New York, New York...

Winding down from a good time spent back east. Nice to finally feel some heat after a chilly chilly summer in San Francisco. Of course, I spent 5 days inside at the Javits Center at the New York Gift Show--so the world outside seemed like a dream from the past....
Five days of meet and greet and talking about ceramics, inspirations and business. My work will soon be available in some interesting shops all over the country as well as Kuala Lumpur--which is exciting. I was heartened by the fact that folks appreciated the handmade and what goes into producing this kind of work locally as opposed to the ubiquitous imports that flood so many of the shops out there today. Several people commented on how few truly handmade ceramics they are seeing which led to lots of lively discussion and debate as to why younger designers are more often motivated to go into jewelry design, than getting their hands in the clay. "It is hard"-many said. Yes, there are lots of steps and fragile stages on the way to producing a clay piece. "They are hard to transport"-- yes, my hands still ache from packing and shipping and carrying boxes of fragile weight all over the east coast. "There's a lot of 'made in china' work that is soooo cheap"--yep, and I've discussed it here before, lots of lovely mass produced work out there, but does everyone want to have the same, imported thing made for mass consumption untouched by hands??

But overall, people were thrilled to see that there were still studio ceramicists out there--toiling away and coming up with new innovations and designs to capture the imagination and carrying on a long heralded tradition. I am proud to be a part of that group.
Apart from the show-time to catch up with family, take in the familiar urban landscape of NYC that I traded long ago for the expansive west, and banked a few good images to carry around for my return to working in the studio in September....

 urban sidewalk fruit/veggie stands everywhere..

all night long..

My son eagle eyed this on the sidewalk during an evening stroll---mini candy chalk body outline--- a gummy crime perhaps?

Curio..Curious..a High End Curio

I admit it. I am a total sucker for the funky junk shops that hawk tourist goods that line the streets around a tourist attraction-the small coin purses, aging plaster dolls, coaster sets, they draw me in every time with their kitschy fun and folk art sensibility. I especially love the stands in Mexico and Central America that sell ceramic Mayan figures, ekeko guys carrying the abundance of a life of riches. There is something sweet and honest about those pieces and they forever remind you of the place you have been. Sadly, many or perhaps most of these are now made in China but continue to deceive us and make us believe they are made by hand locally..as they once were.  If you are lucky enough to track down the real stuff- it certainly can be made nearby by local hands.
These images have always stayed with me and influenced my work. I love curios, icons, charms, small images that represent something meaningful, folkloric and useful and remind you of where you were, and have incorporated these images into my clay work.

Recently, I was commissioned by a beautiful winery up in Napa to do some pieces for them. I was immediately intrigued by the thought of creating a "curio"--something that represents the winery, its history and the beautiful land it occupies. A fine curio, a genuine local hand crafted memento.
Just as I coveted the ceramic Mayan statues in Central and South America, I wanted to create covetous ceramic pieces that would stay with people for generations to come- and remind them of where they were.

I love my collection of Mexican tourist dolls-some are quite old but back in the day, were hand made locally and did incorporate local weaving and pottery traditions. This is what I aim to do with these pieces, They are functional of course, but will remind visitors of the beauty and delight that is Napa.
And of course, who doesn't love a good plate memento? I found this at a flea market back east right around the time I was moving to San Francisco-I love it.
and this cable car box? a classic..

Here are some of the keepsakes I created for Silver Oak--if you are visiting Napa--pay them a visit--
world class cabernet, beautiful buildings and a few good high end curios to take home...

Setting Tables...

One of my early inspirations for making tableware was a visit to a restaurant that used all handmade plates and bowls. It added so much to the whole experience of eating as if the natural elements of the clay were enhancing the very flavors of the food--(for those of you into clay pot cooking- you know exactly what I mean-Paula Wolferts of the world..) I was so taken with the concept that I took this idea home with me and started to make plates just for my own family's use--incorporating much of the structure and design elements of the sculptural work I had been involved with. I quickly found that others shared this passion for eating good food on good plates and well, here I am toiling away in the studio making tableware, and still being inspired by it everyday.
So I was thrilled when I received an inquiry for making the tableware for a new restaurant, Station One, opening here in Northern California--in Woodside- a beautiful town south of San Francisco. The owners Kristi and Zu, shared my passion for the food/plate idea and had the vision to present their innovative seasonal cuisine on handmade plates--furthering their notion of local and artisanal.

