brown & round

Introducing #17

2012-01-29T19:36:00.001-05:00

Even though cattle are very social animals, you can usually pick a couple out of a mob that don't always stay with the herd. Some are a little less common, a little uglier, a little prettier, there is something special about them. While everyone else is french braiding amongst each other, sorting themselves the only way they know how with their distinctively bovine compass, No. 17 is looking at the ground. Almost like she is trying to decide which blade of grass she is going to ruminate next.

I feel like No. 17 is going to be a special girl.

I intend to follow her a little closer than the rest of the herd, update her status on here with photos and comments. I think I can learn something from her.

She is a 487# portable sauerkraut vat. She thinks she may be ready to get pregnant sometime in June, waiting for the right fella to come a long - nothing long term. By then she should be about 650-700#.

I intend to keep her for a while, hopefully getting several calves from her. No doubt No. 17 will be all over the pastures for the next several years, eating grass and keeping to herself. She will be on the pastures and on the pottery.

Revealing

2011-12-13T09:29:00.000-05:00

I have been noticing recently how the food we eat relates to the pottery it is in.

Particularly how food can conceal, reveal, accentuate, or detract from the overall design of the work. There is always a dance going on between the pottery and the food whether you like it or not.

It is time based performance art!

Love

2011-10-09T23:10:00.000-04:00

Montgomery, AL.

she fed me

2011-08-21T14:07:00.000-04:00

Strictly Functional 2011!

2011-07-21T18:46:00.001-04:00

Simmons potter will be "Bowling" into The Strictly Functional Pottery National Exhibit this year in PA!

The letter I got said there were over 800 entries and 110 were accepted! One was mine!

Notice all of exclamations? I'm so excited!

Below is the piece I got accepted. This years juror was Mary Barringer. Thanks, Mary.

Feeder

2011-07-07T21:13:00.000-04:00

The Gump

2011-06-25T21:32:00.000-04:00

Donkey Mug.

1949

2011-06-23T21:38:00.001-04:00

Crib modification.

Here's a little shop talk. Melissa and I inherited a crib that my Memaw and Papa bought new from Sears in 1949 for their firstborn. Since then it has comforted over 10 children in the family. Along with a rich heritage, it had a few loose screws/bent parts, and a lot of the vertical wooden gate posts were very loose.

I wood-glued and clamped the gates so they were solid again. Then I took out the old springs and parts that once let the gates go up and down and snap into place at 5 different adjustments.

How did I fix the gates? I couldn't let them slide up and down freely on the rods, I mean we are talking precious little fingers and toes.

Set screws people, set screws. Set screws hold the world together, and with a simple allen head wrench the gates on this bed are infinitely adjustable. My friend Jon suggested that I drill a little hole in the allen wrench and run a chain through it and attach it to the bed frame for the baby to play with. Not a bad idea.

One thing I like about things that were built in 1949 is that you can work on them. There is no plastic or clippy things on this bed, it's all wood and metal and it's American Made.

Texas

2011-06-16T09:34:00.000-04:00

Melissa got a week off from work so we are visiting family in Texas this week. First stop was in Atlanta, TX with the Simmons side, now we are in Sulphur Bluff with the Lamborn side. This is a pick from the ranch, the cows are very happy.

Tip Please! (vol. 1)

2011-06-08T16:59:00.000-04:00

I have decided to semi-regularly give un-solicited tips to artists and potters alike. These tips are probably going to be sarcastic or funny. I love it when people give me tips, so heres some tips of my own.

Tip #1:

Don't talk about the inherent qualities of the materials you use.

Baby Birds

2011-06-02T13:35:00.000-04:00

Things Against Stuff

2011-05-29T12:52:00.005-04:00

Over the last few days I have been asking myself -"Why do I pay so much energy and attention to making pots?" and, "Why does pottery seem so important to me?"

Now, I like talkin' grand scheme, so...

In the grand scheme of THINGS, things that are made to contain other things are at the very bottom rung of importance. Think chinese buffet to-go clam shell styrofoam boxes. I'm talkin' down there with smart cars, mtv, or the washington redskins. Things of rock bottom importance.

Essentially, people are eating their food and drinking their coffee out of trash.

In our culture, containers have been reduced to u-haul, starbucks, and wal-mart sacks. The containers we use are an accurate indicator of how Corporatism has consumed our culture (please don't commonly confuse corporatism with capitalism here).

One of the main reasons I love making pottery is because of how the pottery itself is at least equal in value to its contents. It restores basic human dignity by keeping us from eating off of trash.

There is an excellent show CLICK HERE that is exclusively ceramic containers, check it out and BUY HANDMADE, or go buy a redskins jersey.

The Cup

2011-05-26T11:03:00.001-04:00

I have put aside 4 of my favorite mugs for an exhibit at the only and the one Crimson Laurel Gallery in Bakersville, NC this November.

D is for Dragracing

2011-05-23T21:23:00.000-04:00

I just finished a list of letters from the alphabet in my sketchbook that I am going to turn into educational paintings.

All 26 of them! it was difficult narrowing down all of the great words, it takes some commitment!

Because of all the wasted words I may do 26 rejected words.

A is for America

B is for Bob Dylan

C is for Chair

D is for Dragracing

Step Right Up, Come On In

2011-05-15T20:31:00.001-04:00

The show/sale ended up to be a lot of fun! I have uploaded a video tour of the exhibit. It was very fun seeing all of my favorite Johnson City people and to have a final show downtown before the move to Montgomery. It was a pleasure to work with fellow exhibitors Charlie Haskins and John Hathaway. Jason Sabbides was able to show a few pieces, but was mostly out of commission because of a very pregnant wife! Best of luck to them.

We ended up showing more than six hundred pieces for the one night show, and I was proud of how it all turned out.

A sequel to the 2010 exhibit Canked, 2011's Son of Canked was quite a pleasure.

CityFest

2011-05-09T08:18:00.001-04:00

This clip is from the Montgomery Advertiser yesterday. Pretty cool!

CityFest a big hit with area residents

2:21 AM, May. 8, 2011 |
Comments

John Simmons sells his pottery during the 25th annual Prattville CityFest. / Mickey Welsh

Written by

Matt Okarmus
mokarmus@gannett.com

FILED UNDER
News
Local News

Screaming Beauty

2011-05-01T12:42:00.000-04:00

Below are some photos of new cups that I am excited and curious about. After making mostly tile 6 slip decorated pots for several years it is refreshing to glaze pots. Glazeware will always have a special place in my heart. I particularly like the gestural quality of the 'drawings'.

Something about Cone 10 Reduction glazed pots (or, C10RG as some call it) screams beauty. Isn't that a curious statement? Screaming beauty?

2011, the year of screaming beauty.

I made, glazed, and fired these during my 'residency' at Fork Mountain Pottery this winter.

Son of Canked

2011-04-29T19:47:00.000-04:00

Come and see some of my new work along with Charlie Haskins and The Rain Dogs, Jason Sabbides, and John Hathaway. A full spectrum (hundreds!) of paintings, drawings, pottery, and photography will be on exhibit in downtown Johnson City.

BEWARE PINKWARE

2011-04-24T21:38:00.002-04:00

My L&L '85 has had a much needed upgrade. Before and after pics below.

I can't wait to hear these new relays clicking and clacking my greenware to the next level. See: new relays, wires, and connectors from this century.

I love my manual kiln, it's knobs go to infinity.

Friday the 13th

2011-04-22T14:55:00.000-04:00

I am busy making new work for this show/sale that is scheduled for Friday the 13th of May, 2011 in Downtown Johnson City at the Tipton Gallery. All work will be for sale at reasonable prices, so come see and take home some art!

the lineup-

Son of Canked: John Simmons, Charlie Haskins and The Rain Dogs, Jason Sabbides, and John Hathaway.

Banana Nut Bread (pot in action)

2011-04-17T10:50:00.000-04:00

Last night I made a loaf of Banana Nut Bread in my new Barking Spider Pottery dish! It was completely delicious and half of it is already gone.

something happening

2011-04-07T15:16:00.001-04:00

Things are busy around the shop, gearing up to do a little glazing as I finish up pots for my final Tennessee kiln firing.

I am having a show in May with fellow painters Charlie Haskins and Jason Sabbides - Son of Canked.

Source Material

2011-03-26T18:41:00.000-04:00

Rutherford B. Hayes "I am a radical in thought and principle, and a conservative in method and conduct."

Siamese Twin Birds - I guess there are too many siamese cats in the world and not enough other animals, I plan on changing that.

Ninefruit Jar - Galations 5:22

Ninefruits

2011-03-24T01:08:00.001-04:00

I am working on a new design of a stackable bowl. I can never make enough decent, simple, stacking cereal-sized bowls. To me, simpler pots are the ones with more dignity.

::a bit of an excerpt from my thesis paper last spring::

In a piece I call the Ninefruit Bowls I feel the subject is easily identified. On nine small fruit-sized bowls I drew nine different fruits. The bowls are symbols of gifts that God has given to all people. In Scripture, Galatians 5:22 says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." This is an example of how my drawings can be allegorical. A dietician would recommend a small bowl of fresh fruit every day for your body, and a minister would prescribe scripture to feed the soul. These small bowls are the simplest forms I make; I believe they are also the most practical. They were made to serve.

Snake Jar

2011-03-21T22:09:00.000-04:00

The battery in my camera is dead and between here and Montgomery we can't find the charger. So, I've managed to capture a few photos on my laptop using Photo Booth. These are a couple of new pieces I am working on, covered jar type forms.

Where there's clouds don't mean there's rain,

Tears in my eyes don't mean there's pain.

SNAKE JAR

Teapots, etc.

