Coming Up - Michiana Spring Clay Tour
- loriemarsh
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
My first show of the year will be a special one. The first annual Michiana Spring Clay Tour is scheduled for May 24th from 10 am to 2 pm at artists' studios across the Michiana area. This is the first time I have opened my studio to visitors, and while I am a bit nervous, I'm also quite excited.
What started as a dream quickly became an obsession in 2013 when I took my first pottery class. Soon, just taking classes was not enough. I wanted to spend more time learning my craft. I began to work in our backyard shed, slowly adding tools and materials, beginning with an old Randall pottery wheel. At that time, I would make pieces at home and drive them to pottery class to be fired and glazed. Of course, that eventually became untenable, and I added my first kiln. All the while, I was sharing the shed with the lawn equipment and the patio furniture. But, of course, that wouldn't do!
I began saving funds from my early Michiana Pottery Tour shows, Etsy sales, Christmas, and birthday gifts. You see, I had a dream. I wanted a fully functional studio filled with light to work in year-round. So, I saved my pennies and dreamed. Finally, one early March morning, with snow still on the ground, my dream became a reality.
French doors and a window were installed to bring in natural light. The space was insulated so that I could work throughout the year. Today, my dream has become a reality. Hidden behind crab apple and mulberry trees, nestled amongst forsythia, rhubarb, and roses, my dream of a ceramics studio has become a reality.
And so, I say again, I am so excited to be sharing my studio space with you on May 24th. I welcome you to step inside this tiny space, where tiny pieces of art are made and dreams come true.
In the past fifty years, Northern Indiana has developed a robust ceramic tradition through its local colleges and universities, established professional artists' studios, a community of dedicated hobbyists, and an ambition to make Michiana a hub for ceramic arts.
Today, Northern Indiana is acknowledged as a leading region for clay arts within the national craft community and hosts many internationally acclaimed artists. The Northern Indiana Clay Alliance plays a key role in organizing regional resources, promoting artists, funding programs, and offering opportunities to potters of all ages.
This event offers a fantastic chance to explore a diverse range of artwork and see where the creativity unfolds—from inviting basement studios to transformed backyard sheds, to a city oasis full of Michiana Pottery history. This tour promises something for everyone.
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