featured potter of the month

jenelle cassidy

Pottery has always been a part of my life; playing with clay on my mother’s kick wheel that my father built her is one of my first memories.  I fondly remember watching the big gas kiln being loaded and fired by our neighbour (my mother’s pottery instructor) Mavis Mooney, and the shiny beautiful ceramic pieces being unloaded and admired by the adults (local potters).
I took my first pottery class in Fort Langley in 2010, and immediately knew it would be a big part of my life again.  While living in Fort Langley, I lucked out and gained a spot in Herman Venema’s class at his studio on Matsqui Flats.  I attended his classes for 3 years.
I’ve since taken courses at Nanaimo Ceramic Arts, at the Train Station in Parksville, and at Rainforest with Vijaya Morrison.
New to the Arrowsmith Potter’s Guild, I am now teaching an Introduction to Wheel Throwing course at the Train Station Studio, and l love the energy, enthusiasm and inspiration shared in the class.
I love to throw functional pieces, and my favourite pieces to throw usually come from a new inspiration that pushes and exceeds my current abilities.
I still feel I’m at the beginning of the ceramics journey as I have so much to learn; I am excited to learn more from peers, students and of course, the daily lessons from the clay, tools and glaze.