Shifting Energies

Despite several failed weeding attempts, lack of watering during a sunny stretch, and overall incompetence when it comes to gardening, the veggies are coming forth. Beets were a first attempt and though petite were quite delicious roasted.

 

 

 

 

Is that Van Gogh in the garden?

Chris released the basil plants from their weedy confines. He makes an awesome batch of pesto for freezing and hopefully there is enough fresh basil this year to continue the tradition.

 

 

 The Eastport Pirates invaded Lubec. They came by air (plane), land (motorcycle), and sea (boat).  It was total mayhem at the waterfront.

 

 

 A pirate pulling into town on his Harley.

 

 

Pirates parked their bikes and headed into straight to the pub for a tankard of grog.

 

 

 

Two of the most adorable pirates I 've ever seen!

 

 

I love pulling out Nana's favorite cookbook and looking at her handwritten recipes. She had a sweet tooth for sure.

 

 

 To transition back into artwork I spent a day with a friend photographing factory detritus.

 

 

 Lubec Arts Alive is still working on this year's art installation at the community playground. We had a fabulous team last week help with the installation of the revolving teleidoscope columns and xylophone. With a nice sunny stretch of weather we should be able to get it painted before (gulp) snow flies.

 

 

Lots of carving going on in prep for autumn vending adventures.

 

 

 Kinda melancholy thinking about the possible retirement of one of my favorite work shirts. If you have visited the shop on one of my work days, you have probably caught me clay-covered in this shirt, a bit tattered from years-long wear.

 

 

 

It's 3:30 a.m. and I have been up the past the two and half hours trying to convince myself that sleep is just a few sheep away. Silly me to think such a thing. The energies are shifting and I am feeling it. The air is more crisp and darkness is descending earlier every day. My mind is scattered with too many thoughts and attempts are being made to sort and file. This seems normal for this time of year. As autumn approaches MFA studies resume. The pottery business is still in full swing with a rigorous vending schedule and year-round committee/volunteer work continues. Add in the flurry of family and holiday events and end-of-the season gatherings and there is little time to clear the mind.

 

Yesterday morning I woke with the best of intentions. I looked forward to a day of throwing but when I got into the studio nothing went right. Sometimes that's just how it is. Even with twenty-four years of clay behind me, there are days when everything feels off center. Without internal centering, clay just won't find its way. I finally threw in the proverbial towel and moved onto the more menial tasks of paying bills and cleaning the house. 

 

Afterwards, my sneakers logged five miles: two with my friend Amy and three solo. The first walk was for enjoyment and the second walk goal-oriented. The purpose was to narrow my focus for an upcoming art project and to tackle writing my semester's proposal. When I returned with a somewhat clearer mind I went into the studio, pulled the curtains, lit a candle, and nestled into my thinking nook. All felt serene.

 

At this point I have surmised that what I am really craving is time to create. Introversion and introspection. A couple days ago I spent an afternoon with a friend photographing various factory sites. That has me itching to begin drawing which for me is akin to meditation. Repetition, whether it is weaving, potting, or drawing, helps to focus me and quell some of the voices.

 

Also on my mind is that today is the anniversary of my Nana's passing. The walk yesterday allowed time to focus on her, too. My family was truly blessed by her presence. She was a resilient, hard working, full-of-love woman who was a master of limericks. She could cook like no one's business and break out in a spontaneous jig. I spent many weekends with her as a child and remember fondly our walks across the bridge to Gardiner, gardening, watching Lawrence Welk, making taffy, and craft projects like needlepoint or crocheting. When I say that Nana was resilient, I mean it. Much of her life was spent as a factory worker. As a primarily single parent she raised my mother and did an outstanding job with that task. As one of eleven children in a poor family, her journey presented many obstacles.  Never having a driver's license, she walked at one time sixteen miles a day to and from work until she was gifted a bicycle. She did what she had to do without complaint. I dropped off some work at Lubec Landmarks on Wednesday for their fiber arts show. As a token of honoring Nana I included a tapestry that I made with some of Nana's most worn clothing items.

