BAKETSU PEARLS: 30 YEARS OF POTTERY BY BETSY KAEMMERLEN

Wednesday, October 2 to Sunday, October 6

Gallery Hours from 11 am to 3 pm

Opening Reception on Wednesday, October 2 from 4 pm to 7 pm

Betsy Kaemmerlen has been working in clay since 1994. Originally taught on the wheel by John Macomber of Greenleaf Pottery, Betsy turned to hand built forms soon afterwards.  She originated an active potters group called Clay Arts East in Connecticut and organized the Open Studio Tour of Northeast CT with up to 75 artists, for many years before moving to Columbia in 2006.

Concentrating on functional ware, surface texture and decoration are key to her clay forms, with transparent glazes pooling in the depths.  Her inspiration for exploring textured surfaces comes from the origins of pottery when clay was used to protect cooking baskets from the fire.  As food was cooked, the clay was fired and so the basket weave impression remained. 

In 2013 Betsy won an Artist Residency in Little Switzerland, NC at Wildacres Retreat to work on both functional pots and sculptural pieces.  She enjoys both taking workshops, and has learned many hand building and carving techniques.  As a Landscape Architect, leaves and natural designs play heavily in her work.  She carves roller stamps with cloud, water, Chinese, and Celtic motifs to add richness to her pottery.  Lately her focus has been on tiny teapots and vases, along with Ikebana vessels for Japanese flower arranging.

This 30 year retrospective will include many of her collaborative pieces with potters from over the years, private collection pieces, along with some newer work to show her development at a potter.