Little Mahoning Creek Pottery - Nancy Smeltzer

Little Mahoning Creek Pottery

Directions from From Rte. 85 in Plumville:

1. 954 North-6 miles to Smicksburg
2. Turn right on Clarion street
3.Studio on left--behind 77 Clarion St.

The Little Mahoning Creek Pottery studio sits behind her house in the popular village of Smicksburg. (mouse over the picture to see the front of the house) Nancy Smeltzer is also constantly improving her house, studio and kilns. Her wood kiln sits behind her studio and fires very nicely since she rebuilt it. The studio is functionally rustic and is full of ideas, bird figures, reminders of nature and wonderful pottery.

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Nancy Smeltzer:

Bio:

Nancy has a background in food, including an apprenticeship with Paul Prudhomme in New Orleans and a degree in Food and Nutrition form IUP. When her full time job at IRMC led her away from creating things with her hands she turned to clay. From 1992 to 1996 she studied ceramics with Donn Hedman. Workshops with Kevin Crowe (single fire process) , Ron Myers, Suze Lindsay, have been important in her informal learning process. She has been a member of the Pittsburgh Craftsman Guild since 2000 and has been teaching beginning and intermediate pottery for the Continuing Education Department at IUP since 1996. She has recently built a wood burning bourry box kiln at her studio.

 

Artist's Statement:

 

Many of my pieces are meant to be utilized in the everyday rituals of eating and drinking. Birds, plants and animals that live around the Smicksburg community are often reflected on my pottery. Recently I have been firing my work with wood. I find that glazing from wood ash and salt enhance the wonderful, imprintable quality of clay.

 

 

 

For more pottery pictures, click here: