Ceramics/Pottery
The Clay School, Room 316
@theclayschool
kirstenbassion.com

Kirsten Bassion is the owner of The Clay School in the Lydia Pinkham Building. Kirsten received her MFA in Ceramics from Rochester Institute of Technology. Her colorful pottery is shown in museum gallery shops and art galleries around the country.

This is her 18th year running Open Studios, and this January will be our 19th anniversary at The Clay School.

Ceramics/Pottery
Kimberly Allison, Room 316
@kallisonceramics
kallisonceramics.com

The tactile experience has always captivated me. As a child, I was drawn to art, art shows, and museums, but dismayed by the prevalence of "do not touch" signs. In clay, I discovered a medium that celebrates the connection between sight and touch, inviting interaction rather than detachment. Pottery is not merely for viewing; it craves engagement, and is designed to be touched, used, and woven into our daily lives.

My current body of work explores the inherent tactile qualities of clay. I use both wheel-throwing and hand-building techniques, a variety of smooth and groggy dark clay bodies, slips, and additives to explore the raw, elemental beauty of the material. The striking landscapes of Iceland—its volcanoes, lava fields, and breathtaking terrain—inspire my forms and textures, infusing my work with a sense of place and wonder.

Each piece I create aims to foster a dialogue between the user and the object, enhancing everyday rituals with beauty, intentionality, and a deeper connection to the moment. I invite viewers to not only see but to experience my work, transforming the mundane into the extraordinary through tactile engagement.

Bio
Kimberly Allison is a ceramic artist based in Salem, Massachusetts, with over 12 years of experience working with clay. She has dedicated herself to her craft full-time since 2016 after transitioning from a decade-long career in graphic design and film. Since 2018, Kim has participated in juried fine craft shows across the country, and in 2021, she held her first solo exhibition at the Southern Vermont Arts Center. Since late 2022, she has embarked on an exciting artistic journey, moving from eight years of highly detailed, carved porcelain to exploring the rich, earthy textures of stoneware. In addition to her studio practice, which she shares with her husband, their cat, and a reluctant "studio assistant" pup, Kim teaches classes and workshops at The Clay School in Lynn, Massachusetts. Through her teaching, she hopes to inspire students of all levels to discover their own passion for ceramics.

This is Kim’s 12th year participating in Open Studios, and her 11th as part of the planning team.

Ceramics/Pottery
Kyle Day, Room 316
@kdceramicdesign

Patina, permanence, and the passage of time.

In my work, I explore how time and our interactions with everyday objects affect the world around us, focusing on how manmade objects are gradually worn down over time.

My artistic process involves coiling and pinching the clay to form the final object. I then add layers of slip, colored with black stain and iron oxides, to create depth. Finally, I apply several coats of terra sigillata, burnishing between layers to give each coating a lustrous sheen.

My work is created in porcelain and fired to cone 7 in an electric kiln. This is my 12th year participating in Open Studios and my 11th as part of the planning team.

Enamels and More
Tim Hansen, Room 313C
@digsenamels
digsenamels.com

Tim's artistic path is an exploration of the boundless possibilities of copper enamels, rooted in an aesthetic inspired by rugged New England's landscapes and shores. It is a journey that celebrates the untamed beauty of nature and the imperfections woven through the tapestry of existence by the human hand.

Tim's enameling passion can be traced back to traditional European blue and white enamels of the 1970s. This spark of inspiration ignited the birth of Digs Enamels Studio in 2013, marking the beginning of an artistic odyssey. Through the years, Tim's explorative creative process has yielded a diverse and expressive body of work, reflecting the unpredictable nature of enameling.

From expansive multi-paneled sculptures to the intimate, kiln- fired creations of his studio and meticulously crafted jewelry, every element of the work emerges slowly, a testament to Tim’s unwavering craftsmanship. Each piece embodies alchemy– a harmonious fusion of copper and enamel that refreshes traditional artistry. Tim's background in design serves as the compass guiding his creative process, emphasizing the significance of the "how" in the act of making. He is attuned to the minute details of handmade creations, whether it be the intricacies of a clasp or the precision of a pin. Every resulting piece is a labor of love, marked by rich textures resulting from the synthesis of ancient and modern techniques.

In Tim's art, we find a celebration of the enduring allure of handcrafted copper and enamel, creating narratives that resonate with the soul. His creations tell stories; of the innate connection between the artist's hands and the raw materials they shape, and of the profound beauty that emerges from this union. Tim's art is an ode to the past, present, and future of enameling.

