Dear Friends,

After a long but productive winter and a late spring, my sale will be on May 30th and 31st. I’ve just had my 8th wood firing (in 8 years!). As with every wood firing, it was hard work and fun and exciting. The worry and anticipation of opening the kiln is more intense than the gas kiln because there are more variables during the firing: how much wood is stoked, the intensity of the flames, and the length of the firing all influence the outcome.

Most of the pots were good and there are some that really sing. The path of the flame is revealed on the unglazed porcelain surfaces with the minerals that are deposited on the surface of the pots. The minerals are carried in the wood ash that flows in the currents of flame. These patterns are beautiful and interesting to me. No two pots get the same shadow of the ash. All of the wood that I stoke into this kiln is from this land and that means something to me as well. I’m a do it yourselfer and this is one more thing that I can do. Five percent of my clay is also from this land. I like to think this gives my pottery “terroir”!

People have been buying my pots because they can use them, and handmade things have ineffable value. It is always most satisfying to me when people use my pots in their daily lives. I recently had a lovely email from an old friend and I quote a bit of it here:

“Hello Sam;

This morning, while having my second cup of coffee, I looked around our little breakfast table and you came to mind. The mugs, the plates, the egg cups and the cream pitcher, all came from you my friend…” He went on to say: “One of these days when you have decided to retire, you can deservedly look back with much pride and satisfaction…”

Dear Hans! You made my day and if I can get to your age (90!) I might consider retiring! But until then I'll keep making pots, even if there are fewer of them every year.

I hope that some of you will be able to come to my spring sale. I am continuing to give 10% of the spring pottery sale receipts to the Canada Ukraine Foundation for reconstruction and whatever the people of Ukraine need.

Peace and best wishes,

Sam

BEFORE AND AFTER IN THE WOOD FIRED KILN:

How to get here:

Uhlick Pottery & Tile is located about 20 kilometres east of the Edmonton city limits. It is just south of Highway 16 (Yellowhead). Turn right (south) on Range Road 214. A Vehicle Inspection Station located at this intersection makes a good landmark. Drive 1 kilometre south of the highway and look for the UHLICK sign on the left.

Click the map to open up Uhlick Pottery & Tile in your Google maps.