So I have been a busy busy bee--rolling and making almost 500 plates hopefully to be ready for their mid August opening. It has been an extremely exciting and inspired project for me--each plate is different and I have had fun thinking of new designs every day that will match the ambiance and tastes that the plates will be mingling with. I think one of my faves, at least today, is an abstract depiction of women making tomato paste from scratch--scraping and swirling the tomatos into a marbelized wonder--

I will keep you posted on the progress as well as how it all looks at the restaurant, but here's a sneak peak--

So stay tuned..for more images and information about the restaurant opening...

The man, the stick and the bags..

I go for runs out at the beach several times a week and often see sites that are fascinating--the red tailed hawk that often lands right in front of me as if to start a conversation, the blackbird that I help to get a drink from the water fountains and many interesting people going about their lives out at an urban beach outpost.
I imagine that life in the "old world" is one of small pleasures along with small struggles--some of which come with you to the "new world". Many people earn their living collecting cans and bottles--a rough way to be sure, although it is democratic and accessible. But you need endurance and some swift tricks most likely brought over from a place of origin far away. This man--probably well into his 80's, is a regular fixture shuffling out along the Great Highway--long spindly stick straddling his hunched shoulders with sometimes 4 jumbo garbage bags hanging off each side---filled to the max with cans and plastic bottles collected from the remains of the weekend coastal revelers.

A long holiday weekend like this one must yield quite the bounty.
I nod to him as I run by--but think about this image often--his strength and  determination is inspiring and
also a reminder of the world we live in now--the gritty-ness and the quest to survive in all of us.

Here's to him.

Simpleline.

It's always fun for me to do commissioned work--usually involving full place settings for someone's treasured dining possibilities. And so to speak, everyone brings something new to the table for this task. Some want very specific designs that they have admired on my website and others say--whatever you want to do. Recently I have been getting some requests for minimal. Perhaps it is the state of the world and life being so complicated--people want to breathe a little, feel airy, light and unfettered. SO I had fun creating a whole line of work that was minimal in design and color- Sometimes I find that it is harder for me to leave a plate with just one little icon on it but rather will take to covering the whole thing in a frenzy. This may be speaking to my hoarding and collecting sensibilities--it is NEVER enough I say!  so it was with a very zen mind and spirit that I took to the clay in a spare way..and I really enjoyed it too.

Inspired by this and also the raw graphic nature of vintage dutch ceramics--I am introducing this simpleline...and am calling it simpleline..got it?

reduce the clutter

soothe the soul 

clean

graphic

bold and

understated

modern

striking and

subtle

handmade

plates

bowls

platters

cakestands

lazy susans

These are available now direct from me--drop me a e-mail if you are interested: 

lisa@lneimeth.com 

and then there's Kiki's beak too..

the house of worship

If you are an artist, a maker of sorts-whatever it may be, but something that you spend a lot of time doing each day-you have your place..your space where you work away-often time for hours, and hours again, sometimes sneaking back in late at night to adjust an earlier idea. I have my studio which is my true retreat-my place for quiet meditation an escape, really from the real world-or the world that lurks beyond my studio walls. I am lucky lucky to have a beautiful space to retreat to, and I appreciate it every single day.

 I get to think, listen to music or lots of talk radio--(think I have a masters degree in NPR now- an MSNPR?) My days are full of clay, contemplating it, being calm with it and being rejuvenated often. It is my house of worship--a religion of craft?

I am surrounded by all my talismans that bring me comfort and peace and get incorporated into my work. I tithe--aiming to donate a percentage of my earnings from this work regularly to deserving non profits and organizations doing good work. That is what a church does-yes? This is my temple, I do pray here and I do get to see the wonders of nature around me-miraculous in this urban locale.

A religion of craft indeed.