January Guest Artist Kathleen Mack

Kathy Mack’s interest in ceramics began in her late twenties while on a camping vacation in West Virginia.  She met an elderly woman who sold her work at the park lodge. She used clay she dug from a creek near her home, earning her the nick name of “Muddy Boots.” Talking with her led Kathy to take her first pottery lessons in Dayton, Ohio. She knew she had found her medium.

Life and career intervened, so it was not until 30 years later with retirement approaching that she was free to resume interest in pottery. Now pottery is Kathy’s inspired passion, creating form and color in unique and unexpected ways. Though she never thought that she could create art; she doesn’t sing, play music, paint, nor does she write poetry. Now she is easily lost for hours in the creative process of making beautiful pottery.

Kathy draws inspiration from her encounters with nature as she gardens, hikes and kayaks. She creates wheel thrown, slab built, and altered ceramic pieces.  Her work is always evolving.

Kathy creates functional and decorative pottery for homes and gardens. She produces large and small bowls, plates, vases, lidded jars, and of course mugs.  She also has fused two aspects of arts and crafts by producing pottery to which coiled pine needles are attached. She calls it Carolina Fusion Pottery. In addition, she creates horse hair and feather raku pieces.