 

The shifting energies, though turbulent at first, are welcome. It just takes me a while to find my balance. I love this time of year as autumn approaches. I crave the early darkness and wet days that help to calm my spirit. Simple things like eating an apple fresh-picked from a tree remind me of nature's cycles and her precious bounty.

 

Even on the most challenging days, I am honored to be present.

 

 

 

 



Rounding Out Summer with Pottery Production

 My booth set-up in Bar Harbor at the Maine Crafts Guild show.

It's still a work in progress and will no doubt change before next summer's exhibits.

Everything I take to a show has to fit in a tiny Honda Fit!!!

So yes, there are some limitations.

 

 

 Some of my recent Herring Collectors Series work.

The bowls on the bottom shelf are some of my new favorites.

 On our way home a few days ago Chris and I stopped by Liberty Tool Company.

What a fun place!

 

 

 It was such a treat to have an artist-led tour of Sarah Brayman's studio in Brunswick.

The walls and floor were stacked and packed with color!!!

Sarah explains some of her recent encaustic and acrylic paintings.

Love the concept!

 

 

Finally back at the wheel!

The past three weeks were all abut glazing, firing, vending, and travel. Feels good to get all muddy again! I'm just now beginning an intensive throwing schedule in preparation for the next round of shows this fall.

 

 

Chris and I went to the Attila Vural concert at Crow Town Gallery last weekend. What an amazing show! Attila, from Switzerland, is a percussive finger-strumming guitarist. (That's how I think his style is described anyway.) Fred Pierce of Cobscook Bay Music has done a fantastic job of organizing shows this summer. Thanks, Fred! And thank you to Bonnie Beard and Ukey Santos for providing such a beautiful space for the shows!

 

 

 

 

With both Bar Harbor vending engagements behind me I am now enjoying a teeny respite from the travel. Preparing for an out-of-town show is a multi-day project between packing, preparing display, travel to and fro, and the actual sale. The two Bar Harbor shows were less than three weeks apart and that left me with literally no spare time. Sixteen hour days were not uncommon, twelve hour days a given. To celebrate the end of the hub-bub, Chris and I enjoyed an evening out for live music, our first real social event of the summer. If you get a chance, check out the video of Attila Vural (posted above). Phenomenal! My one night back in Lubec was quick, as we hit the road the next morning for a family gathering in central Maine. That short trip was fast-paced as well, but I fit in lots: pottery deliveries, Chris' birthday prep, and time with family.

 

While in central Maine I visited the studio of artist Sarah Brayham. She lives in an artsy little college town in a stately but quite eclectic house with overgrown garden, her eccentric painter partner, and their three Siamese cats. I met Sarah in an encaustics workshop about two years ago. Her work sounded intriguing. And by intriguing, I mean... how many people do you know who use dental x-rays part of their primary creative work?! Sarah's main medium is photography but she also paints with wax and acrylics and in general dabbles with whatever catches her fancy. What I love most about her work is the conceptual component which has some overlaps with my current factory ruins work. I always admire an artist studio that is overflowing with stuff, messily organized (yes, there is such a thing) and full of color. Sarah's studio looked like a burst of genius inspiration (or colorful tornado?) with ideas scattered on the floor, tacked to walls, and stacked on shelves. There was a feast for the eyes in very corner. I think I partly admire this kind of artist environment so much because my own strange work quirks force me to organize my space to create a "clean" palette before starting a new project. I secretly wish I could be so free. Once a project has begun and I am deep into it, the studio becomes a disaster zone, but before I can begin to make the mess, there needs to be no mess. Well, unless we are talking about the cave. That is ALWAYS messy.

So, here I am now, home in Lubec feeling good. There is breathing space. This respite is brief but I'll take it. For the next four days the only thing I need to focus on is pottery production. My mind will focus on the spinning wheel and a few walks with friends. Friday is Lubec Arts Alive stuff and Saturday I pack for farmers market, then soon after I hop back into my Masters' program work. But....no major road travel or vending for a while. The next two venues, other than the weekend market, will be more local four weeks from now. That means no overnight motel events.

