Bowls
The bowls created at Terra Cottage Ceramics, 514 N. Seventh Street, Paducah.
It’s not often that I begin my day in a pottery class, but during a recent visit to Paducah, I did just that. Kentucky Monthly’s Julie Moore, Mary Hammond and Laura Schaumburg from the Paducah Convention and Visitors Bureau and I met up with a dozen ladies from the Paducah Homemakers Club for an informative and animated lesson from Michael Terra, the owner and operator of Terra Cottage Ceramics.
After Terra gave us a good schooling on the dos and don’ts of glazing, we were, for $5, provided with a workspace, bowl, brushes and glaze. From there, we could create whatever fancied us. “There is a correct way to do this, but as far as creativity, there is no wrong choices in what you do with your bowl,” said Terra, coordinator of Paducah’s Empty Bowls Project.
Once completed, the bowls are fired in Terra’s industrial kiln and on Feb. 23 they’ll be on display at The Convention Center in Paducah. From 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m., people may purchase the created bowls for $15 and have them filled with food from an assortment of McCracken County restaurants.
The proceeds go the Community Kitchen.
According to Schaumburg, last year’s event raised more than $22,000, “which is pretty good for a community with a city population of roughly 27,000,” said Terra.
Aside from the camaraderie enjoyed by all, doing an art project for such a worthy cause is a fine way to spend a winter morning. If you would like to glaze a bowl, there is still time. Simply call Terra at (270) 908-0090 and make an appointment for yourself our your group. If not, you can see other people’s work, such as ours, on Feb. 23 and assist by buying a ticket and sampling some excellent food.