The Moose Jaw Pottery Club has their hands on the spinning wheel in preparation for the annual Mother’s Day Sale, out at the club on May 10 & 11.
Club member Yvonne Wozniak is hopeful that this year’s sale will go well, as each member is busy making pieces to display to the public on Mother’s Day weekend — and the collection is growing quite well.
“A little bit of everything from functional to decorative,” said Wozniak, about what types of things will be available at the sale.
A few pieces left over from last year’s sale will again be up for grabs, as well as so many other things: mugs, chips and dip plates, flower vases, bowls, platters, candle holders, casserole dishes, and more. Some members are even making what Wozniak called berry bowls: bowls with small holes in the bottom for the easy rinsing of fruit.
Each member is asked to make five pieces using club materials and club clay — recycled from clay slop and scraps — with full proceeds from those pieces going back to the club. Outside of that, members are crafting their own personal pieces, and sharing proceeds as part of the materials are their own.
Wozniak noted that the MJPC is an amateur club; a group of potters who enjoy the craft and consider it a hobby, and so must work together to keep the club running smoothly. Each member helps out with cleaning, changing kiln loads, and other housekeeping matters.
They do two fundraising events every year, to offset costs and to get some exposure in the community. These two events include the Chili Bowl fundraiser and the Mother’s Day Sale. The purpose is to clear out some shelves and make room for more, as members are always busy making new pieces, but also to bring the community into their space.
“It's nice because it gets different people interested or exposes them to the art of it. Some people have never played with clay before and it can be very therapeutic,” said Wozniak.
Since the sale is held at the club’s workspace, it gives people an opportunity to explore the old house they have repurposed to their needs — the big picture windows in the wheel room, the drying racks in the closet, the kilns in the garage.
The club also teaches the occasional class, listed on their website when available, which Wozniak likes because she sees people surprising themselves when they try it out.
“A lot of people don't realize that they have some artistry in them until they start playing with something, and the stuff that some of these people make is so beautiful,” said Wozniak of both her fellow members and new faces.
The Mother’s Day Sale will be happening on May 10 from 5 to 8 p.m., and May 11 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the MJPC’s workspace on 741 Seventh Ave SE.
More information about the club and its activities can be found on their website, Facebook page, or by emailing [email protected].
