Pick of the Crop – Sleek Pottery…..Tea for Me

Image from the Scott Meredith Website

Smooth, sleek, Asian influenced pottery is what you will find at the booth of Scott Meredith.  This artist is the University of Richmond Ceramics instructor practically year round.  Yet, he manages to find the fire and fuel for his own extensive line of beautiful art that starts with his own hand-made clay.  Scott’s products are featured in the Virginia Museum of Fine Art gift shop as well as at the Wednesday market. 

Scott is the real deal artist who can navigate the UR student crowd and the 6 man team to stoke a wood fired kiln.  This is a kiln that borrows from a 1,000 year old design that is loaded with oak, pine or other wood that has fallen on the property where it resides.  The kiln is for once-a- year fires that can hold up to 500 pots at a time.  It must be at temperature continuously for 5 days, round the clock, firing.  Scott and the other vested potters take turns during this event.  Wow.  Creates quite a visual.  7 cords of wood are required and it has been a tradition amongst these potters.

Like many of the Farmer’s Market entrepreneurs, Scott is a multi-tasker.  Part-time teacher, part-time potter and part-time repairman.  His specialty is the equipment related to the ceramics kilns.  Most are electric and he will travel wherever he is paid to go to fix these unique machines.

The pottery is styled in the 16^th and 17^th Korean style.  Japanese era, he calls it.  It represents Japan’s Renaissance.  It is a style that is 10,000 years old and is hard to improve upon.  Scott called it Moomiyomo (sp?).  No matter the intricate spelling, the lines, soft colors and strokes from a grass brush provide the aesthetics for his wares.  Although the terms and their spellings confounded me, the essence is present.

Scott creates a wide variety of careful, elegant pottery.  From the stoneware porcelain style of the Japanese era, to the simple mugs that feel so good in the palm of your hand.  Stop by and see what he has displayed.  Support the Arts!!!  We might be the only ones!!

See you Wednesday……..

Souther of the James runs on Wednesdays 3 PM – 8 PM at 4910 Forest Hill Ave (23225). Your list of vendors. (I have received Facebook confirmation that the market is open, don’t know how many vendors. But don’t let a little rain scare you away.)

Previous Picks of the Crop

Pick of the Crop is written by Trish Morrison.
Originally from Illinois where she was pioneering with Food Co-ops and Farmer’s Markets in the Chicago suburbs, Trish now lives in the neighborhood near Westover Hills Elementary School. A city dweller by week, weekends she travels to Lunenburg County working on an agricultural venture with her son. She enjoys the blend of art, agriculture, music and muse, you can find at a Farmers’ Market and hopes it comes through in her interview style of writing.