2011-03-07T18:34:00.001-05:00

I am busy making teapots, bottles, covered jars, and about to start on some bowls. Being here in the mountains makes me want to keep things simple, clean, and easy. There is a bit of a shift in my vision, not sure what it is from. I'm not as concerned with putting imagery on the pottery and that dictating what it is (monkey bottle, etc.) as much as I am making and seeing the pottery and trying to react and compliment the forms and subtle elements of the pots with whatever decoration I go with.

Michael Simon is a potter who did this. I know he has influenced a lot of the potters in this area and it echos in their work. This teapot I made is certainly influenced by his work, a lot of the pots I am making now seem to be.

Back to the wheel...

Turner Porcelain (white and round)

2011-03-06T13:34:00.001-05:00

I am house/studio/dog/cat sitting for Barking Spider Pottery. Jon and Becki have graciously let me use their wonderful studio while they are away.

So far I've pounded through 50lbs of Tom Turners Porcelain. It is a real pleasure to work with. More on what I am making later.

Etsy is up!

2011-02-14T08:18:00.000-05:00

My etsy site is up. CHECK. IT. OUT.

Buy handmade!

etsy site launch monday

2011-02-12T16:25:00.000-05:00

This cup, others like it, bowls, pitchers, drawings on paper, and a whole multitude of other new work from the studio will be available for sale exclusively on etsy for two weeks from Feb. 14th thru Feb. 25th.

on to the next one.

2011

2011-02-11T10:32:00.003-05:00

The year of the rabbit when year of the rabbit wasn't cool. This is a mug from my last firing in Nov. of 2010.

Making Vol. 2

2011-02-10T22:11:00.010-05:00

These are some of the pots I made during my stint at Fork Mountain Pottery.

teapots

cups with trigger handles

same cups with my best Kline vines

Same Cups.

thin tile #6 over vine patterns.

same cups.

My hope is that the vines will provide subtle background for the featured drawings, an illusion of depth.

This is an excerpt from my thesis support paper I wrote last spring.

CHAPTER 5

SUBJECT AND OBJECT

"I start a picture and I finish it. I don't think about art while I work. I try to think

about life” (Jean Michel Basquiat).

...Early Native-American mimbres pottery was drawn on for several reasons, one of which was ritual, mostly pertaining to burial processions. Some of the drawings are just records of what was happening - a fishing trip, a successful hunt, or maybe an exciting birth in the village. They drew on their pots what was relevant to them at the time. This is what I am trying to do with my drawings: recording things that are important to me - even though some of them may be fantasy.

I try to capture the connection between life and objects in my artwork. The pottery is the

object and the images are life. The choice to make objects that serve a function fortifies my

attempts to convey life...

more later.

Love, John

12 X 12

2011-01-15T12:51:00.003-05:00

Well, I have spent the morn getting settled into my temporary home at Fork Mountain Pottery. This morning I decided to do a little 12 X 12 action...that is, 12 pots by Noon 12.

These were thrown off the hump (I don't even have an electric toothbrush, its good to have one if you are trying to throw off the hump...trust me) and they will be trimmed and a trigger handle will be put on them.

ROAR

Student Work

2010-12-31T15:17:00.007-05:00

These are a few of the things my students made last semester:

Z. Breazzeale - Intro to Drawing

C. Neal - 2D Design

Sketchbook assignment for Intro. to Drawing

C. Bateman - Intro to Drawing

A. Stutts - Intro to Drawing

L. Arbogast - 2D Design

C. Bateman - Intro to Drawing

Detail

my intro to drawing class in-class exercise with 5 foot drawing poles. (self-poletrait assignment)

Winterizer

2010-12-13T11:07:00.004-05:00

It is winterizer time in Johnson City, for the next several weeks I will be bundled up working on some new drawings/paintings/mixed media type work. The clay is just too cold! Just finished a drawing of George Washington (detail photo) and working on a new one called The Conversation.

Rye

2010-11-27T09:37:00.003-05:00

The fourth time was a charm with my bread making experiment. This steaming loaf of rye came out just right! and just in time for some breakfast(with a little room temp. butter, which I like to call RTB- not so commonly to be confused with RJB) Thanks Michael Kline for the recipe and tips for making a killer loaf. One day I am going to be a real bread maker.

Brick Clay

2010-11-24T16:54:00.003-05:00

This is a picture from summer 2010 when Naldo and I were getting brick clay at the now shut down brick factory, General Shale here in Johnson City. It takes a lot of clay to make bricks.

Marketeer

2010-11-19T20:15:00.005-05:00

Set up and ready for the market tomorrow in Marshall.

Thanks Michael for the 'peds'.

Books!

Newness

2010-11-17T18:41:00.002-05:00

each working cycle produces new drawings, new forms, new ideas, a lot of new. After a good day at MK's I'm back home and trying to get through all the new work grading it, wet sanding, and pricing for the market this weekend!

