Gertrude Graham Smith, aka Gay, is a studio potter and instructor single firing porcelain ware in a soda kiln near Penland, NC. Pottery has been her livelihood for over 45 years. “Making pots is a touchstone, a consuming passion. While living in Findhorn, a Scottish eco-village, I took to heart our philosophy, "Work is love in action." My pottery practice served my community's spiritual and secular life; this forms the foundation for my work and life. Exceptional mentors and residencies at Penland and Archie Bray nourished artistic development, and exceptional collegial support nourishes the artistic community around Penland. I’m looking to make extraordinary pots for ordinary daily use: lively, functional, animated, pleasing to hand and eye. In my soda kiln, flame and atmosphere decorate the pots. Glaze response is vibrant. I want my pots to be good companions: for eating, drinking, arranging flowers... They truly come alive when they find a home in your home. Perhaps, when a hand embraces a cup made with intention, compassion may arise in the heart. Pottery, its continual challenge and creative edge draws me on. And with making candelabra, I am passionate about making objects to bring more light into our world." Gay's work appears in numerous publications, is shown widely, she teaches workshops nationally and internationally, has served on the boards of Penland School and the NC Pottery Center, and grant awards include a NC Arts Council Visual Arts Fellowship.
