SIMON LEVIN

I feel like I have so many projects in process I have decided to use the front page of this website as a blog format with regular (monthly) updates.

Nice Note

Adam Field a potter from Colorado made my day with this photo. He bought this plate from Akar and surprised me with this lovely image. I bet Greg Allman would have liked this plate. I checked out Adam's website and was duely impressed. He is making some really lovely incised porcelain work and getting lush woodfired surfaces.

Mike Gesiakowski

I would like to announce the arrival of my new apprentice Mike Gesiakowski (pronouced Mikey-G) Mike comes from DeKalb, Ilinois where he worked with Doug Jeppesen at Waubonsee Community College. Mike has left a 10 year career as graphic layout and IT guy with a yellow pages company to pursue one as a full time potter. You can see mike's apprentice page here. And his blog here.

Mike and Ryan are building a train kiln the last week of July. They will document the process on the site soon.

New Simon Says

New humor column on Michael Kline's blog Sawdust and Dirt. This one is about the rabbit conspiracy in clay. "Simon Says". Read it and let me know what you think. Basically it is public siliness.

Note from Dan

I just received a huge compliment from Dan Anderson. I have a show opening at AKAR gallery on Friday June 25th. Dan stopped in at AKAR on his way home from Minnesota and says "I was fortunate to get a peek at your pots that were at AKAR on our way back to Illinois from the Minnesota Pottery tour/Sale. I thought they were some of the best pots I have ever seen of your work!" Big praise indeed. I asked him if I could quote him and he wrote back saying I should add " I was hoping I could purchase a couple of Simon's pots on the spot - instead of having to wait until June 25th!"

The show opens at 10:00 am online at Akardesign.com on Friday June 25th. Sam Chung is the headliner, and I am the Featured Artist.

Red Lodge

In the beginning of June I sent about 60 really fine work to Red Lodge Clay Center in Montana. It's nice to see all that work swelling their inventory. I was bit tentative to send them so much work, but I am pleased I did. And they got it up on line lickety-split.

Call For Entries

Call for Entries

I get to jurry a really great national show. "It's Only Clay" at Bemidji Community art center is a once a year jurried show. I am really pleased to be on the list of Jurrors, which in the past has included Jeff Oestriech, Linda Christianson, and Bob Briscoe.

Download the application here. Download the prospectus here.

2009 winner of the Harlow Purchase award
Wenfen Pan from Okemos, MI
Pitcher, stoneware, 6″x4″x4″

Unloading Video

I just added a new video to the video page of stop motion films. It is a video of us unloading the Mill Creek Spitfire kiln. I will keep adding more videos, and yes, I do take requests.

Wikiclay.com

Lloyd Cledwyn and I would like to announce the creation of a new resource for ceramicists everywhere. With your help Wikiclay.com will become a fluid and vibrant source of information on artists, galleries, schools, videos, and whatever else you think may be helpful. Anyone can use it, anyone can contribute, any...one can refine articles. Please check it out.

Kristen Kieffer is on board as one of the moderators.

Ryan Stobel

I would like to introduce Ryan Stobel as the newest Mill Creek apprentice. Ryan started here in January working with me and Matt in the studio. Ryan is a displaced New Englander like myself. His background in clay is varried, having grown up working in his mom's paint your own pottery shop and most recently having been a student at Tara Wilson's Penland concentration. You can seeRyan's Page here!

Ryan also just created an Etsy page to help support his time here at Mill Creek Pottery. Please take a look.

Taiwan

In October I traveled to Tainan National University of Arts in southern Taiwan to build this kiln I designed for them. We built the kiln then I presented at an international woodfire symposium. I was deeply honored to have this opportunity to meet and work with new colleagues. You can see the kiln building process at woodfire.com/tainan

St. Paul, Minnesota

Now in the store

Overcast Ewer

Porcelain, Spitfire kiln, Dec. 2005 These ewers make great soy, or olive oil dispensers, although we use one for dish soap next to the kitchen sink.

Tree Ewer

Anagama Fired Stoneware, 6 Day firing. This is a tall and handsome new form. I like how simple and full of information a pot like this can be. This piece can serve as a vase or a pitcher for water or wine.

