May News
Learn about and try your hand at the ancient art of Sgraffito. No experience needed!
Saturday May 13 at the Mennonite Heritage Center in Harleysville.
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I am thrilled to announce that I am included in "A Fiery Renaissance ~ Modern potters are reshaping centuries-old ceramic arts, signaling a bold new era for American craft." featured in the January / February 2023 issue of Veranda magazine, published by Hearst. And it all began with an email from Sara Clark
of Veranda! It was a fascinating experience and I've detailed it on my "15 Minutes of Fame" page; including the call sheet used by my photographer, Shea, and a short video of the photo shoot.
Credits:
“Art Ceramicists” page 58-62 As seen in Veranda Magazine, January/ February 2023. Photographs by Becky Luigart-Stayner (@sunnyhousestudio). Produced by Sara Clark (@saraellisclark). Written by Tracey Minkin (@tracey_minkin) Reprinted with permission of Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Denise's photographer - Shea Winter Roggio (@sheawinterphoto)
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Welcome to my vision of Pennsylvania Redware.
I hand make this pottery using the tools and techniques of the Pennsylvania German potters.
Pottery is meant to be touched and you can feel the design scratched into the surface of my sgraffito pieces. My tulips, birds and hearts are inspired by Pennsylvania German folk art of all kinds. I use a rolling pin, molds for shaping the clay into plates and bowls, a coggle wheel to decorate the edges and handcrafted tin cookie cutters for the ornaments. The pieces are fired in an electric kiln rather than the traditional wood-fired kiln.
I am a Master Artisan with the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen and listed in the Directory of Traditional American Crafts presented by Early American Life magazine.
I teach the art of Redware in my Sgraffito workshops held at various locations. The students always amaze me - many are first-timers designing and then using the sgraffito technique to create their own work of art.
My favorite Pennsylvania German saying is "Lieben und Geliebt zu werden Ist die Gröst Freud auf Erden” Translation is "To love and be loved is the greatest joy on earth"
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* Pottery Classes / Workshops *
Learn about and make your own Pennsylvania German Redware
Learn the art of scratching on clay to create your special plate - an ancient technique the Pennsylvania German potters' used to decorate their fancy pieces of pottery. All materials, tools and idea books are provided. Registration is required and is limited to 12 persons.
*** Workshops scheduled for 2023 ***
May 13 at the Mennonite Heritage
October 14 - Mennonite Heritage Center, 565 Yoder Road, Harleysville, PA 19438-1020
Register for May 13 Register for October 14
September 10 - Regina Marie Designs Fine Art and Crafts Gallery, 4076 Skippack Pike, Skippack, PA Register for the workshop
September 16 - Landis Valley Museum, 2451 Kissel Hill Road, Lancaster, PA 17601
* Early American Life Magazine *
I am included in the 2023 Directory of Traditional American Crafts! The magazine will publish the list in the July/August issue.
My sgraffito plate is pictured on page 66 of the August 2022 issue.
* The Studio *
The studio is located on the outskirts of Macungie, Pennsylvania
The original portion of this one and a half story house was built in the mid-1700's; before the American Revolution, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights.