From angry dogs to four-wheelin', this batch of pots have been interesting.

More photos later!

The Bear

2010-11-15T10:52:00.003-05:00

Well, the firing went off last night about 9pm and I am hoping for good results! The pots from all the effort, concentration, and wanderlust that went into the kiln hinge on the final firing. It seems to me that a lot of people who work with clay like to have complete control of every aspect of what they make. I am no exception. However, when you fire, a kiln unfailingly takes on a personality of its own.

Unloading a kiln is similar to meeting a new and interesting person. There is a sense of familiarity, intrigue, and newness. Best analogy I've got for today.

Most importantly, this weekend is The Marshall Handmade Market! Come, chat, visit, and buy some of my wares, books, drawings, and other things.

First Bisque

2010-11-08T17:30:00.003-05:00

Today was a flagship day! I loaded and started my first bisque in the new studio in preparation for the Marshall Handmade Market. My making has stopped for the next glaze firing, except for a few flasks I need to finish up tonight and get dry for the next bisque. Two bisques should be a good load for The Bear.

Wednesday I go to work for Michael as he is gearing up for a Thanksgiving firing with fellow Snow Creek potter, Courtney Martin in her wood kiln.

Then Saturday I fire The Bear.

Love and Peacefrogs,

John

multi-media experience

2010-10-28T20:31:00.002-04:00

I find myself working on new projects and trying new things. Watercolors, acrylics, new collage-type stuff, some paste paper for new pamphlet books. All of these new things are an idea I have to compliment my pottery display at the Marshall Handmade Market on November 20th.

Making

2010-10-03T20:33:00.004-04:00

There is a chill in the East Tennessee air, the season is changing and the ground has been wet for several days. The only good thing about the temperature getting colder is that it indicates football season. I am making a lot of pottery and starting some new drawings and paintings for a (flat, 2D) show I have scheduled at the Millennium Center here in Johnson City come January (more to come on that).

I heard back from a couple of juried shows I entered recently. I got a piece in at Cape Fear Gallery in Fayetteville, NC - and I got 4 small bowls in a show in Bemidji, MN. YEAH!

In progress new work:

The Shop of John Simmons

2010-09-25T07:28:00.003-04:00

This is an excerpt from an article I found in a Memphis Magazine describing downtown Memphis in the 60's.

First to come was a collection of retailers, moving into storefronts along Madison that just a year before had housed a bicycle shop, insurance agencies, a drug store, and other ma-and-pa businesses. The first — and most memorable — shops in Overton Square were operated by John Simmons, a talented young man with a keen eye for what was new and avant-garde. "He was kind of 'in' with what was happening all over the city," says Saig.

"I had shops in Laurelwood and on Union Avenue," says Simmons, "and Ben Woodson called me and asked if I would move my Union Avenue shop to Overton Square. I said no, but if you will give me five leases on my terms, I will open five shops, and that's what I did."

Simmons brought to the Square such places as Sycamore (antiques and fine gifts), Forty Carrots (kitchen gadgets and a cooking school run by Frances Averitt), The Potting Shed (hand-crafted pottery), Little John's (cards and candles and "trendy things"), and Swings (contemporary furnishings, described by a reporter as a place "where you can outmod Joe Namath").

Other merchants jumped aboard. "Right after it came out in the paper that we had signed five leases," says Simmons, "every other space was leased." Eventually, almost 40 different businesses would cram into Overton Square.

"John Simmons was one of the first people in town to have art shows," says Arthur. "He was the first to have shows for Mary Sims and Sophie Coors. And everybody would go crazy going to those, because back then young people had never really thought about buying art."

That John Simmons seems like an alright fella.

First

2010-09-24T16:05:00.003-04:00

I just received word that I will be participating in the Marshall Handmade Market this November. This is my first craft show and I'm pretty pumped about it.

More on this later, I need to go put some handles on pitchers.

First Fruits

2010-09-07T19:12:00.001-04:00

Today I got the electricity turned on in my new studio. I have been making pots on the kickwheel for a couple of weeks, but have had to stop making everyday at about 8:40 when it gets dark.

I am looking forward to seeing the first fruits of my labor come out of the new studio.

My days are filled to the brim and a new challenge is around every corner. Right now I am seeking more organization- this usually means throwing stuff away.

Did I mention I am working for Michael Kline as an adjunct potter/apprentice/helper and loving it!

Back Soon

thesis paper

2010-09-05T14:54:00.001-04:00

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

Newfangled is a curious word. It means attracted to novelty or something of the newest

kind (Webster). I chose it because I like how it looks and sounds, and it is not a word commonly

used in academia. The work I make has a novelty quality to it. I research historical and

contemporary trends in the art, craft, and regular worlds and sift through all of the information in

an effort to create work that is universal. I draw or paint representational imagery onto

functional, wheel-thrown pottery and the finished work takes a narrative or conceptual stance as

an object. Sometimes the subject of my imagery is simple like a landscape, a horse, or a person.