As I was sitting in the motel in Bar Harbor one evening I thought about the perception that folks might have who envision me off in a hugely popular touristy coastal Maine town for three days. You would think that I would be enjoying the sights and shops and living it up, in a manner of speaking, in a nice hotel space with all kinds of amenities and ritzy meals. The reality of being a crafter on the road is quite the opposite. At least in my experience and what I see of the others I vend alongside. Some tent, some sleep in cars, and at the end of the day, tired bodies just want to flop and sleep. Here is how my three days went....

After a few days of hustling around the house getting pottery glazed, fired, and packed, I hit the road at 7:30 a.m. on a Wednesday morning after only three hours of sleep. Along the way, I went to the bank for change and the market for food. My cheap motel accommodations did have a microwave and small fridge which makes eating on the road much cheaper. At 11:00 a.m. I checked into the motel to snag my key. I dropped off my clothing bag to lighten the car load and scooted over to the venue to begin setting up at noon. Vendors are focused and scurrying to get vehicles unpacked and booths set up. At 3:45 I finished my set-up and all sweaty and messy I drove the twelve miles back to the motel to grab a super quick shower. After 45 minutes in the motel room (glorious!) I hopped back in car and drove to the venue which opened at 5:00. Patrons filtered in through the night and at 9:00 p.m. we closed shop. I drove back to my room where I flopped on the bed to eat my lean cuisine frozen meal for supper while checking email and calling Chris.

The next morning I ate a microwave breakfast sandwich before heading off to the venue. I greeted visitors and talked about my work for the next seven hours. Lunch was crackers and cheese, easy to sneak a few bites in between booth visitors. After the venue closed, I made a trip to a filling station to add air to the leaking front tire. (Time to renew AAA perhaps?). I grabbed some cheap Chinese take-out and ate it in the motel room while spending three and a half hours working on a volunteer project on my laptop.

I'm sure someone somewhere was having fun.

Just as I finished up and was ready to crash for the night, the people in the room next to me decided to have a super loud screaming match. I sat with the phone nearby ready to call 911 should it progress physically. More people ran downstairs to the room and joined in on the hollering. This went on for about 45 minutes, ending a bit after midnight, followed by loud laughter and music. I guess they all made-up.

In the morning I checked out of my room and drove back into Bar Harbor for the final day of vending. The last day was much busier. I met a lot of interesting people and had some great conversations about pottery. Lunch was delivered to my booth thanks to $9 in meal tickets compliments of the guild. I found a chair and sat down for the first time during the three day show. The show ended at 4:00 p.m. and as the doors closed vendors immediately went into scurry mode as they broke down their booths and packed their wares. It took me about two and a half hours to pack up and that was the speedy version thanks to a couple teens who offered to lug boxes for tips. With a full-packed car once again, I made the trek back up route one toward home. Along the way I pumped-up the leaky tire, filled myself with caffeine and a pizza slice for the long drive,  and rolled along route 1 toward Lubec. I made it into port at 9:30 p.m., greeted by Chris, Bello, and Bouli.

This year I have planned a lot of vending venues but only four of them involve enough distance that I am away from home for a few nights. I am testing the waters this year and still juggling my MFA program with work. Next year as the MFA starts to wind down I will add in a few more venues. I am accruing lots of advice from vendors who have been on the circuit for years and making changes accordingly. There is a lot of learning to be done and I am a "newbie" as they say.

So, I am back into production mode to prepare for the next round of shows that spark the holiday season. Here and there I have sat in my thinking nook and thought how much I am looking forward to the transition back into the sculpting, drawing, and painting with wax. It is a shifting of gears but more so a juggling act in the fall. The shop is still open into December and November will prove to be one of my busiest ever with venues in both Augusta and Brewer plus my annual holiday sale here and local holiday craft events.

The pottery and art cycles with the seasons. Last winter, except for the marathon awards project, I worked full time (and then some!) on my artwork rather than pottery. It's a whole different experience and process, though both are equally satisfying to my artist soul.

