Pottery with John Pettyjohn

The start of the year 2012 was the beginning of my love affair with pottery. I told myself late last year that I wanted to try something new and thanks to my sister who showed me a website for pottery lessons in Manila, I found what I was looking for. I've been fascinated with pottery ever since. There's just something about making things by hand from start to finish. From kneading the clay, centering it and forming the shape on a wheel, and glazing them, making ceramics is a complete process of handmade creation. And there's kind of a therapeutic effect, too. My mind goes blank when I hear the whir of the electric wheel and it's strangely comforting, finding some quiet as I work with my hands. Maybe that's why I like it so much. But that's just me.

My teacher, Mia, has been successfully fanning the flames (that once started as a spark of interest) by taking us students to visit some of the great names in the Philippine pottery circle. Last May, we spent a day in Quezon to visit Ugu Bigyan. We had a wonderful time looking through his work and even got to watch him demonstrate throwing clay on the wheel. We also had a superb lunch that day.

Last weekend, we drove to Calamba, Laguna to visit the renowned potters Jon and Tessy Pettyjohn, the so-called Mom and Pop of Philippine pottery. The experience was a treat and even better than I expected because the couple was so hospitable and generous with their time and knowledge. Despite the fatigue and stress their bodies may have felt because they spent three days firing their works prior to our trip, they opened their home to us and shared all sorts of tips for us eager students. For that alone, I was already in awe.

We officially started out field trip by coming into their gallery and looking at the works they had on display. They were all beautiful and impeccably made, and the textures and glazes were something to sing praises about. I couldn't believe that I was where I was at that moment!

All sorts of colors and shapes were found in the gallery as well as around their home.

 
Some of Tessy's recent works are inspired by nature. In this case, corals. I had a huge question mark hanging over my head when I first saw these pieces. How do you make these?!

 Another piece that's worth special attention: a stoneware guitar! The intricacy of the details is outstanding.

There were so many things to look at, but my favorite ones were these ones here. I love the texture and the colors of the glazes they used.

We talked to the couple for a few minutes before Jon brought us to their studio where all the "magic" happens. There were a lot of things to see in there, as well. There were shelves and tables of unfinished pieces, swatches of glazes hanging over us (Jon said that some of them were over 30 years old!), as well as a giant lump of clay in one corner. We found the Pettyjohns' trusty assistant, Sammy, busily kneading clay in another corner as we picked up, felt and looked at the pottery waiting to be glazed and fired. Jon played tour guide and offered stories for some of the pieces that we found interesting.

Here are some more of Tessy's recent works sans the glazing.
A coral garden!

This one I found especially amusing. A shark that Jon made.
Pretty cool, huh?

Finally, we got to the most awaited moment of the trip, the demonstration. It was evident that people were as excited as I was because the moment Jon started gathering his tools and took a seat in front of his electric wheel, we all gathered around in a tight group to watch, our cameras poised and ready. Watching the forefather of Philippine pottery doing what he does best was amazing.

In a span of an hour, he demonstrated how to make teapot, a tea cup, a giant bowl, a vase and a pitcher. While he was making them, he shared some tips and tricks that we students found useful and helpful. 

Awesome. :)

After the demonstration, Jon took us to higher ground where their wood firing kiln is found. Wood firing kilns are different from those that are fueled by gas because the ash produced in a wood kiln melt into the glaze of the pots which gives them, I think, a more rustic and handmade appearance. The Pettyjohns' wood kiln, like their pottery, was made with their own hands. At the front of the kiln were a bowl of rice grains, some fruit, and a cup of whiskey. All four corners of the kiln also had cups of salt atop it. All of these are offerings to the gods of fire to protect the pots. With the level of uncertainty each firing has, pots can easily crack and explode when exposed to high heat, offerings are surely welcome. Whatever keeps the pots safe!

The tour pretty much ended with the wood firing kiln (which reminds me of a hobbit house for some reason hehe). After showing us where he likes to relax when he's not working (he loves playing billiards, apparently) and showing us a few more of his pieces that he values, two of whic are reserved for his daughters, we spend the rest of the visit eating lunch and just listening to his and Tessy's stories. He suggested that we visit some of the "tourist" spots in Laguna and even went with us to show the places for himself. Nice guy, huh?

I went home that day with a camera full of photos and videos, a tumbler I bought at a discounted price and an experience that I won't soon forget. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday, not bad at all.