Painting
Christine Johnson Fine Art, Room 301A
@cjohnsonstudio
cjohnsonstudio.com

In this crazy world where we are surrounded by all kinds of chaos, I use the influence of living near the ocean to try and create an environment that is calm and peaceful. To me, there is something magical and even spiritual that happens in the space where the sky meets the water. Is it liquid, or solid, or something else?

The intention of my painting is to portray a sense of depth by layering washes of color that can take you to a place that, although abstract, looks and feels like water or sky that you can swim or float through as you fall into peaceful contemplation, meditation or reflection.

I don’t always start with a vision in mind of the finished painting. I often start with a color and let it flow where it takes me. I enjoy producing larger size paintings that can fill my field of vision, and that involve my whole body to create, but usually produce small studies on paper first. Over recent years, I have come to realize that I enjoy the small works just as much and that they can stand on their own with the same calming effect.

Glass, Flame Working and Sculpting
Alex Ginches, Room 208B

Alex, a 29-year-old borosilicate glass flame worker, has been fervently crafting unparalleled glass art for the past 7 years. His journey has led him to study under the guidance of Italian classical and modern masters, as well as many of the best that shaped the contemporary functional art glass market. Alex pours his passion and innovative techniques into crafting bespoke jewelry, exquisite vases, one of a king glassware, holiday ornaments, and intricate hollow sculptures – all tailored to adorn your living space or elevate your business environment.

Ceramics/Pottery
Roy Natian, Room 316
@roysclayco
roysclay.co

Working with my hands has always been important to me, and pottery became my way to reconnect with my creativity, especially after my mother’s passing. I started taking pottery seriously over two years ago at The Clay School, studying under Kim Allison and through self-guided learning. Influenced by my background in mathematics, minimalist design, and a childhood surrounded by art, I’m drawn to geometric forms and the interplay of shape and color in both functional and sculptural pieces.

I balance careful planning with adaptability, often allowing unplanned deviations to guide new creative directions. Whether I’m creating functional mugs or whimsical sculptural pieces, my goal is to craft work that is both aesthetically pleasing and practical.

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Born and raised in the Los Angeles area, Roy earned a BS in mathematics and studied graphic design at UCLA. During the day, he works in tech but spends most evenings dedicated to pottery, which has evolved from a hobby to a serious passion.

This is Roy’s first year participating in Open Studios.

Painting, Photography
Bobbie Bush, Room 112
@bobbiebush
@bostonportraitartist
bobbiebush.com
bostonportraitartist.com

Bobbie Bush is a professional portrait artist specializing in fine photographic portraits and custom painted portrait commissions.

As her personal and professional work has evolved, Bobbie has developed a unique mixed media process that pushes the boundaries of what was once a digitally-captured image into the realm of fine art. Her tools now include both the modern and the traditional, combining hand-applied electronic brushwork with topical layers of oil paints and embellishments, applied by brush and palette knife.

Each commission begins with a photographic reference image, whether is is a client-supplied photograph or an image captured at the studio.

With over 25 years of experience, Bobbie has helped her clients express a deep love of family through painted portrait art by combining photography + painting together in a creative way to create the painting they always wanted. Just imagine having your most cherished memory transformed into a painted work of art, whether it is celebrating a child, memorializing a parent, commemorating a pet or honoring a friend. Portrait paintings in the home remind us that we are loved and valued.

This is Bobbie's fifth year participating in the Lydia Pinkham Open Studios, located in unit 112 on the first floor. Painting work can be found at: https://www.bostonportraitartist.com Photographic work can be found at: https://bobbiebush.com

Instagram: @bobbiebush, @bostonportraitartist

Custom Clothing and Alterations
Michelle Fournier designer/ tailor, Room 208A

Designer of custom clothing and full alterations services.

Ceramics/Pottery
Room 318
@clay_beetle

Recycled Newspapers
Kathy Cormier, Room 114
@couture.planet
coutureplanet.com

Couture Planet is a woman-owned company that creates fashion handbags from 100% post-consumer materials. We are proud to be a Made in the USA company.