It is, simply put, amazing to be able to work with my hands at something I feel called to do. It is not "easy", and I put in more work hours than ever before in my forty-four years, but I feel so incredibly blessed to be living this life and doing something that so fully nurtures my being.

And on that note, it is time to get a warm bucket of water and head for the cave.

 



 

One Year later.....

If looking for something coastal and artsy to do mid week next week...come see me at the 4th Annual Bar Harbor Fine Crafts Show!

 

 

Three Dog Farm's yummy radishes at the Lubec Open Air Market

Saturday mornings, 9-11 a.m.

 

 

Bello hanging out in our garden. The garden has grown a lot since this pic was taken. Primarily weeds...but happy to report that we are enjoying plenty of kale, swiss chard, basil, and we just ate the first tomato and pea pod yesterday!

 

 

 

Chris giving it his best shot at saving the garden from a complete takeover by weeds.

 

 

Lisa Dellwo's encaustic piece that was created during a workshop that I presented a couple weeks ago.

http://dellwo.zenfolio.com/

 

 

Lisa Tyson Ennis working on an encaustic piece with embedded porcupine quills during a workshop that I presented a couple weeks ago.

http://www.lisatysonennis.com/

 

 

 Be sure not to miss this!

DIFFERENT and DIVERSE

Ann Rosebrooks and Jean Bookman artworks on exhibit at Lubec Landmarks

August 1-13, 2013

The opening was fabulous - show looks great. Check it out!!

 

 

 Greta Bell's R/evolving Circus at West Quoddy Visitor Center

A bicycle powered community storybook!

Greta's traveling carousel displays revolving paintings powered by her bike. While the images spin, Greta tells stories associated with the objects.

Watch this wonderful short video about the project!

 

 

 Mixing encaustic medium made up of melted beeswax and dammar resin.

 

 

Live music at this summer's Lubec Open Air Market has been a mainstay. Fred Pierce of Cobscook Bay Music has done a wonderful job organizing and Summer Keys faculty and students offer up their talents, too!

 

 

Last weekend's Lubec Market started out with three musicians and it quickly grew to six. I don't know everyones  name, and everyone was awesome, but have to mention that the young fiddler from North Carolina was incredible - such talent at such a young age!!! And the guest appearance by Liz Rogers was such a wonderful surprise.

Had a great time vending my wares in Bar Harbor at the Maine Crafts Guild MDI Directions show. Thirty-eight years running and chock full of amazing artisans from all over Maine! I'll be back in Bar Harbor with my pottery in a couple weeks at the Maine Crafts Guild Bar Harbor Show, August 14-16 at the Atlantic Oceanside Hotel and Conference Center. Swing on by and say hi if you're in the area!

It's been a while since I last blogged. I do believe that life has been a wee bit hectic of late. It has been just about one year to the day that I decided to toss in the towel on school teaching and embark on the full time potter/artist journey. Even though I had been working as a potter/artist for many years, I had not fully committed myself due to teaching. Hindsight, I have no regrets. It has been an amazing year, one of self-discovery.

I was able to take some time during the winter months to put the bulk of my energies toward my Master's work. I got a taste of being "the artist" for a bit and boy oh boy it sure was tantalizing. Now that summer has hit and I am in the throws of tourist season and vending craft shows, I am thinking that this coming winter I will need to balance my schedule a bit more so that I can focus as well on the functional works in preparation for next summer. I have always had a hearty work ethic and putting in extra hours does not deter me, but I must admit that I had no full idea of what it takes to be a potter by trade. The work sells as fast as it exits the kiln and commission jobs pile up quick. You would think potters would be rich due to this fact, but no, it just isn't so. It is a labor of love. In the summer, tending shop and traveling to shows is full time work in and of itself. I think if I tweak my ratio of pottery to art this coming winter, then I will be able to find a reprieve from the sixteen hour work days and maybe...just maybe...be able to add in a bit play. Summer is short here in Maine, best not waste it!

