Clay Way was a weekend outing to get fired up about

CORNWALL — Susan Darinzo and her daughter, Alex, had just returned from touring two South Kent pottery studios on Saturday, Oct. 6. Todd Piker’s Cornwall Bridge Pottery was next on their list.

 “I just bought a beautiful Christmas ornament that looks like a watercolor painting at Stone Fences in Kent,” said Darinzo, a resident of Warren. She was referring to the nearby location of Alison Palmer’s studio, where fellow clay artists Linda Boston and Tom White were also participating in the 2018 Clay Way event. 

But that didn’t stop Darinzo from considering additional purchases of fired vessels at Piker’s studio, and from others on the self-guided tour.

Over the Columbus Day weekend, Oct. 6 to 8, the third annual road tour of nine of the area’s best known clay studios featuring 14 artists had visitors, like the Darinzos, fired up. 

The mother-daughter duo had also been to Joy Brown’s Segar Mountain Road studio, where potters Deb Lecce, Naoko Ojio and Will Talbot were also on hand to sell their wares and talk about their craft. 

Piker, who has been involved with Clay Way since its inception three years ago, greeted visitors to his studio throughout the weekend-long tour, talked about pottery and gave tours of his massive kiln and studio. 

“It’s going gangbusters,” he said on Saturday of the tour. 

His property was a hub of activity, with visitors coming and going. The Columbus Day weekend event, he said, allows people to enjoy leisure time out in the country amid early fall colors, and the opportunity to get to know area potters and learn about their craft.

Anne and Bob Tully of Cornwall, N.Y., said they are avid pottery collectors. On Saturday they were looking to add to their collection. 

“We have a couple of jugs, but now we’re looking for some shallow bowls, for things like mussels and soups,” said Anne Tully as she admired Piker’s glazed pieces.

This year’s tour also featured Brendan Moore of South Kent, Kathy Wismar’s studio in Kent, Christine Owen of Warren and Drew Montgomery, Amy Brenner and Lisa Knaus, all of Wingdale, N.Y. 

Clay Way is part of American Craft Week, a nationwide celebration of American craft.