Other times the subject is more complex or cryptic; it can be concealed with abstraction or

changed with metaphor.

This thesis discusses the ideas and techniques I used in the studio to create the body of

work I call Newfangled.

bowl me over

2010-08-19T17:40:00.000-04:00

Bowl themed exhibit I sent this bowl to.

Lillstreet International Juried Exhibit

Lillstreet Gallery

Chicago, IL

CLICK HERE to see the rest of the show!

Kiln Build

2010-08-06T20:29:00.000-04:00

A lot of long days and the kiln has been built and filled with eager pots from everyone on the crew. Now we fire!

Soda/Salt National

2010-07-23T16:58:00.000-04:00

Tiny Times

2010-07-16T17:48:00.000-04:00

Tiny Gallery, Soda/Salt National Exhibit in MT, and a Kiln Build.

The tiny gallery is a traveling tiny exhibit that showed a couple of weeks ago up at Penland. The show featured work by Margaret Couch Cogswell, Mark Boyd, Beth Schaible, Amy Tavern, myself and Daniel Marinelli. Very cool!

Other news, I got a teapot into the Soda/Salt National Juried Exhibit in Montana! Juried by Julia Galloway.

Most of my days are filled now with scratching around in the kiln yard building a "new" kiln at ETSU. YEAH!

Summertime Slip

2010-06-25T17:13:00.000-04:00

ETSY

2010-06-17T13:11:00.000-04:00

go to my etsy store and buy a painting!

CLICK HERE

Master Mugs

2010-05-21T16:55:00.000-04:00

In celebration of my recent graduation I decided to do a series of mugs honoring the grandfathers and grandmothers of art. There are about 30 mugs that feature famous paintings, drawings, sculpture, architecture, and photography. I call the series Master Mugs.

Artists in these pictures include: Dorothea Lange, Edouard Manet, Georges Seurat, Jacques-Louis David, and Paul Gauguin. This first collection of high art mugs ranges from the Venus of Willendorf to Jasper Johns. I was not interested in "copying" the images completely, some of them are cropped, edited, combined, and altered. The exciting thing to me about this project is that I can pick and choose how I want to show these masterworks...on a coffee mug.

made/making

2010-05-12T22:25:00.000-04:00

I like to get to a point in the studio where I don't have to trust my brain; only my eyes and hands.

Bikers

2010-05-04T09:57:00.000-04:00

Canked is set up, I am happy with how everything came together... now getting ready for the opening reception this Friday from 6-8pm, downtown Johnson City. I have exciting news that there will be approx. 1,000 bikers on main street friday night, main st. runs perpendicular to the arts council. At 5:30 they are doing a "blessing of the bikes" THAT IS CANKED! I can't wait, and hopefully a few leather-wearing folks will mosey into the arts council to see the show.

Other news: I dropped off pots to be on display at the Penland Gallery. This is big news for me, as I am thrilled and feel honored to have work represented in the same building as some of my favorite artists and potters.

Other other news: I received word that I will have work featured in the upcoming 500 Vases book. Look for it at your local booksellers in Fall 2010, then buy it and put it on your coffee table.

I feel very blessed for the good things that are happening and new adventures to come. His banner over me is love.

side project of the day: Kiln tear down/rebuild/excavation

Everybody Wins, Canked is here!

2010-05-01T10:15:00.001-04:00

Firing off the kiln today sometime, all new pots for CANKED.

Downtown Johnson City in the King Center, Johnson City Area Arts Council Gallery. Opening Reception is First Friday, May 7th from 6-8pm.

Pottery by myself.

Painting by Charlie Haskins.

10-4

Newfangled Till This Wednesday...

2010-04-18T10:29:00.000-04:00

Newfangled will be coming down this wednesday, then I will spend Thursday and Friday installing Casual Geometry, new paintings in the work!

wildebeest cup

2010-04-11T18:05:00.001-04:00

image above... thinkin' bout wildebeest on cups.

above: in prep for casual geometry my studio is full of half-finished paintings.

Casual Geometry will be on display at the Reece Museum from April 27th - June 17th with an opening reception on Thursday, April 29th from 5-7pm

suerte!

Fangol

2010-04-05T08:32:00.001-04:00

The exhibit of my pottery called Newfangled will be up at the Reece Museum until April 22nd. Then my paintings will go up. The painting show is called Casual Geometry.

I just got back from NCECA and had a great time!

Children are like Arrows

2010-03-24T18:24:00.000-04:00

Me speaking to a group of 5th graders from a local public school in Johnson City at the Reece Museum last week about my pottery.

The other side of this pitcher pictures a quiver full of arrows. This piece is in response to the Scripture- Psalm 127:4-5:

4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior

are the sons born in one's youth.

5 Blessed is the man

whose quiver is full of them.