Things are moving along and each day is meaningful. In-between greeting shop visitors I manage to pot and carve. People are usually greeted by a messy, clay-covered, holey and glaze-stained shirted me and somehow they are (usually) brave enough to stick around for a while to check out the pottery. I have to embarrassingly say once in a while that I clean up well. At least I think I do. On days I am away for business Chris graciously takes over shop duties. He sets up his writing space in the downstairs and greets visitors as they arrive. I know it isn't ideal for his writing sessions so I surely do appreciate his willingness to help.

The past month or so was a flurry of activity. Lubec Arts Alive happened but is still in progress. Dealing with weather and a small committee with scattered schedules has been a challenge. The project is super cool but is taking just a bit longer to bring to fruition than anticipated. It seemed that we were working against the tide to pull the project together but are so grateful that we have had the assistance of artist John McMurray. If you want to create something funky and fun that moves...he's the expert on it! 

While trying to get LAA up and running, I noticed lots of other little things not going exactly as planned. And even more specifically, almost everything technological started to kick out on us. I jokingly said "what is it...Mercury in retrograde?" Well...I found out that indeed it was! I always thought I was exempt from this astrological phenomenon and quite frankly did not put much stock in....that was until this past month. Let's see. This summer we have dealt with broken printer, computer, lawnmower, credit card machine, telephone system, cable, and CD player. Aside from that, postal deliveries went awry, supply orders showed up damaged, and just in general plans did not work out. It got to one point that I went to market to stock up on a few days' groceries with the intention of not leaving the house for a while until the universe settled itself down a bit.

All else seems to be going well, though. The Lubec Open Air Market has been a beautiful, yummy, musically-delightful presence downtown this summer. I love seeing the faces of friends who return from far-off places and the general energy is very uplifting. Lots of smiles and hugs and catching-up.

I am pulled away fairly often with pottery business and a couple weeks ago I had my first Bar Harbor vending experience. The crafters at the MDI Directions show were amazing. I left feeling that I really need to step-up my game as far as booth display. Still, I need to work within the parameters of a teeny economy car. So, yes, there are limitations. I also need to tweak which work I choose to represent me to the greater audience. There is a learning curve, but I am learning. I return to Bar Harbor next week for another fine craft venue with the Maine Crafts Guild. I am working pretty steadily to rebuild stock in time for travel. Kiln is firing as I write this entry and as soon as I post, I go back to glazing for three more firings before I hit the road.

I best get back to work!

Forgive me if I don't take the time to edit grammar and spelling!!!

Note:

VisitLubecMaine website just updated their website. It is a fairly comprehensive resource for lodging, dining, and shopping in Lubec. Also, for a listing of cultural events in the area, visit CulturePass site.

 

 

Racing into Summer

Workshop with Shanna Wheelock

Introduction to Encaustic Painting

 

 

Encaustic, meaning "to burn in" is a method of painting with a mixture of beeswax, tree resin, and pigment that dates back thousands of years. Medium is applied in a molten liquid state to prepared substrate, painted in layers and heat-fused. This one day introductory workshop is perfect for beginners who want to learn the basics. We’ll cover history, safety, materials, tools, equipment, substrate preparation, color application, layering, fusing, scraping and buffing, mark-making, etching, transfers, and pigment sticks. No previous art experience necessary. Materials are provided. All you need to bring is lunch/snacks/drink and an apron or paint shirt.

 

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Tuition: $185 (includes materials)

Pre-registration is required.

Book your spot now. Limited space available.

$35 non-refundable materials fee due at time of registration

To register or for more info, email me at:

shanna@shannawheelock.com

 

Click here to find a Downloadable PDF file on my website under "Upcoming Events and News"

 

 

 

Jeff Griffiths was the first 10k runner to cross the line at the Bay of Fundy International Marathon.

 

 

Our friend Joe Phelan ran the 10k and placed 4th in his age category. Congrats, Joe!



This young man from San Diego got the crowd roaring when he crossed the finish line after running 26 miles in the Bay of Fundy International Marathon.  He was the first marathoner to greet the crowd but since he was an "early start runner" he didn't qualify in an official way. I am not sure how long it actually took him, but I was impressed!

 

I've been enjoying picking small bouquets of wildflowers for my mini vases.