Coffee...Paint...Dance…
Artem Buynevich, Room 309
@absloth

…shimmering…

Pottery/Ceramics
Room 316

Piano Classes and Lessons
Bradford Alderman, Rooms 302 and 317
@northshorepianostudio
northshorepianostudio.com

Since 2018, North Shore Piano Studio has been teaching adults and children how to play the piano. The school has three different studios in the Lydia Pinkham building. For the Open Studios event, we are showcasing our new Piano Lab group classroom in room 317, which offers small group classes for people who want to learn piano or people who already have experience playing. We are also showcasing our private lesson studio in room 302.

Both studios have a cozy, welcoming atmosphere as we strive to inspire students to have fun while they improve their musical abilities. Come stop by to see our collection of plants, grand pianos, velvet couches, and hear some live music!

Ceramics/Pottery
Erica von Schilgen
The Clay School, Room 316
@barnmothstudio
barnmothstudio Etsy

Erica von Schilgen has been working in several different media since receiving her BFA in Sculpture from MassArt in 2002. For many years she showed her kinetic sculpture in galleries and museums throughout New England. Recently she has fallen in love with clay and has applied her whimsical style and warm color palette to her pottery “Barn Moth Studio”. Inspired by her love of gardening, nature, and children’s books she creates intricately detailed stoneware pottery with unique surface imagery. In January she began teaching pottery at The Clay School. She lives in Nahant, MA.

Ceramics/Pottery
Peter Grams, Room 401

Pottery/Ceramics
Room 211C
@yarnpants

I am a serial maker, and while somewhat new to the world of pottery, working with clay felt very familiar from the start. It taps into all the skills I've learned from baking, knitting, embroidery, and countless other crafty pursuits. Even that brief, inexplicable period making faux stained glass using acrylic paint.

I create wheel-thrown and hand-built functional pottery and am still in search of the Perfect Mug Handle. As with all other artistic endeavors, my designs are inspired by vintage graphic design, textiles, and housewares with an eye towards fine details and bright colors.

Mixed Media Photography
Patricia Scialo, Room 301B
@patricia_scialo
patriciascialo.com

Patricia's concentration on historic and alternative processes in photography has lead to the creation of handmade unique prints, that combine mixed media techniques such as hand-tinting, encaustic, and hand paper-making.

Inspired by the interaction of material and subject, approaching an interweaving of the two. She has exhibited throughout the east coast and internationally a recipient of the Julia Margaret Cameron Women in Photography Gala Awards, Barcelona

Ceramics/Pottery
Gina Chase, Room 311L

Working in clay has been my hobby for over 20 years. I enjoy making functional pieces with designs inspired by nature and local architecture. I use mostly stoneware and my favorite decorating technique is sgraffito.

Cakes and Sweets
Patricia Francis, Room 214
@luna_sweets_
lunasweets.com

Luna Sweets is a cake studio specializing in luxury custom event cakes where we make edible works of art. Our mission is to create the most delicious, stunning cake you have ever had. This means that our cakes are made to order using the highest quality of ingredients available. We use real butter, eggs, sugar, pure vanilla, milk, and fruit. Every single cake is hand-crafted because it's not a basic cake, it's the centerpiece of your special celebration.

Paper, ink, embossing powder
Rochelle Sport, Room 313C

Rochelle Sport and her Nana, Euline, shared a love of taking the time to craft handwritten notes. With handcrafted note and holiday cards, Queen Euline Designs celebrates the pleasure of taking the to express words of sentiment and good cheers to ones we love.

Ceramics/Pottery
Vicky Blanco
The Clay School, Room 316
@eeya_ceramics

Vicky Blanco is the potter behind EEYA Ceramics. She enjoys creating functional hand-made pieces that communicate warmth, strength and connection. Her work utilizes red clay and porcelain slip, and carved patterned surfaces that reference nature.

Vicky grew up in Bolivia. Surrounded by mountains, diverse culture, nature and a close family. She developed a love for artistic expression at an early age. She holds a bachelor’s degree in graphic design, and spent many years working on branding, interaction and information design projects. In early 2019 she started classes at The Clay School and immediately fell in love with this medium and has since focused her creative energy on clay.

Vicky crafts meaningful pieces – finding a connection with her roots in design, and exploring form and the creation of patterns on the clay surface. She believes in the power of living a life surrounded by beauty and nature. She values the sense of human touch and the energy to pass it onto others with each piece. EEYA is the phonetic spelling of “IYA”, a Guarani dialect word that refers to the energy found in things made from the earth. "EEYA" is created with new pottery and passed on to each owner as new "EEYA".

