Artist Alley
Stories of how we cross paths with talented creatives
We work together with individual artists, from coast to coast and abroad, who are committed to the beauty and craftsmanship of their trade. Over the years, we’ve developed relationships with a select community of talented artists, both rising stars and those known globally. Each month, we feature a different artist on this page, celebrating their style and a look behind-the-scenes at our work together.
An Artisan Studio Near the Animas Mountains
If you’re planning to attend a Lorna Meaden ceramics sale, prepare to stand in line. Locals tell me the line to her studio in Colorado starts bright and early with shoppers who know her shelves are stocked with beautiful, unique ceramic pieces.
After the hectic pace of one holiday season, I was fortunate to meet Lorna at her studio, located in the town of Durango. As a visitor to the vast mountain ranges and open sky in southern Colorado, it does feel like the air you breathe there is filled with a rare inspirational, creative element. It was in this setting that Lorna was prepping for an upcoming show and was busy making a variety of pieces that needed to ship. With so many ceramics planned for the show, I was able to enjoy browsing her studio with shelves full of different sizes and shapes, everything from espresso cups and tumblers, to flasks, olive oil dispensers and giant watering cans.
The opportunity to visit with Lorna was an unexpected surprise (read more here), an example of karma and chance colliding. After our first meeting in Colorado, we worked together in the coming months to figure out a plan and timelines. We scheduled around travel itineraries, which included her Bali trip to teach ceramics, and our summer excursion to Lake George. We selected two different styles of ceramics for our gift boxes, both with a beautiful burnt orange and moss green glaze.
As summer approached, we got a call from Lorna that the fire restrictions in Durango were making things challenging. What else could we do but pray for rain? Life is unpredictable like that. Fortunately, Mother Nature eventually let up, and we received our initial selection of Lorna Meaden Pottery in time for our photo shoot.
If you track our timeline, we worked together for nine months, from initial meeting to when Lorna’s ceramics originally appeared on the pages of Red & Rugged. That’s about normal. Finding, meeting and working together with individual artists, toward a mutually beneficial end-game, takes time and planning. It’s a grass roots effort. There is no short cut to discovering beautiful artisan pieces, consistently made, and the talented artists who make it happen.
Lorna received her MFA from Ohio University and has been a resident artist at the Anderson Ranch Arts Center and the Archie Bray Foundation.
View Lorna’s work in our Cabin Fever, Season and Savor and Bistro on the Balcony gift boxes.
