-6395
Via my website: http://www.marylawpottery.com/contact

From top: Cockatoo Plate, soda fired stoneware, 6"H x 7" x 1"; Soda fired bud vases; Painted Jars, drying. Photo credits: (1, 3 and 4) M. Lee Fatherree, (2) Colleen Garland.

Fall '22 Holiday Pottery Sale

Holiday Pottery Sale

Three Saturdays: December 3, 10 & 17, 2022
11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

In my summer seminar focused on historical pouring vessels, my pick was a Cycladic jug. Its form inspired me to come up with a medley of pitchers or ewers, many bird-like. I’ll also have new individual soup pots with lids. I hope you’ll come see these and lots more new pots!

In addition to these 3 drop-in days, my studio is open any day of the week by appointment. Here's how to contact me:

Home/studio # (calls only): 510-524-7546
Cell # (call or text): 510-890-6395
Via my website: http://www.marylawpottery.com/contact

Mugs.

Bittern Ewers in the soda kiln.

Open Studio: Mary Law & Friends

Open Studio: Mary Law & Friends

November 12 & 13, 2022
Saturday and Sunday 11 – 5

My firing crew and I so enjoyed our spring open studio that we wanted another one! Most of the squad (see below) will join me for Saturday, Nov. 12, and I’ll be open solo on Sunday, Nov. 13. We’ll all have new pots from the soda kiln available. For me that will include more of my new pouring vessels sparked by an early Cycladic jug I studied, some covered individual soups, fish vases, mugs and plates. Also, as of this writing, the persimmon tree is loaded, and has begun to ripen. Come see it all!

Firing squad, from left: Francine Hudson, Gianna Benetti, Mary Law, Colleen Garland and Nathan Ring.

Covid safety protocols will prevail: weather permitting, we'll be showing in my backyard and inside the studio, masks required.

To visit my studio at other times, any day of the week, contact me for an appointment. Here's how:

Home/studio # (calls only): 510-524-7546
Cell # (call or text): 510-890-6395
Via my website: http://www.marylawpottery.com/contact

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Clockwise from top left: Bird Ewer, soda fired stoneware, 10"H x 4.5" x 5"; ewer in-progress; ewers in the bisque kiln; persimmon tree.

Fall '22 Studio News

Hello, friends! I’m sending this post to remind you that for now I’m still open by appointment only; this has proven to be a lovely opportunity to visit with folks on any day of the week, rather than being open for drop-in on Saturdays only. I hope you’ll use one of the contact means below anytime you’d like to come and see what’s in the studio.

Since my last update, I took a brief trip to Nebraska, Iowa and Illinois in late spring with two dear potter friends, and returned refreshed. I fired my glaze kiln in June and 2 soda firings last month, with beautiful results. I made sure to include lots of mugs! In my summer seminar here, we focused on historical pouring vessels, and I’ve been so inspired by the early Cycladic (~2,200 BCE) pouring jug I picked to study myself that I’m still exploring variations (see below). I’m also working on some covered bowls to be used for eating, storing and reheating individual servings. Come see!

In November, after one more soda firing, my team and I are planning to have another weekend of open studio. I hope you’ll save the date: Nov. 12 and 13. Since it’ll be in both the studio and the yard, we hope we’re holding it early enough to avoid (longed-for) rain! There’ll be an email with more details much closer to the event. And as of now, I’m planning on going back to appointment-only visits through the end of the year; time will tell.

Contact me for an appointment. Here’s how:

Home/studio # (calls only): 510-524-7546
Cell # (call or text): 510-890-6395
Via my website: http://www.marylawpottery.com/contact

If you know others who aren’t on my email list but would like to visit the studio or see the update, please forward this to them. I so look forward to seeing you again!

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Clockwise from top left: Covered Jar, soda fired stoneware; Bud Vases on display; Heat Wave/Laundry Line; Pouring vessel variations drying in the studio. Click on an image for a larger view.

Spring '22 Open Studio: Mary Law & Friends

The NCECA (National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts) Conference will be in Sacramento next month. To help celebrate, a collection of East Bay Galleries and studios, "East Bay Clay Roots," will be showing work in our respective spaces. I've invited my 5-person firing team, who've been firing with me for many years now, to join my first open studio in more than 2 years! They are:

Gianna Benetti
Colleen Garland
Francine Hudson
Nathan Ring
David Wheeler

Mugs, clockwise from top: Mary Law, Colleen Garland, Gianna Benetti, Francine Hudson, Nathan Ring and David Wheeler. Photo: Colleen Garland.

We just unloaded the soda kiln, so there'll be a batch of new mugs, vases and teapots. We'll be open for drop-in on 3 different days:

Saturday, March 12, 11am to 5pm
Tuesday, March 15, 2pm to 7pm
Saturday, March 19, 2pm to 7pm

Covid safety protocols will prevail: weather permitting, we'll be showing in my backyard and inside the studio, masks required.

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Left: Geometric Jar, 2021, soda-fired stoneware, 9"H x 6" x 6"; Right: 3-Lobed Vase, 2021, soda-fired stoneware, 6"H x 4.5" x 4.5". Photos: M. Lee Fatherree (or as noted).

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Below is the map for everyone who is participating in the East Bay Clay Roots event. (You can click on the image to enlarge it.)

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Fall '21 Studio Update

Hello, dear friends! I’ve missed seeing you; I hope you’ve been well. I’d love for you to see the new work from my recent soda firings and an imminent glaze firing! There’ll be new mugs, bowls, persimmon leaf plates, lidded jars, and more new vases, some from my ongoing bird series.