 

 

 A portion of my pottery display at the Bay of Fundy Marathon EXPO.

 

 

The Lubec Arts Alive mural has a new home on the wall of Lubec Landmarks.

 

Lubec Arts Alive 2013

Saturday, July 6th

1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the

Lubec Elementary School Community Playground

 

Kids - come make your own teleidoscopes!

Under 10 requires parent or guardian.

FREE and all materials will be supplied!

 

This year, LAA is working on an interactive sculpture for the kids. The six-foot tall revolving teleidoscope sculpture will be installed on the playground. The completion of the project will occur in stages, starting on July 6th and ending later this summer. During the initial installation, we invite kids to show up and learn how to make their own teleidoscopes which are similar to kaleidoscopes but rather than utilize baubles inserted into the tube, the fractalized images are made by reflections of the surroundings such as nature or people! Very nifty!

 

 

John McMurray in his studio helping out Lubec Arts Alive with this summer's project. The two axles shown here will allow the tall sculptures to rotate.

Photo by Karen Burke.

 

Someone caught me working at something other than the wheel! Jean Bookman and I are cutting a sona tube to length for the revolving teleidoscope sculpture that will be installed at the community playground at Lubec Elementary School.

Photo by Karen Burke.

 

 

John McMurray, Jean Bookman, and Karen Burke test the teleidoscopes that will be inserted into the taller six-foot revolving towers. Thanks, Nate Rosenbrooks, for doing the  research and prototype for us. 

 

The Lubec Market is up and running! Come on down on Saturdays from 9-12 to get your fill of great homegrown veggies, baked goods, meats, music, and of course....pottery!

 

 

 Live music is always a bonus at the Lubec Market. On opening day we enjoyed the soulful strumming of Bradley Trafton and Fred Pierce. Thanks, Fred, for organizing the music again this year! Cobscook Bay Music

 

 

Delicious radishes from Three Dog Farm at the Lubec Market.

 

 

Found in our front field.

 

 

I have not been able to keep up with blogging the past few weeks and because of that all kinds of great things have accumulated that I want to tell you about! First of all, the Lubec Market had a very successful season opener on June 15th! It was great to return to my 100 square foot space nestled between Claire's baked goodies and Herbminders of Maine. Tide Mill Farm and Three Dog Farm were there with all kinds of fresh garden goodies and Olde Sow Farm and Garden Side Dairy yummy cheeses and other dairy. Loring returned with his handmade birdhouses and me with my pottery. Fred Pierce is at it again bringing live music to our little but lively market. Opening day we were serenaded by the soulful guitar strummings of Fred and his accomplice Bradley Trafton.

 

This past weekend Lubec and Campobello Island hosted the first ever Bay of Fundy International Marathon. Chris and I were honored to attend to pre-race reception where Roosevelt's Cottage served a most delicious spread. It was heartening to realize just how many hand and hearts had to work together to make this unique event happen, from political dignitaries to town officials and the many volunteers who gave their time. It was such an honor to be a part of the process by making the awards and such a thrill to meet the runners as they registered at the EXPO the day before the race. It was interesting to me how uncompetitive the runners seemed.  For most, it was about accomplishing a great feat for their own personal fulfillment. As runners crossed the finish-line I felt my own excitement build and from me burst quite a few hoots and hollers, sharing in their joy of making it to the finish. The two weeks leading up to the race I felt like I had my  own mini marathon going on. I was at the wheel and carving and glazing for days on end and with Chris' help we got six bisque and glaze firings accomplished with some gorgeous results. Vending two days in a row at two different locations on about three hours of sleep a night was not optimal, but the energy of the marathon kept us going.

 

I was glad to have yesterday to decompress, enjoy brunch with a friend, and time with Chris where we weren't trying to meet a deadline. Today I got back into the studio but with this humid heat things are slow-going. The next three weeks will be pedal to the metal so to say as I prepare for the MDI Directions show in Bar Harbor July 26-28. This will be my first time selling in Bar Harbor with the Maine Crafts Guild and I am very excited to be spending three days there with about eighty awesome artisans. I showed with the guild last fall in Augusta where I was juried into the organization. My booth needed some tweaking and I have made a lot of changes that I am looking forward to debuting. It's a wild vending schedule for me this year with nearly every weekend scheduled until October. August and November will test my stamina for sure.

