Update: Portugal to Portland and back again
We’re 7 months into our new life here in Portugal, and I’ll confess it has not been easy. We didn’t expect it to be easy, but some of the cultural challenges have been far more difficult than we anticipated. Most significantly being the slow pace, and bureaucracy around getting things done. The two biggest things: getting our electricity upgraded to be able to fire the bigger kiln, and setting up my business online so I can begin selling my pots in Europe.
Speaking with the electric company and seeking out a qualified electrician was our first order of business when we arrived in September. Long story short, we’ve been through 3 electricians since then. Each one taking up months of our time (not responding for weeks, not showing up when scheduled, and ultimately not filing for the permits needed and then disappearing completely) and getting us nowhere. We thought we had the right guy in December, but after months of waiting, it turned out that he filed the wrong paperwork and was so offended when we asked about it that he refused to respond or speak with us anymore. It’s been really frustrating to say the least.
New Nabertherm 60 liter kiln
We do have a small 60 liter kiln we purchased in December, so I am able to make some work, but if we’re hosting resident artists here, a 60 liter kiln is much too small. So this has been a challenge for getting our residency program up and running, and for getting a source of income here. The search continues but it sure feels daunting. We’re also exploring solar options, but the batteries needed to make it all work are very expensive, so may not be a viable option given our limited budget.
Example of a pair of bookends with glaze flaws.
Before I left Portland, I had hired a company to make molds of my bookends, and then cast them for me so I could continue selling them in the US after our move. After a year of hiccups, and the company more than doubling the estimated per piece cost, the product they delivered was wrought with issues: seam lines, tiny cracks, warping and glaze issues. I ended up spending thousands of dollars ($10,000 +) on development, testing, and troubleshooting, only to end up with something that totally does not work, and a bunch of imperfect bookends sitting in Portland. So I decided to fly back in March to trouble shoot these myself, and make a body of work to try to help generate some income to bring back and pay for some of the things we need to get up and running here in Portugal.
The good news?
I made 100 new pieces of my most popular designs and will be posting those on April 26 for the US.
I was able to document and assess all of the seconds bookends, so I can post them as a seconds sale. Discounting them according to their flaws. All of them are completely functional, just perfectly imperfect.
I was also able to make a batch of Pole Dancing Planters, and 8” pots for new big bookends and Monstera pots that will be available for a pre-order in May.
Wil and I collaborated on one of his Travel Mugs. He threw the form and I did the surface decoration. This one of a kind piece will be in the April 26 drop. You can see a process video here and see more of Wil’s work here.
I spent four full weeks working all day every day (and night in some cases) to get everything done before flying back to Portugal and I am so proud of the work created. I couldn’t have done it without the help of my studio assisstant Anna, and my friend and fellow potter Wil LaBelle. Wil is an incredible production potter and he threw some of my standard forms, so Anna and I could transform them into bookends and leafy planters. We also successfully tested new clay bodies for my Pole Dancing Planters, as the body I had used previously was prone to cracking at the base of the pole. Wil and I made a bunch of these that are drying and will be posted a pre-order in May.
Now I’m back in Portugal and putting the finishing touches on the residency house so we’re ready to welcome our first resident artists in May. I’ll be sharing before and after photos soon, and posting more about hosting guests here very soon.