Artists unite at Spencer Cameron Building, 10 North Independance Square

Rosie Cameron opened The Spencer Cameron Art Gallery, nearly thirty years ago with friend and fellow artist Kate Spencer. After a couple moves, Rosie bought a building at the heart of St. Kitts historic district on North Independence Square. At this location, a fine example of Georgian architecture which boasts a two storey wooden structure with a solid stone cellar, she has shown not only her work but that of many other local and regional artists.

Now, years after operating solely, she has decided the time has come to share this location with other artists and artisans. She first spoke with me about it earlier this year, 2009. We met quite a few times and honestly, at times I wondered whether this would work. In large part this would be a great move both on her part and that of the artists given the economic times facing the globe today. So using the well know mantra UNITY IS STRENGTH, we are forging ahead. We look forward to many of our visitors and locals, finding us there.

Rosie will continue to show her works of art on the top floor of the building.

Glass Island, who produces art using glass fusion embraced the initiative. Leonie, a former employee, now owner believes in the ability of her product to attract clients to its new location on the first floor at Spencer Cameron Building.

Sugar Mill Gallery, owned by local artist Leonie Warner-Young, also moved into a room nearby. Paintings, ceramics and pottery by Leonie, as well paintings by her friend Sally will be available.

Sandwiched between the aforementioned two, is yours truly, Carla Astaphan, who finally decided that The Potter’s House Gallery, at the beautifully finished pottery pieces it is known for, will definitely be a great addition to this venture.

The St. Kitts Crafthouse which produces a variety of craft will set up a retail outlet on the top floor next to Spencer Cameron gallery.

Well, with a couple spaces still available we may see an artist or two, maybe a small café at Spencer Cameron Building.

See you there!!

Carla Astaphan
Potter/ writer/Coldwellbanker Sales Associate

The season is fast approaching

The season is fast approaching. Am I ready?

We are in October and the visitor season, i.e. cruise ship and stayover visitors will begin the seasonal trek to these islands, escaping the wintery cold of the northern hemisphere, to enjoy sea, sand, sun and lots of fun. We the islanders, who depend on that time of year to put much needed pennies in our coffers, have been preparing avidly for this time. The hotels, restaurants and bars have been doing maintenance work, their staff has taken their summer holiday to return revived for another hectic season. Taxi drivers and tour operators are ready, artists and artisans would have been producing as much stock as possible. This is the island's time to make revenue.

Yesterday, I had an interesting discussion with one of my fellow vendors in the craftmarket at the Marriott. We were talking about the pending season and our readiness for it. Personally, I feel like I'm ready but still I am nervous as to how ready I am. Do I have enough raw materials to sustain my production this season..... I have yet to place my order for clay and glazes from my normal suppliers. I do have a reasonable supply...but, what will happen if I get a huge order. I have already received an inquiry for a price on an item of which, if I get the order, I will have to produce 650 pieces...(I am envisioning getting this order, it will be a first of that size..oui bon dieu! as we say in Dominica...but I will get it done, thankfully I already know a few persons who will be able to help me produce...thanks to the St. Kitts Crafthouse for hosting a pottery workshop this past year, a couple people are have done well enough on the potter's wheel to help me produce, if needs be, also I've decided I will order clay through The Crafthouse thus saving myself some of the hassle) I am also looking at what I currently produce and what new items will sell. I am wondering do I have enough of the items that do in fact sell? To help me I am going to make a list of things I need to make this week. This is crunch time for me. After the expo last week in Puerto Rico my mind is full of new ideas. I've just completed a sketch for an item a potential client in Puerto Rico asked me to do. I first have to create a sample. Yes, I tend to work well under pressure, so first thing tomorrow morning at the crack of dawn and at intervals through out the day, I'll be on the potter's wheel, then I'll do some handbuilding and press some masks. Oh, yes I must do that, press some of my masks (I use my own original molds). I had an inquiry yesterday for masks. Two wonderful ladies came to my table at the Marriott, it turns out they own a number of stores, including one in St. Kitts. Each store carries a different type of merchandise. They are interested in my tribal masks for a store in the northern Caribbean..and yes, I am out of those right now, I have no idea how that happened...guess I had some good sales for masks and relief carving over the summer.