 

Lubec Arts Alive is busy working behind the scenes. We are very excited to be creating a sculpture for the kids and while gather main artwork will happen in stages, we invite the kids to join us on July 6th at the school community playground to learn how to create their own super nifty teleidoscopes. I posted the info for that above. Any questions, just give me a holler.

 

Other than pottery and Lubec Arts Alive, I am preparing to teach an encaustics workshop on July 17th here in Lubec. I have to plan for supplies in advance, so if you are planning on attending, get in touch with me ASAP. I can't wait to share this medium with others - which is perfect not only for painterly types, but for those who are looking for something new to try with their photography or as a surface treatment for their sculpture. Click here for workshop info.

 

I am sitting in my favorite chair enjoying a refreshing breeze as it filters through the half-shaded window. The humidity is astounding today and a far-cry from the super cool we felt just a week ago. The heavy greying sky is foretelling of a doozy of a thunder boomer. The cats are sprawled out on the floor searching for some ground level relief and the crows are going about their usual business of cawing loudly and tending their nests. I bet the marathoners sure are glad they aren't running today!

 



 

 

 

 

Catch Cobscook Pottery at one of these locations this summer!

 

 

Maine Crafts Guild at MDI Directions 2013 

July 26-28

Mount Desert High School, Mount Desert Maine

Click here for more info

 

Maine Crafts Guild at Bar Harbor 2013

August 14-16

Atlantic Oceanside Hotel and Conference Center

Click here for more info

 

Lubec Market

Downtown Lubec

Saturdays beginning June 15th

9am-12pm

Last summer the market was a huge hit! Lots of great fresh produce, cheeses, baked goods, crafts, and live music!

I'll be here most Saturdays unless it's pouring rain or I am out of town  for another show.

 

Cobscook Pottery

North Lubec Road, Lubec, Maine

(just down the road from Artworks of Maine and McFadden's Market)

OPEN most days in the summer. Look for the OPEN flag (and sign!)

I am potting most days in the summer, so if you show up to shop, be warned that I will most likely be clay-covered and wheel-dizzied!

We're tucked away off the beaten path. If traveling from a distance, feel free to call or email first to be sure that we are open. To send an email, use this contact form.

 

Also.... find Cobscook Pottery at these Maine locations

Ironbound Gallery, Camden

Center for Maine Craft, West Gardiner

Northern Tides, Lubec

Red Sleigh, Perry

The Commons, Eastport

 

 

Summer Schedule Kicking In

Spark Plug at Low Tide

Shanna Wheelock, 2013

We are never at a loss for foggy mornings in Lubec.

 

 

Mark your calendar for these Summer Events!

Cobscook Pottery will be selling on location!

 

 

 

Bay of Fundy Marathon EXPO

Saturday, June 22, Noon-7pm

Lubec School Gymnasium

I made the awards for the marathon - eighteen handcarved top-placement awards, and eighty-four handcarved medallions. I'll be at the EXPO with my Herring Collectors Series pottery.

 

Bay of Fundy Marathon Race Day Celebration

Sunday, June 23, 9-?

Downtown Lubec

(I'll be with the Lubec Market folks across from the library)

 

Maine Crafts Guild at MDI Directions 2013 

July 26-28

Mount Desert High School, Mount Desert Maine

Click here for more info

 

Maine Crafts Guild at Bar Harbor 2013

August 14-16

Atlantic Oceanside Hotel and Conference Center

Click here for more info

 

Lubec Market

Downtown Lubec

Saturdays beginning June 15th

9am-12pm

Last summer the market was a huge hit! Lots of great fresh produce, cheeses, baked goods, crafts, and live music!

I'll be here most Saturdays unless it's pouring rain or I am out of town  for another show.

 

Cobscook Pottery

North Lubec Road, Lubec, Maine

(just down the road from Artworks of Maine and McFadden's Market)

OPEN most days in the summer. Look for the OPEN flag (and sign!)