MMM Cookie Jar

Anagama Fired Cookie Jar, Fired in Mill Creek anagama 6 day firing. This is a lovely lidded jar, full and generous. You could hold things other than cookies in here but the nice wide opening allows for an eager hand to reach in.

Dry Slip Bottle

Anagama Fired Porcelain Bottle. Six day firing. Dry slip surface. This rugged and beautiful bottle shows much of the range of surfaces from the anagama's potential. Dark lavender grey at the base shows where ash piled up against it. This is a bottle to be reckoned with.

Square Paddled Mug

This warm colored mug was paddled with squares inlayed into the paddles surface and then stretched from the inside. The mug has to great distinct sides, one being the dramatic orange/yellow and the soft earthy side. This mug holds a generous volume for those thirsty days.

Finger Flash

These new tumbler forms are great for a cold glass of lemonade. They have a flower like top that is visually appealing and great to rap your lips around. The surface is exciting for the eyes entire journey.

Tumbler

This tumbler was fired for six days in an anagama kiln, it has two great sides(the glossy fire face and green matte up draft side). This tumbler was very carefully cut by a wire tool to create those thin, flat sides. This proud standing tumbler is great for everyday drinking and even desert eating occasions.

Hazel Tumbler

This calm flashed tumbler is so loosely crafted it makes your expierence with it unique. The handmade objects like these are so intimate that they can change your everyday expierence.

Rambler

This is your everyday middle class house shrunk down and scupted out of clay. The form and facets of this house are completely dynamic. The texture also looks like moss giving this sculpture a unique weathered appearance.

Dark Moon

This house has a great shadow on the front and a dramatic isolated front door. These houses are often fired were much of the ash from the firing builds up and lays that nice texture on the clay.

Shell Bowl

This shell bowl was fired in an anagama kiln for six days. This is a more quiet piece to go along with its open gesture.

Ewer

This crystal filled ewer is a soft gray-blue tone and is a good size for oil, soy sauce or any of your pouring needs.

Shelly

Shelly has got a nice shandy shurface. This small bowl is useful for serving dips and sauces. It was stacked in the anagama kiln with a similar bowl inside and thats how that great shadow was created.

Celadon Bowl

This quiet bowl has a green glaze inside that unifies nicely with the other earthy colors that are produced in wood fired pottery. The under side is bare clay and has some great textures going on.

Pilsner?

This tumbler has some wondering purple flashing to go along with the loosely facets. These new forms are great for your favorite cold drinks.

Studio Potter Baseball Cards

As a fundraiser for Studio Potter Magazine I am pre-selling a limited number of "Famous Potter Baseball Cards" There are 3 sets in all, each containing 11 potters. Pre-orders such as this one will receive all 33 cards and all proceeds will go to Studio Potter Magazine. For orders of more than one set simply place as many as you want in the shopping cart. Your order will be delivered to your door in early April.

Tall Cup

Porcelain, Groundhog Kiln, 60 hour firing. Made by Matt Bukrey

Turtle Ewer

Dark Stoneware, Groundhog Kiln, 60 hour firing. Made By Matt Bukrey

Tea Snort

Dark stoneware, Groundhog Kiln, 60 hour firing. Made by Matt Bukrey

Phase Bowl

Porcelain, Anagama fired for six days. This elegant bowl displays effects captured both by the slip and the loading technique.

Ringed Plate

Dark stoneware, fired in an Anagama kiln for six days. A wonderful serving tray. With brilliant deep reds and great firing affects this platter is sure to be a conversation starter your next party.

Red Run Pitcher

This is a fine pitcher with classic woodfired flashing and ash effects. It was fired in the Anagama Kiln for six days. This resulted in dramatic flashing and running drips.

Solar Soy Ewer

Fired in the Anagama kiln for six days. A dramatic and fun addition to your next Asian food experience. Full of flash and crystals this ewer is a real knockout. Not just great for soy, but also olive oil, vinegar, or dressing.

Swell Jar

Anagama Fired Jar, Fired for six days in the Mill Creek Anagama. Full and handsome on the outside a great vessel for any kind of food storage on the inside. A swell jar indeed.

Squared Plate

Stoneware, Anagama fired for 5 days. A lovely brick red plate good for dinner. A green salad would make the red colors of the bare clay pop.

woodfire.com

SIMON LEVIN

Call for Entries

Now in the store

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