Pottery by Mary Ellen Salmon
For the last decade, Mary Ellen Salmon has run a studio, gallery, and small pottery school in Trumansburg, NY. She is essentially a self-taught potter supplementing with many workshops in her 40 year career. Her greatest influences have been the geometry of the Native American pots and the abstract expressionist painters of her childhood.
Artist Statement
I texture my pots by pressing into the clay when it is leather hard, which leaves a mark on the inside, connecting the inside to the outside. There is meditation in the making, not perfection; my internal rhythm guides me. I have learned to trust my instincts when working - to let my inner voice and unconscious learning lead. I also enjoy the freedom that raku firing allows and hope to do more exploration of that process in the future.
Exhibitions
Recent show acceptances and awards include the International Orton Cone Box show in 2016 and winning the Skutt Ceramics Purchase Award at the Strictly Functional National Pottery Show that same year. In 2017 she won the President’s award at the Celadon Gallery for the “Better Together” show and one of her bowls was selected for CraftForms 2017 at the Wayne Art Center. In 2018, another piece was selected for the Strictly Functional show in Lancaster, PA.
MY MOTHER'S COLESLAW
Award-winning bowl in the 2016 Simply Functional Show
Recipe:
3 parts mayo
2 parts sugar
1 part vinegar
Mix above. Add to shredded cabbage.
Salt & pepper to taste.
Shake and stir once or twice
in 2-3 hours before serving.