Vicky finds great joy in creating pots and wishes to share that joy with those who use them. Today she lives in Lynnfield with her family and is a happy maker.

Sewing, Upcycling, Lessons
Tracy Walsh, Room 301
@lepetit.studio_

Ceramics/Pottery
Lisa Markham, The Clay School, Room 316
@LisaPagePottery

Lisa Page has been at the Clay School for 11 years consistently honing her craft. She brings back to the Open Studios her ever-evolving unique, colorful, and whimsical pieces that put joy and delight into everyday ritual.

Painting
Room 400R

Pottery, Algae Presses, Underwater Photography
The Clay School, Room 316
http://angelajjones.com

I am part of a family of artists and naturalists. I grew up with my great grandparents and grandparents always working on paintings. I am the only potter in the family, but I love adding hand painted elements of nature to my pieces. I took my first ceramics class as an undergraduate student in 2013 and fell in love with the medium. The majority of my work is wheel thrown functional pieces that have hand carved or hand built elements.

I am currently a PhD student in Marine Biology, and I use ceramics as an outlet to express my creative inspiration and expression of the natural world. In 2022, I joined The Clay School after I moved to Massachusetts for grad school. This is my third time participating in the Lydia Pinkham Open Studios event. I am so excited to share more of the ocean art media this year in the form of Algae Presses and photographs I’ve taken while scuba diving or from under a microscope!

Painting, Photography, Mixed Media, Plants
Brie W Swift, Room 203
@briewswift
briewswift.art

In my sunlit studio within the historic Lydia Pinkham building, I embark on a journey to illuminate the darkness that I often see in life. Through vibrant hues and bold strokes, I seek to capture the essence of joy, infusing my artworks with an unconscious radiance that defies the shadows. Embracing the freedom of abstraction, I eschew the rigid expectations that I have often found in life, in favor of boundless expression; Most times, allowing my creations to evolve organically. Each stroke is a testament to the liberation I find in my artistic exploration, a celebration of the unbridled creativity that flows from within.

The majority of my pieces come to life using leftover paint from other works, forming a continuous and wasteless cycle of creation. By embracing a wasteless cycle, I not only honor my passion for the environment but also imbue my art with a sense of purpose and responsibility. Through my work, I invite viewers to bask in the brilliance of possibility and to embrace the beauty that emerges when we truly allow the light in ourselves to shine through.

Ceramics/Pottery
The Clay School, Room 316
@jen_birenbach

I make hand-built pottery using different clay bodies. I decorate them using glaze, underglaze, and terra sigillata. I wish the user to interact with the natural, smooth feel of the clay and therefore I include matt surfaces on my exterior surfaces. The pieces are entirely food and microwave-safe.

Wood
Ed Wilk, Room BR-3
@treeandtenon
http://treeandtenon.com

Tree & Tenon was formed in 2020, at the beginning of Covid. After a couple years of amateur woodworking and a previous career in retail and food & beverage, founder Ed Wilk decided to make a go of creating custom, hand-made furniture full time. Since then, he's designed and built a wide variety of heirloom furniture from kitchen islands and tables to bookcases, china cabinets, and cremation urns. During the holidays, Ed creates and sells cutting boards using off-cuts from projects created throughout the year, helping to minimize waste in an effort to be eco-conscious.

Ceramics/Pottery
Emily Stuart, The Clay School, Room 316
@essexmoonceramics

I am a ceramic artist living in downtown Salem. My background in graphic design and sculpture inspires the forms and motifs of my work. In addition to The Clay School, I have studied clay, stone and wood sculpture at The MFA Museum School and the Decordova Museum School.

Pyrography, Fiber Art, & Illustration
Delia Soltys, Room 314D
@deliarfaria
http://sites.google.com/view/drf-artistry

Delia is a Massachusetts-based multi-disciplinary artist living on the North Shore. With a college education in graphic design and letterform, she developed a polished, cozy style.

She is inspired by her passion for exploring themes in the natural world with a touch of whimsy and applies her knowledge of alternative mediums to her work.

Ceramics/Pottery
The Clay School, Room 316

Painting
Rosario Ortiz, Room 316
art_by_rosario

I have been captivated and drawn to the arts my entire life, through painting, piano or writing poetry. For different and challenging reasons, I remained an autodidact painter.
I fell in love with oils around December of 2019. This experience was so dramatic that I had to take painting seriously; it profoundly changed my path.

This media has helped me find my voice creating a language of colors that certainly invites an audience to engage in a conversation.

