Clay Lore and Studio Life
Stories shaped in clay.
In this series, we trace the evolving story of ceramics: from the fire-darkened vessels of Jōmon Japan to the 3D-printed forms of today. These entries aim not just to tell stories, but to teach — inviting readers to deepen their understanding of ceramic practice across time and culture.
Photo by John Polak, Everson Museum of Art Collections.
Photo by John Polak, Everson Museum of Art Collection, purchase gift of Richard B. Gump, 11th Ceramic National, 1946.
The Bauhaus wasn’t merely a school — it was a statement of principles.
Bernard Leach was more than a potter. He was a bridge.
Hoji Hamada (1894–1978) and Berhard Leach made these kilns together.
In the high desert of the American Southwest, clay isn’t just a material — it’s a memory.
This winter, the clay is drying much slower, our hands are aching sooner, and the tea kettle becomes the most used tool in the studio, particularly by Andy and Michael.
This week in our ceramic studio in Abbotsford, we installed a pot belly stove. It isn’t a kiln. It’s not a digital heater. It’s something deeper: a cast-iron heart in the middle of our creative space…
And so we begin: with clay, and with a story…
Studio Life
Moments from inside Mayfield.
What we’re making, what’s going on, and who’s showing up. Shout-outs, updates, playlists, and the human side of the studio—all the muddy, heartwarming bits.
More from the Studio
Clay is just the beginning. Explore the ideas, voices, and reflections that shape our creative life.
→ Conversations from the Studio
→ Studio Writing & Reflections