So did I say I am ready.....I am NOT!!!! I feel nervous, anxious and frightened but it's a feeling I recognise... I have felt it before so I know what I need to do....I'll just do it!!!

Expo Caguas in Puerto Rico

I am here in Puerto Rico about to rush of for the opening of the grand Expo Caguas 2009. I'll keep you updated. Got to run!!!

So it's day 1 of the Expo Caguas here in Puerto Rico. I rushed out earlier (actually this morning) because the bus was here to take us to Centro de Bellas Artes Center. The Potter's house is part of the OECS contingent of manufacturers displaying products here at the Expo.

Upon my arrival in PR yesterday, we were taken to the Center and I immediately did my booth setup. I had packed two boxes of some of the work I produced over the last few months. I think it was a good cross section of work from both myself and my partner. I was a bit afraid that I would have a skimpy display but as it turns out the space assigned to me was much smaller than I anticipated, or should I say what I expected.

Today was generally interesting. The opening ceremony was short and impressive. The Prime Minister of St. Kitts-Nevis is also here. Actually we sat almost next to each other on the flight over to PR. He and the Mayor of San Caguas visited all the booths immediately after the formal opening ceremony. He seemed very impressed with my booth set-up and my work in general. He happily showed me off to the Mayor...something about being St. Kitts famous Potter...

I met with a Puerto Rican Potter who is doing some fantastic work. I will post his website later and say a bit more. Right now I am going to have a well needed soak in the hotel pool, then I amm of to a reception where the SKN Prime Minister is to give a feature address. Just decided to stop at the PC to share here!!

Carla

A new beginning

I woke up this morning to the beautiful site of the sun, shedding it's first light over the horizon. Looking at the powerful glow of orangy red and bright golden yellow against the cloudy early morning, gave me a burst of energy to carry me through the day. I have been able to enjoy both the sun and the moon in their glory. Nature is doing it's thing without being asked, it's always on time and always perfect. Can I accomplish that? To woke without being asked. There is much I need to accomplish today. It's the first day of the new academic year. Baby Stara is donning her crisp new uniform for the very first time in her life. She is entering nursery 2 at the Mcknight daycare. Kande, my 12 year old is off to 2nd form at the Washington Archibald High School. The batteries in my camera died so I have no photos to show of how gorgeous they looked at this time.

I will have time on my hands to begin setting up my gallery, The Potter's House at it's new location - Spencer Cameron Building - on North Independance square in Basseterre. But first, I have had no access to internet since I moved and I do hope that it will be installed soon, I have so missed checking my emails and blogging.

I am looking forward to getting back to making pottery. I'll continue to share with you as much as I can.

Thanks to all of you for your continued support.

Change is a must...We are moving!!!

In Febuary of 1999, I started 'The Potter's House' on the West Bay road, here in Basseterre, St. Kitts. I had been making pottery since 1993 and used the name 'Pottery Creations by Carla'. Ever since I began making pottery I worked from home. I moved to Camps Estate House in 2004. I just realised that major change came at a five year interval. So now five years later , I am going through the biggest change both on a personal and career level. What do I do? The time has come to move. It was extremely difficult to find the right place. I wanted to grab at anyplace where I could continue as I always had...live, work and play! The universe was demanding that I change and I tried my best to continue as always. Well, I have finally given in to the natural course of things. I have found a place to live. My daughters and I will be living in a place which is quiet but the view and the sound of the ocean is exactly what my soul requires. I am happy that I will live for a while in such a place.