They will not be put to shame

when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

Like a lot of Scripture, this can be interpreted in different ways, but it is powerful to me because it is such a lucid analogy. Also, if you take another step, you could imagine filling your quiver with different sorts of things like being prepared, taking care of business, being on time, having positive words, having initiative, being dependable, etc.

As long as you don't fill your quiver with negative things, then blessed is the man whose quiver is full!

Every Generation Needs a Revolution

2010-03-24T06:54:00.000-04:00

Yesterday marked the 235th anniversary of Patrick Henry's famous speech to the Virginia state legislators. "I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"

Canked Promo Poster 5/6

2010-03-21T17:49:00.001-04:00

pots

2010-03-19T22:45:00.000-04:00

The Ninefruit Bowls

2010-03-17T20:21:00.000-04:00

In a piece I call the Ninefruit Bowls (picture above) I feel the subject is easily identified. On nine small fruit-sized bowls I drew nine unique fruits. The bowls are symbols of gifts that God has given to all people. In Scripture, Galatians 5:22 says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." This is an example of how my drawings can be allegorical. They remind me to eat an apple and to do a good turn daily. These small bowls are the most utilitarian forms I make, they stack nicely in the cupboard. They are "blue-collar" pots that were made to serve.

Featured Piece

2010-03-13T21:04:00.000-05:00

Since Newfangled is here, I have decided to do a mini-series of posts explaining select pieces from the show.

The first piece featured is a Fishin' Tea set (pictured above).

This is a common tea set, comprised of a teapot and corresponding teacups. The concept for this piece is unlikely, and when people see it they usually chuckle. Pictured on the teapot is a large-mouth bass and on the teacups are a texas rig synthetic worm bait and a common rattletrap bait. It is a set... it is catchy (pun intended) and most people leave it at that, when they get the riddle and pass by.

However, my idea for this piece goes a little further. Tanner Young once said "being on the lake is a religious experience." The connection Tanner has with fishing and the lake is undeniable. Aside from it being a great quote, I think it resonates with anyone who is passionate about anything. The rich history of tea and how it is drunk lends itself to ceremony, sharing with friends, quiet time, etc. and can be regarded as a religious experience. When a couple of buddies go fishing every weekend for 25 years, is that not ceremony?

Finally, it seems to me that the typical beverage of choice of a fisherman is probably not hot tea, and he probably wouldn't drink it out of a handmade teapot. He would most likely choose coffee, beer, soda, or iced sweet tea - anything but hot tea!

Installing Newfangled Exhibit

2010-03-08T18:22:00.001-05:00

The Rain Dogs showed up for some great help.

2010-02-12T09:05:00.001-05:00

NEWFANGLED

How-to: Legendary Bacon Sandwich

2010-02-05T20:14:00.000-05:00

Step one: fry the bacon

Step Two: fry the eggs (note- use the same pan you used for the bacon, be careful not to lose any grease, as this may cause a compromise in flavor)

Step three: prep bread with butter (it's important to use room temp butter)

Step four: cheese the eggs (still in pan)

Step five: build the sandwich -here is where you can express yourself. I do egg, cheese, bacon, egg, cheeze, then hot sauce. Don't worry about layering it 'wrong', if you've made it this far you can't mess it up.

once the pan cools down lightly wipe it with paper towel, if you clean it too well then your sandwiches will never improve.

LEGENDARY

Canked Promo Poster 4/6

2010-02-01T20:47:00.001-05:00

Canked Promo Poster 3/6

2010-01-22T23:12:00.000-05:00

pour que?

2010-01-12T14:50:00.001-05:00

making stuff

2009-12-06T13:24:00.001-05:00

I apologize these images aren't in very good order. I am not too savvy at organizing that sort of thing. Things have been very busy around the pot shop!

(above) - stack starting to get hott

(above)- preparing fuel for the kiln

(above)- a few new pots that are in the kiln

(above)- new paintings in progress

(above) - the only way to handle snow: making a big fire

(above)- Melissa and our Thanksgiving bird.

fire weekend

2009-12-03T09:43:00.000-05:00

This weekend is going to be full of firing. I am loading the wood/salt kiln tomorrow and firing saturday. Loading the gas/soda kiln sunday and firing monday. This is my favorite type of weekend.

2009-11-06T07:45:00.000-05:00

The biggest anti-war movement in American history, The America First Committee, was funded by conservative businessmen from the Midwest.

2009-10-25T09:33:00.000-04:00

ready, set, fire!

2009-09-27T09:37:00.000-04:00

loaded and started the kiln this morning. I hope it's a good firing. My goal for this next month is to start an online store through my website, keep it updated, and put a choice few pots for sale from each firing. Inside of the kiln I have some pots with new ideas, dead fish, babies, and longhorns.