I am interested in creating, through layers, artwork that displays sensitivity and contains substance.

I need to express emotions and capture the essence of still life and landscapes, intimate encounters with the new experiences of the process of creating.

I keep on exploring techniques and colors, staying true to myself in my need to communicate through my art.

I have presented my paintings in several exhibits and juried shows in my area as well as at International Art competitions, earning awards.

Currently, I am trying to paint in diverse translucent layers to create my own technique in a faithful fashion from my home studio in South Florida.

Painting and Design
Meg Nichols, Room 314C
@paintedladysignco
paintedladysignco.com

Painted Lady Sign Co. specializes in traditional hand painted signs, murals and lettering. Stop by our studio to see where everything is designed and crafted. We will we selling a variety of our hand lettered designs on stickers, pennants, one-of-a-kind paintings and banners. We take commissions and would love to talk to you about creating something special!

Ceramics/Pottery
Victor Oliveira, Room 211C
objectorium.com
@max7realty

Sculpture
Mary Spitzer, Room 301e

Come Together Over Me

A slab of cherry wood, 20” x 18” x 3” thick from a friend’s childhood farm sat in my studio for about 5 years, waiting for its moment. After I chipped away the rough and dirty surfaces with a mallet and chisel, long streaks of pink and green grain and dark red branch markings became obvious. It reminded me of the Grand Canyon. My only concern at that moment was not to mess it up.

My work is informed by many sources- the color and density of logs and tree branches, the shapes of found objects, and their history and whether they have been broken or not. Added to this palette of influences are my thoughts and emotions which consciously and unconsciously roam around my studio where my wood is stacked on shelves like volumes in a library, next to my tools hanging on other racks, metal gouges of various curvature and finally pieces of unfinished sculptures waiting to be resolved into an idea.

For the last few years themes of the damaged environment and the unrecognized people who lived before us have begun to be seen and appreciated in our society. My piece of sculpture, “ Canyon Rim”, that has emerged from the gorgeous cherry slab is a memorial piece and a celebratory piece about this moment as we look over that canyon of history.

Ceramics/Pottery
Chelsea Habib
The Clay School, Room 316
rowhousepottery.com
@RowhousePottery

My work is grounded in the traditional pottery of the American Northeast and draws influence from Japanese making techniques that focus on a meditative commitment to the process and a celebration of the inherent imperfections of handmade wares. I am grateful for the boundaries that function and tradition place on my work. As such, I aim to make pots that evoke a sense of history, yet are born entirely of the present.

Pottery is the intersection of art and craft - the perfect combination of form and function - which makes it an ideal way to add a bit of art into our hectic, modern lives. The way a handle is marked by the maker's fingers, the slight imperfections of a rim, glaze breaking over an altered surface - all of it is entirely unique to that piece. This can make something as humble as a simple mug into a piece of art. As such, my hope is that my pots will be used often, and not treated preciously. That their use becomes an opportunity for connection, appreciation, and contemplation.

Pastel and Oil Paintings
Annette Sykes, Room 403 AB
@PaintbytheOcean
http://www.paintbytheocean.com

Annette Sykes is an observational artist who captures the people, places, and things of Boston's North Shore. Working primarily in pastel and oil, her paintings reflect a deep connection to the local community. Her work is regularly exhibited at GAL in Lynn, as well as in galleries throughout the North Shore. She has recently moved into a studio at the Lydia Pinkham Building.

In 2024, Annette was named a CCI Changemaker, a recognition that has expanded her practice and deepened her involvement in the arts. As Founder of GALA, she not only pursues her own creative work but fosters collaboration within the local arts community. She leads a weekly Figure Drawing Group at the Gallery, bringing together artists to draw & paint from a model. This group has become a vital hub of artistic connection on the North Shore.

Annette's journey began in the Midwest, where she grew up in Wisconsin and Missouri. She studied fashion design in New York in the mid-1990's before transitioning to fine arts in Boston. While working at a gallery near Newbury Street, she pursued post-baccalaureate studies at MassArt. In 2001, she earned an MFA from the California College of the Arts in San Francisco. Soon after, she returned to the East Coast, settling on the North Shore, where she has lived and worked for over two decades.

The coastal landscape is a central theme in Annette's work. Living near Kings Beach and Red Rock Park, she paints en plein air, capturing the beauty of the shoreline and its changing light. Her connection to this landscape and the New England community are evident in her paintings, which convey a deep appreciation for the natural world.

