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Cassie Welliver,
Materialized
Seattle, Washington
Email: cassiewelliver@gmail.com
Artist Statement:
My day job is Executive Director for a performing arts venue, so I'm not in my studio as often as I'd like. I do a lot of decorative pottery, but have recently gotten back into making functional sculpture. I've been making with clay since 1990.
Studio Description:
I'm part of the Equinox Studios in Georgetown, a gritty area south of downtown Seattle. Equinox has over 125 artists and artisans working in everything from glass and metal to music and popsicles.
What type of clay do you use?
Lowfire white, paper clay, raku clay.
What temperature do you fire to?
06-04
What is your primary forming method?
Thrown and altered, or textured slabs.
What is your favorite surface treatment?
Texturing with antique lace, coloring with slips I make in my studio.
Do you make any of your own tools?
Not usually, and when I do, it's usually my husband who makes them!
What one word would you use to describe your work?
Eclectic.
What is your favorite thing about your studio?
It's 2 stories tall in an old furniture factory, and there's a huge window wall to let the sun in.
What is the one thing in your studio you can’t live without?
My 1970s Pacifica Laguna wheel with a wood base.
What are your top three studio wishes?
A slab roller Central HVAC More space.
What’s on your current reading list?
Boring management and fundraising books.
How do you save money on materials and supplies?
I got my kiln for free from a fellow Washington Clay Arts member, garage sales and discount bins.
How do you recharge creatively?
I love to go to galleries and exhibits, and looking at my clay friends' work on social media.
Do you have any DIY tips for studio efficiency?
Clean as you go, constantly and consistently.
What challenges have you given yourself to overcome?
Working in clay is challenge enough.
What did you first piece look like?
A 3D triangle with burlap texture on the outside.
What ceramic superpower would you have and why?
Moisture control, so I could control when a piece is ready to fire and reduce kiln explosions.
Who is your ceramic art mentor and why?
The City of Columbus Ohio recreation system for all the inexpensive classes I took in the 90s.
What is your studio playlist?
Stereolab, Tones on Tail, Red House Painters
Why do you create art?
I have to.
What is your best studio tip?
Get one, and use it.
If you could change one property of clay, what would it be?
Its unpredictability.