2009-09-11T21:32:00.000-04:00

I fired the kiln yesterday. Cone 9 up top and 10 was good and down at the bottom. I heard someone say a good downdraft gas kiln fires hot at the bottom? Maybe that's just what I tell myself. Oh well, I hope I had a good firing. I will unload tomorrow morning and probably take pictures later tomorrow. I peeked this morning and it looked pretty good. There is some sort of mystery when you turn off a kiln...all you can really say is, well, I hope it went o.k.! Then when it is time to peek you get so excited to see 1/4 of a pot, haha! It is kinda ridiculous.

I have two new test glazes I am eager to see, one is a subtle matte blue and the other is a green. I like to use a little color for accents sometimes. I think with this load I am going to update the portfolio on my website and probably goin to enter a couple of juried shows. Most of the pots in the kiln have drawings on them that I am pretty excited about. Some whales, fish, birds, horses, and a few hogs as well. It should be interesting.

Good Lord willin' and the creek don't rise...

The end of Summer

2009-08-28T10:37:00.000-04:00

I am back home from Penland.

It's time to start working.

Overdue (or just pastdue)

2009-08-08T13:51:00.000-04:00

These are a couple of cups I made from Michael Kline's last kiln firing

Below are some pictures of a few pieces I had in the Animal themed show I had with photographer Tammy Mercure

At the table we had swine sandwiches, turkey sandwiches, rabbit food, blue chips and lemonade.

Love, John

Penland continued...

2009-07-13T16:26:00.000-04:00

Well, I have been on the mountain a full week now and things are going well. I've met some pretty great people and had some good times. I gave a slide show last Tues. and things went alright I guess, it was my first slideshow so I was a little nervous. In the pot shop we are rakuing and I think I have removed (or canceled out?) 5 to 7 years from my life. That stuff is like mustard gas! It also completely saturates your clothes with the raku smoke stank. It is a very distinct scent. Its the kind of scent that makes you want to wake up in the middle of the night and smell your t-shirt, then punch yourself in the throat, and splather ferric chloride on your pillow.

Next Session: Posey Bacapaulos-Majolica- Cone 05 and 1/2

I am going to start taking pictures to document all the madness.

Then the final session for me is Jack Troy.

I've got 5 more weeks left up on this mountain and I miss my darlin' girl, wears them sevens on her sleeve, dances like a diamond star, tells me lies I love to believe. Her age is always 22, laughin eyes a hazel hue, spends my money like water falls, loves me like I want her to. Loves me like I want her to.

2009-06-16T09:57:00.000-04:00

The show was a success! I sold several pieces and there was plenty of schmoozing to boot. More importantly, the Blue Plum Festival was in full gear. People filled the streets of downtown Johnson City, three stages were set up with some great bands, and there were funnel cakes.On Saturday afternoon I pulled out the lawn chair, propped up my feet, and watched cornholing for about 2 hours. I have a lot of practicing to do before next year...did I mention funnel cakes?

The pot shop is now buzzing. I am teaching a special topics summer course called "intro to wood-firing". We are gonna fire the Hogagama and the cross-draft wood/salt kiln. It has turned out to be an interesting and diverse class. They are making some pretty exciting work! I have never fired a kiln with such primo wood, we have several bundles of kiln-dried stickers from peerless wood working in Bristol. Its all hardwood with "less than 9% moisture". So over the last few days I drug out ye olde saw buck and fired up mandy(chainsaw). Load, Saw, stack, repeat. I hope we have a good firing.

July 5th I head up to Penland School of Craft, I will be there until Aug. 16th or so. I am assisting 3 sessions in upper clay and am pumped about it! Beware the Wookies.

Animal Show

2009-06-03T11:55:00.000-04:00

This weekend is the Blue Plum Festival in Downtown Johnson City. I have a themed exhibition going on at the tipton gallery with photographer Tammy Mercure. Opening reception is at 6pm. Also on saturday at highnoon the cornholing tourny starts. Google CornHoling. First place team gets 200 bucks!

From the backyard to D.C. there is always activity.

2009-05-26T10:06:00.000-04:00

two americans who don't suffer from static cling

Johnson City Press

2009-04-12T10:14:00.000-04:00

Contemporary, historic exhibits on display

By Allison Alfonso
Press Tempo Writer
aalfonso@johnsoncitypress.com

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I dropped in on John Simmons last week when he was installing his pottery and painting exhibit “Functor” at the Johnson City Area Arts Council.
Windows were open to let in a soft breeze, and he was measuring with a level the placement of the black letters of the show title, seemingly relishing the moment.

I wish I could say I was that careful about hanging work when Mom and I ran our gallery. Eyeballing it was sufficient to judge if work should be higher, lower or if it was crooked.

“Take your time and do it right the first time” often took a back seat to “Let’s just get it done.” Slight exaggeration, but I use the story to illustrate a difference.

Simmons is a worker, he said. He doesn’t mind the details.

He asked if I’d be attending his reception that Friday. This is one of many shows for him, perhaps, because he wants to be a practicing artist, not a teacher. Ceramics are his real love.