I am potting most days in the summer, so if you show up to shop, be warned that I will most likely be clay-covered and wheel-dizzied!

We're tucked away off the beaten path. If traveling from a distance, feel free to call or email first to be sure that we are open. To send an email, use this contact form.

 

Also.... find Cobscook Pottery at these Maine locations

Ironbound Gallery, Camden

Center for Maine Craft, West Gardiner

Northern Tides, Lubec

Red Sleigh, Perry

The Commons, Eastport

 

 

 Guardian

Ceramic, Shanna Wheelock, 2013

Mowry Beach, Lubec, Maine

 

 

Exposed: Series 3, #6

Encaustic, Shanna Wheelock, 2013

 

 

Factory C, Lubec, Maine

Digital Photo, Shanna Wheelock. 2013

 

 

 from the series:

Between the Silence

Ceramic, found objects

Shanna Wheelock, 2013

 

 

 

The calm before the storm. That's what today is. I've never been one to shun a good storm, and we certainly  have had plenty of that in the literal sense the past few weeks, but I am talking about the whirlwind of summer that is about to begin. Yesterday and today I am sighing a huge breath of release as several deadlines hit me all at once and now that each of those projects has come to closure, I am enjoying a couple days with my family before kicking it into high gear at the wheel. Wednesday marks the first big production day for summer pottery and this summer's schedule will prove to be the most rigorous that I have taken on, ever. Just running the shop and stocking a few Maine galleries is a full-time job, but packing wares to hit the road adds a whole other dimension. As hectic as it gets, I love it. I love it all.

 

This past weekend I packed up the car and drove about 260 miles to Kennebunk where I presented my semester's work at Heartwood College of Art. I am now in my 7th semester in the low residency/part-time MFA (Master of Fine Arts) program. Three more semesters to go and I will have those three capital letter positioned finely on my list of curriculum vitae doings. As I head into the final three semesters and the onset of my thesis work, I will be honing my personal philosophies and a body of work that represents where I am at this point in my life as an artist. I am looking forward to the couple months this summer without school work to give my noggin some recharge time, but I know that in between pots and love-peace mantras, I will be mentally formalizing my ideas.

 

That's the thing about artists...whether visual, musical, poetic...artists are ALWAYS thinking. We have these OPEN 24 HOURS kinds of brains that seriously never stop. We even dream our art. I'll admit it, even when you are having a conversation with me, my mind is juggling our conversation with ideas. When I take a walk, you know, that relaxing space of time when I am communing with nature....my mind is creating compositions and wondering what little nugget of found debris on the side of the road might be a springboard for a new piece. I guess we can use that cliché (in reference to being an artist) it is "not a job, it is a lifestyle."

 

I was relieved to finally finish up the four months of Bay of Fundy Marathon awards work. It is no big surprise, I underestimated my time for the project. Every award, including the eighty-four medallions, is handcarved. I am pleased with how they turned out and am excited about the marathon placers being able to accept an award that was made with love and care, and that these pieces will travel all over the world. I am thankful to the marathon committee who selected me to create the awards for this first year event, and that I was able to inject my own artistic voice by offering my Herring Collectors Series design. Marathon week is coming up quick and I have lots of work to prepare before the EXPO on the 22nd. Lubec has not seen such a mass of people in our little town since Chris and I have lived here. What a fabulous vision Katherine Cassidy had for our  little town. She should be so proud to see her idea come to fruition. Lubec will never be the same!

 

And speaking of our little fishing village, things in general are coming to life. Summer Keys begins in a couple weeks, the farmer's market, lots of live concerts, restaurants are open and serving eclectic and delicious meals, new shops are opening. When we first moved here it was a ghost town. Now, Lubec is found in all kids of travel destination magazines and national newspaper articles, including June's issue of Down East Magazine. It's amazing to be living here to see this transition, the revitalization of a town that was, only ten years ago, desolate and depressed. The people here are strong. They have endured a lot of hardships, but somehow like the phoenix they have risen up out of the flames.