Careerwise, I will be moving The Potter's House to Spencer Cameron Building on West Independance Square, at the heart of St. Kitts historic district. I will be working and displaying my pottery in one of the rooms on the first floor of the building. Other artisans and artists, including Rosie Cameron herself, Glass Island are already occupying some of the rooms in the Building. I think Rosie Cameron has hit on a great idea to get some of us under one roof. I gave this alot of thought. Sometimes I wanted to do it and other times I didn't. Tonight, as I sat on the verandah, breathing in the clean, fresh evening air, I received the message loud and clear that this is what I should do and this is how to do it. So I am doing it! I am making the change! I have been packing for days now. And Steve has been using the jeep to move the boxes into my new home. By next week Tuesday I will be fully installed there. Hopefully, I will be able to focus on setting up the gallery space within the next couple weeks, so as to be ready for the upcoming visitor season.

Early this morning, we fired up the kiln at this location for the last time. Both Steve and I had worked on creating pieces over the last couple weeks. He packed the kiln and fired it up. By late this afternoon the firing was complete. We will be packing, dismantling, moving and reinstalling over the next few days...I may be out of touch due to untility transfers. I'll be back as soon as possible.

Peace and thanks for all you who have supported my in my search.

The full moon

This is my last full moon here at The Potter's House, at Camps. I have spent a few minutes, every night, for the past week looking at the moon. I sit on the front steps, and look up into the clear Caribbean night sky, at the beauty of God's creation. The strong light of the full moon lights up the yard. I sit in awe! I know this is my last full moon phase here. I watched as it went from a cresent moon to a almost a half round shape, then to the great big round cheeze in the sky.

On Thursday night, which was the night of the full moon it was actually a very cloudy night. The moon really tried it's best to peep through the clouds. We were at the beach, X's Shiggidy Shack, selling pottery. I kept looking up to see if the moon would appear, but the mountain which towers over Timothy Beach Hotel, though not too high, obscured the effect of the moon for quite a while. I later realised that the moon was having a hard time fighting off the clouds. As I left the beach for home the clouds were clearing up. By the time I got home it had won the battle and now stood in all it's glory casting it's beautiful light upon the yard. I decided to allow it to cast it's light upon me too. I walked through the yard, sat under one of the mango trees, inhaled and exhaled deeply, before I went into the house and to my bed, to sink into blissful sleep. It is a wonderfully relaxing feeling, being one nature and to be part of it in this way.

Tonight, I am going out once again, like I did the night before to enjoy it. Maybe, I took the moon for granted many months as it rose up in the sky and cast it's light on this house and yard. I remember, we used to have poetry readings, under the Mango trees, on the basketball court or the porch. We chose to have it on the full moon. Though short-lived, WOTA (word of the artist) was a great coming together of like-minded persons. We need to find the time to get together again, somehow.

So to the beauty of the full moon in the Caribbean skies...I give thanks. It is always a great feeling, to pause for a moment and enjoy the wonders of creation.

The results....FINALLY

Well, it's been a few days since I fired up my electric kiln to complete a glaze firing of pottery which had been created over the last few weeks. It is indeed a process, the making of pottery, from opening a bag of moist clay to seeing the actual piece glazed and fired. I told someone

today, while at the Amina Craftmarket, where I sell my work primarily to cruise ship and stayover visitors, that no one asked me to make pottery or to put a particular design and colour on them. I am inspired by the spirit, something within me that moves me to see, create and do things in a particular way. It allows me to observe and interpret what I see around me and I execute it in my pottery. I also said that no one has to buy it but they do. A potential buyer comes to my gallery or my table at the market, the piece they will eventually buy speaks to them and inspires them to walk away with it. That makes me feel good!!

I am quite happy with the results of this firing, including the pieces which were glazed with the 'wrong' glaze. We unpacked the kiln two days after I fired up the kiln. At my sales event later that night, and again today, the newer designs which I decided to try were the first to 'fly' off the table.

For the pieces which I've sold the process is totally complete. In my gallery and my 'travelling bin' (the container in which I carry my pieces), there is a whole new stock to be sold..the process of pottery making complete! Now, it's time to sell, sell, sell!!!