So, ever the questioner, I asked why he painted? He shrugged his shoulders as if amused by the question. That’s the worker in him.

Latex house paint on sheet metal is his chosen medium for paintings such as “Hecho en China,” which deals with the decline of American manufacturing.

It’s the formal concerns of art that really interest him, though. I was struck by the jagged and oblong shapes that puncture and ooze and repeat in various forms in his works. There’s a visual theme, but is there an intellectual one?

“Functors are used throughout modern mathematics to relate various categories. Within this show many different forms, techniques and concepts are used,” he said in his show statement. “Instead of categorizing everything, I would rather generalize – this work is a result from curiosity of how art functions. Not how it functions in the literal sense, but how it functions visually.

“Both the pottery and the paintings are a result of compositional problem solving, and what connects them are their formal qualities. Concept and process are equally important to me; they inform each other.

“Trying to make art is not easy to me, and my first idea is usually the most pedestrian. Sometimes on my third or fourth or fifth attempt I can find something genuine. Instead of inspiration, I look for possibilities.”

Exhibit hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday.

The nice thing about living in an area as diverse is this is you can see a contemporary exhibit one day and a historical one the next.

“Trail of Tears” is up through June 15 in the Atrium Gallery of the Kingsport Renaissance Center and features 50 photographs of contemporary sites along the Trail.

Photographs are by David G. Fitzgerald, and text for the exhibit and accompanying book are by Duane King, Ph.D.

King, vice-president of museum affairs and director of the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, Okla., will deliver a show lecture Thursday May 7 at 7 p.m. at the Center.

Between June 6-Dec. 5, 1838, more than 15,000 Cherokee were forcibly removed from their homeland in the southern Appalachians to the Indian Territory on a journey named the Trail of Tears.

Man is still trying to understand why, how it affected the people and how it changed the future of American political thought and justice, King wrote.

Principal Chief Chadwick Smith of the Cherokee Nation wrote in the book forward that the Trail of Tears violated the fundamental principles of fairness, justice and equality this country was purportedly based on, but it also proved evidence of the Cherokee legacy of surviving and excelling in the face of adversity.

The 12-minute film “One Road” accompanies the show and documents the process and building of “The Passage” at Ross’ Landing in Chattanooga by Cherokee artists from Oklahoma .

It’s the largest public art installation of contemporary Southeastern native American art in the country.

Exhibit hours are Monday-Saturday 8 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Allison Alfonso is a Press Tempo writer. Reach her at aalfonso@johnsoncitypress.com.

North Carolina Potters Conference

2009-03-18T22:00:00.000-04:00

Well, the potters conference this year was good! The presenters were great, the company was good, and the food was delicious! I was fortunate enough to be a student assistant to Phil Rogers, mostly wedging, and let me tell you- he likes a little bit of clay with his sand. These are some pictures from Dwight Hollands collection....can you recognize any? There are some heavy hitters! His house is ridiculous, and being there was the highlight...as it was last year.

and of course, Simon Leach posing with a pitcher:

2009-02-26T19:04:00.000-05:00

Things are very busy around the pot shop.

Today I got some shots made of new work!

The website will show these fruits soon.

2008 is almost gone

2008-12-29T19:18:00.001-05:00

A pic of me and bowers with some giant salt-fired jars circa 1929.

Things are very busy around the studio, I'm working on some new pots for the 'hogagama" wood kiln firing later in Jan. Also finishing up a few paintings for a show in April at the Arts Council. And I'm trying to finish the dining table...

I'm tired, but I feel good, I like being tired

- isn't this suppose to be a break?

Merry Christmas

2008-12-22T19:14:00.001-05:00

Unloaded another gas/soda kiln firing yesterday. It seemed to be a pretty decent firing. Right now I am still making pots, doing a lot of painting, and also working on a new dining table for the house. I'm going to the shop tomorrow to cut some of my 100% American 3/4 plywood from Preston Woodworking here in Johnson City. Talk about some nice wood.

Speaking of wood, most of the prep has been done in regards to wood gathering for the groundhog kiln at the end of Jan. I will fire up the ole husqvarna and finish up cutting what wood we have sometime next week. "I hope we have a good firing".

a picture from the studio...

I'll update this every monday.

this is what I'm working on

2008-12-12T20:11:00.000-05:00

brown & round

Introducing #17

Revealing

Love

she fed me

Strictly Functional 2011!

Feeder

The Gump

1949

Texas

Tip Please! (vol. 1)

Baby Birds

Things Against Stuff

The Cup

D is for Dragracing

Step Right Up, Come On In

CityFest

This clip is from the Montgomery Advertiser yesterday. Pretty cool!

CityFest a big hit with area residents

2:21 AM, May. 8, 2011 | Comments

John Simmons sells his pottery during the 25th annual Prattville CityFest. / Mickey Welsh

Written by

Matt Okarmusmokarmus@gannett.com

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Matt Okarmus
mokarmus@gannett.com