Connecticut Potter, High Fired Stoneware and Porcelain Functional Pottery
Marcia Kindlmann’s pottery reflects the essence of Common Good Market’s mission — beautiful, useful items our customers can use everyday in their homes. Marcia refers to her work as “pottery people can live with – to have in their kitchens and on their tables,” and indeed her pieces are hearty, functional and beautiful — with clean lines and a solid, down to earth feeling that is comforting.
Marcia makes two lines of pottery- one in a warm-red glaze decorated with freehand brush strokes and another in shades of blue and light greens where the effect of glaze layering results in deep multihued coloration that has the depth and character of glass. She notes her glazes have been “created from years of experimenting with different combinations of minerals, kaolins, and feldspars. The minerals in naturally occurring clays are a special source of subtle colors, more complex and variable than those available from industrially-refined sources”
She is passionate about using food-safe glazes, and her pottery is usable in the microwave and the dishwasher. Marcia uses local New England sources for her clay and is committed to working within as tight a supply chain as possible.
“In thirty years of pottery-making I keep returning to the bowl. Its shape offers infinite expressive possibilities for the artist and functional possibilities for the user.”
When we asked how she got started making pottery Marcia described admiring a stoneware casserole back in the late 70′s at a craft fair and decided she wanted to learn to make beautiful pieces for her own family to use. Once enrolled in a class, Marcia quickly learned how much skill and experience was required to make complex pieces. Armed with a new respect and emerging interest Marcia began taking additional classes, and over time developed her own spare and clean aesthetic form and specialized glazing techniques. She describes her various mentors and artistic influences as ranging from the British Isles folk tradition shapes which she learned in hands-on workshops with John Leach, Seth Cardew and the late Mick Casson who taught at Wesleyan Potters in Middletown, to the traditional pottery of Japan and China.
” I make each piece of pottery by hand on the potter’s wheel and personally carry through with each step of the finishing process. It is labor intensive work. Mine is not a high-volume repetitive production; rather I make individual pieces related in shape as a family.”
Marcia’s pieces include various sizes of bowls- both individual place settings and serving bowls, dinner plates, serving platters, pitchers, bread stones, utensil holders, vases, and soap dishes.
In addition to her work as a potter, Marcia is a passionate gardener with a particular interest in early spring blooming native wild flowers, many types of irises, daylilies, and orchids.
For items currently available please see Marcia’s section in our e-commerce store.. If you are interested in custom pieces or discussing the purchase of native plants please contact Marcia directly through her e-mail address at marciapottery@gmail.com
Special Holiday Event
Marcia and her friend Trudi will be hosting an open house at Marcia’s studio at 126 White Birch Lane in Guilford, CT for two consecutive weekends: December 3 and 4, and December 10 and 11, 2011. Marcia will have her pottery on display, and Trudi makes the most darling little fabric hand painted ornaments. Marcia’s husband Peter will have some of his outstanding photographs on display as well.
Hours are 1pm to 5pm both Saturday and Sunday. For more information and directions, contact Marcia directly at her email address above.
Marcia Kindlmann’s profile was created by Elizabeth Conrad, Co-Founder, Common Good Market.
Please contact econrad@commongoodmarket.com with questions or comments.