I’m open only by appointment for the near future. A studio sale or kiln opening still feels too risky, but I do hope conditions will improve enough that I can open my studio for drop-ins in the future. Appointments can be for any day of the week, generally between 10 and 6. The best way to reach me for an appointment is:

Home/studio # (calls only): 510-524-7546
Cell # (call or text): 510-890-6395
Via my website: http://marylawpottery.com/contact

Masks are required, and we’ll practice social distancing. We can have a chat in the garden, and there is hand sanitizer as you enter the studio so you may comfortably handle the pots. If you’re feeling unwell, please don’t come. I appreciate your cooperation.

If you know others who would like to visit the studio or see the update, please forward this page to them. I so look forward to seeing you again!

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Image captions: 2-Necked Vase, 2021, soda-fired stoneware, 7"H x 4.5" x 5"; Moody Jar, 2021, soda-fired stoneware, 7.5"H x 5" x 5"; pet portrait plates (plus a llama); Tamrack and his plate; glazed pots in the studio; soda fired wall vase in use.

Spring 2021 Studio Update

Hello, dear friends! I’ve missed seeing you, and I hope you’ve been well. I’ve recently unloaded beautiful soda and glaze firings, and I’d love for you to see my new work. Replenishing my mug stock, which had dwindled in the last year, has been a priority. I’ll have refrigerator storage sets, too, and some new vases, some from my ongoing bird series.

Ceramics Art & Perception issue #116 is now out with an interview of me that has a nice selection of photographs, too. I hope you’ll visit Mansfield Ceramics and check it out. Here's the direct link to buy the CAP magazine: https://www.mansfieldceramics.com/clay-gulgong/shop/magazine/ceramics-art-perception-116/

I’m open only by appointment for the foreseeable future. Appointments can be for any day of the week, generally between 10am and 6pm. A studio sale or kiln opening still feels too risky, but I do hope conditions will improve enough that I can open my studio for drop-ins later in the year. The best way to get in contact for an appointment is:
             Home/studio # (calls only): 510-524-7546
             Cell # (call or text): 510-890-6395
             Via my website: http://www.marylawpottery.com/contact

Masks are required, and we’ll practice social distancing. We can have a chat in the garden, and there is hand sanitizer as you enter the studio so you may handle the pots. If you’re feeling unwell, please don’t come. I appreciate your cooperation.

If you know others who would like to visit the studio or see the update, please forward this page to them. I so look forward to seeing you again!

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Sheep Plate, 2020, soda-fired stoneware, 1”H x 9” x 5.5”. Photo: M. Lee Fatherree; soda fired mugs sitting on the floor of the soda kiln

Studio News

Studio News

       It's been so long since I've seen most of you that I want to send a warm greeting and say that I've really missed you!

       During the last 6 months of relative isolation I continued to make pots in my studio, but at a slower pace (so that I wouldn’t be overrun with pots). I decided to focus on pots that require more time, such as teapots, and take a luxuriously long time making each one, if I wanted. I’ve made at least two dozen new teapots, along with many mugs, plates, bowls and some new vases. I’ve also recently begun a series of stackable food storage containers for use in the fridge, in an effort to reduce our use of plastic. This summer my firing team and I did a soda firing and a glaze firing, so I have lots of new pots in the studio. I’m working now towards another soda firing in October.

       Having a holiday studio sale feels unworkable, so from now until at least the end of this year I’ll be open by appointment only, any day of the week that works for us both. This means there’ll be plenty of opportunities for you to get your holiday shopping done. Masks will be necessary, of course, and I’ll do everything I can to keep  the environment a safe one for us all. I won’t schedule any overlapping appointments. I want us all to stay safe!

The best way to contact me for an appointment is….
            Home/studio # (calls only): 510-524-7546
            Cell # (call or text): 510-890-6395
            Via my website: http://www.marylawpottery.com/contact

Mary Law, Llama Plate, 2020, soda-fired stoneware, 1”H x 6.5” x 7”. Goose Vase, 2020, wheel-thrown, glazed porcelain, 7”H x 4.5” x 6”. Photos: M. Lee Fatherree

Spring 2019 Kiln Opening

Mary Law, Happy Pig Plate, soda-fired stoneware, 6.5" x 7". Photo: M. Lee Fatherree

Kiln Opening

10 a.m.—5 p.m. Saturday & Sunday, May 4 & 5, 2019

I’ve been having fun with my new animal plates, including some pet portraits made by request. I’ll unload both a soda and a glaze kiln into the studio; don’t miss all my brand new work, along with seconds and older stock!

Below are some photos taken in the studio: bisqued, faceted bottles; teapots drying in the sun; finishing off the foot of a bowl after trimming; and in-process pet portrait plates.

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Holiday Sale 2018

Holiday Pottery Sale
Four weekends: November 24 - December 16, 2018
Saturdays & Sundays 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

My holiday pottery sale is here again!

Since my 50 Years in Clay show I’m back in the studio, working on these new basket vases and my ongoing series of animal portrait plates. Studio work is such a pleasure! For first pick of these and of Donna Fenstermaker’s fine paintings, come to our
Opening Party: Friday, November 23, from 6-9 pm.

Here is a link to the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1979481685677909/

I hope to see you all there!
—Mary Law

Mary Law: 50 Years in Clay

Spring 2018 News/Save the Date

This year marks my 50th year making pots!

To celebrate, I’m having an exhibition at
Contra Costa College in September. Therefore,
I won’t be having a studio event this spring.

Since I’m open Saturdays year round, please
drop in any Saturday from May 5 on to see
pots from my spring firings. My hours are
11-5. Call or email to come another day.

Mary Law, Persimmon Leaf  Plates, porcelain, various sizes.  
Photo: M. Lee Fatherree