Colorful flowers and the text "Art in the Garden"

A heartfelt thank you to all who attended and to the incredible artists who shared their talent for this event. It was a delight to see so many artworks find new, loving homes. Through your generous support we were thrilled to raise $200 for the Farmington Public Library!

I'm honored to have shared this day with such talented creatives. Continue to follow their artistic journeys. Find these artists’ profiles here.

We hope to see you again next summer!

Thank You!
Your support made Art in the Garden bloom, August 2025

The New England Wood Firing Conference, June 2025

at Jody Johnstone Pottery — in Swanville, Maine

In June, as part of the NEWFC, I had the wonderful opportunity to join eleven other talented potters in firing our work in Jody’s catenary kiln. The entire process of glazing, carefully stacking, and firing spanned five days from start to finish. We began by using Jody’s glazes to decorate our pieces, thoughtfully choosing colors and textures. Then, we all pitched in to help as she meticulously stacked the kiln and bricked up the door for firing. We lit the kiln and took turns stoking the fire for three full days — working in six-hour shifts around the clock — until the temperature impressively reached 2,330°F. Two days later, after allowing the kiln to cool completely, we returned eagerly to unload the kiln and see the beautiful results of our collective effort. Opening the door, brick by brick, I felt like I was carefully excavating an ancient archeological site, excitedly glimpsing bits of vibrant color and intriguing shapes as light gradually filtered in. Once opened, we formed a single line to unload our finished pots. Each piece was carefully passed from hand to hand, marveled at, and then placed on the ground in order, so that we could later observe how how flame, ash, and the kiln’s draw had affected our pots and glazes. I totally forgot to count how many pieces we fired! In fact, I was left quite speechless.

What an incredible adventure this turned out to be, centered in clay love, and filled with nature’s wonders, delightful potlucks, music, and the warmth of friendship — truly my favorite things.

Visit The New England Wood Firing Conference to learn more about upcoming events.

In Swanville, Maine
My greenware, glazed, and ready to be stacked in the kiln
Glaze over my raw clay vases, made with raised jellyfish patterns
First stack, next to the firing chamber
Stacked pots, top of first and second columns
All our pots set, and ready to fire
Bricking up the door
First match, lighting the kiln
Fire has caught in the chamber, and the kiln is drawing through the chimney
Stoking the kiln -- on this shift, two logs and one stick for each side of the fire chamber
Me taking photos in Jody's garden, Rebecca said my hat looked like one of the poppies :)
A pretty swallowtail
Here I am , tending the hearth on the final shift
We, Jody's crew, are all-smiles after a delicious pot-luck lunch
Having a look at all of our fired pieces
A turtle and vase, made by me
Three of my groove-y cups
A mug for Frank, with lovely glaze drip over toasty clay
It's a match-up! Glaze colors and patterns on my vase resemble the rock behind
A toasty clay cup with grayish-purple coloring from wood ash deposited during the firing
A jellyfish forever floating on an earthy-red, flame-kissed, natural clay surface :)
Just a lovely mug, in earthy green and pink, with peek-a-boo reveal of natural clay on the inside
Event poster for 'Artwalk Gardiner' on December 6, 2024, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., featuring participating artists and hosts, with information on sponsors, music, raffle, and image credits.
Art gallery window display showing ceramic vases and bowls, fabric art pieces, and hanging paper star decorations, with a reflection of trees and sky outside.
Museum exhibit sign titled "The Thinking Hand," listing artists and dates from June 21 to September 20, 2024, with art displayed on the wall in the background.
Ceramic art pieces with leafy patterns displayed on white pedestals in an art gallery.
A woman with curly red hair and glasses standing next to a white display shelf with a ceramic art piece. She is wearing a black dress with a floral pattern and smiling while pointing to the art piece. Two smaller art pieces are on the wall behind her.
Event flyer titled 'Meet the Artists' with an image of a display window with pottery in the upper part, and photographs of Cherise Andrea holding a textile art piece on the left, and Cherie Giampietro holding a ceramic vase on the right, along with their Instagram handles.
Art gallery window reflecting cloudy sky and trees, with framed artworks on the wall inside and pottery on wooden shelves.
A woman with curly hair wearing a green apron and a blue tank top, installing a ceramic birdhouse on an outdoor table with a brick surface, surrounded by trees and greenery.
Group of women in a workshop or studio space, some holding papers, with shelves and tables in the background.
People working on a craft project involving green fern leaves, using a rolling pin, scissors, and glue on a table covered with newspapers
People decorating a wooden box with green fern leaf designs at a table covered with newspaper and craft supplies.
Person working on a ceramic mushroom-shaped house sculpture, painting and detailing the surface.
Three unfinished ceramic birdhouses in various shapes on a work table.
Woman with glasses working on a ceramic project, creating a ceramic container with fern window designs, surrounded by crafting supplies on a work table.
Two small, decorative ceramic birdhouses sit on dark soil amidst green plants. The birdhouse on the left is rectangular with a flat roof and a round entrance hole. The birdhouse on the right is rounded with a thatched-style roof, a twisted handle at