Jars of Clay

   Overseeing three large tables filled with clay vessels Charles Hughes, a State College potter, said he didn't make enough. The tables were abundantely covered with beautiful, natural forms. But Hughes said he wasn't sure the pots would make it through his festival tour this summer.

The Central Pennsylvania Arts Festival this year eased Hughes's concerns about not having enough pottery for the season. Hughes, who has participated in the Arts Festivals for three years, said sales have been marginal and that other artisans have noticed the decreased business. According to Hughes, the number of people appeared the same as in previous years, but they are not buying as much. Hughes offered no theories on the change in sales trends. A customer walked-up and asked Hughes why he wasn't selling lanterns like some other ceramists in the festival. The customer, who told Hughes his prices were high, said the lanterns were only $10. Hughes said he wouldn't consider making lanterns or selling them for so little.

Hughes is an artist not interested in gimmicks. He said over the years people have approached him with marketing ideas, like the lanterns. But he strives to keep his work pure and honest.

Hughes's pottery clearly reflects his values. In general, he attempts to communicate straightforwardness and openness in his work. The honesty he srives for does manifest itself. Customers walking by commented on the naturalness of his pottery. Hughes said he utilizes clay's intrinsic qualities. His forms are not tricky; they speak for themselves.

When asked what forms he prefers make, Hughes said bowls and pitchers come naturally to him. He prefers glazes that are uncontrived and compliment his ceramic forms. Hughes steers away from shiny glazes because they detract from the figure of a pot; he prefers a matte glaze for its natural looking tendencies.

For Hughes, pottery production is more than a livelihood. He said he believes there is a spiritual component to using pottery that doesn't come off a production line. According to Hughes, eating out of handcrafted pottery is a heightened experience because of the human energy put into the production work. For Hughes, ceramics is more than his business; it is his way of communicating with people.

Hughes also values the independence of production work. He is aggressive in what needs to be done and enjoys answering to himself. At this point, Hughes said, he would be a bad employee. For the future, he can't imagine himself doing anything else.

by Amanda Cornwell (originally published in the Penn State Forum Magazine)