In addition to her figurative and landscape work, Annette is passionate about antique hunting. She travels around New England, photographing the curated arrangements of antique dealers, which serve as inspiration for her paintings. This exploration of antiques adds a layer of history and nostalgia to her work, as she delves into themes of memory and preservation.

Annette's art reflects both her surroundings and her personal journey. Through her paintings, she seeks to capture not only what she observes but also the strong sense of belonging she feels within her community. Her work embodies the creativity, connection and inspiration that define her life as an artist on Boston's North Shore.

Photography and Mixed Media
Christina Rootes-Hunter, Room 409

I'm Tina, a recently retired leaning into photography and playing with mixed media. I am enjoying the local scenery and love to capture the details.

Multimedia Production
Wil Renderos, Room 212
@audio_chemists
http://audiochemists.net

We use art, video, and audio to create a better world.

Audio Chemists is a minority-owned creative production studio comprised of a talented team of creatives, filmmakers, animators, audio engineers, video editors, and communications strategists. We bring multiple years of experience in crafting digital media projects and campaigns for federal, state, and local agencies that aim to improve the lives of BIPOC individuals and their communities, which have been made vulnerable due to inequitable circumstances.

With extensive experience in public health, youth engagement, and community organizing, we craft compelling, captivating narratives that effectively convey public health information for various communication channels, including print, digital, social media, and audiovisual platforms. At AC, we are focused on promoting health and wellness resources, dispelling misinformation and stigma, and championing change in communities. Our team is devoted to developing culturally sensitive projects that resonate with diverse audiences to inspire action, build community, and educate.

Additionally, we work closely with local communities and organizations to promote collaboration, foster a sense of shared ownership and empower individuals. One of our differentiators as a creative production studio includes our robust technical expertise in both digital media production and public health. The depth of our technical expertise in both areas allows us to provide nuanced approaches that allow for innovative and creative communication strategies which many digital media production houses without public health experience may struggle to provide.

Ceramics/Pottery
The Clay School, Room 316

Watercolor and Ink
Room BR-3
@kipgregis

I've always had a passion for art and creating things. When I was growing up I'd always ask for new crayons and markers over a baseball and bat, or building blocks over video games. The love of art led me to and education in architecture. I studied abroad and received my master's degree. Travel and culture also inspire me.

Post-college I have a career in construction project management. Over a decade in the industry, I have just recently reintroduced art back into my routine. I find the creative sessions over weekends help to unwind from a busy work week. Watercolor and ink have become my go-to form of expression. Anything from local scenes, to animals, to buildings - I'm always happy to spend time creating art.

Ceramics/Pottery
Somaletha Bhattacharya, Room 316

Sea Glass Asssemblage
Amy Goldfarb, Room 112
@marbleheadseaglass
http://marbleheadseaglass.com

Amy Goldfarb is the owner and creative lead of Marblehead Sea Glass. Over the years, Amy has explored a variety of art forms. In college, she studied art history in Florence, Italy and experimented with mixed media as part of her studio art coursework. While earning a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience, she discovered a passion for finding art in the natural world. As part of her research, Amy used an electron microscope to photograph cells and cellular organelle at a microscopic level and then, developed the images using classic dark room techniques. After attending business school, Amy launched Bella Ventrella Designs, a quilting company specializing in the design and creation of “nostalgia” quilts made from clients’ cherished shirts and other sentimental apparel. In 2018, she founded Marblehead Sea Glass creating coastal art from sea glass collected on the beaches of Marblehead, MA. Each piece of art brings life and movement to carefully arranged pieces of sea glass with accents of sea pottery, rock, shell and driftwood. These assemblages decorate seaside homes from New Hampshire to Florida. Amy is currently the Treasurer of the Board at the Marblehead Arts Association where she assists with strategic planning and operations.

Ceramics/Pottery
Room 316

I find that I can articulate myself best through my hands. For many years I wrote fiction, then I constructed mosaics, and finally I found my way to clay. I took a few wheel classes and was then introduced to handbuilding, which instantly hooked me. Pottery has taught me patience. I've learned to enjoy the process and not be too discouraged by the occasional failure. I am drawn to organic shapes and designs and the whimsical.

Ceramics/Pottery
Debra Cadorette, Room 318
@phatcodpottery
http://www.phatcodpottery.com/

As a passionate artisan, I find immense joy in the meticulous art of crafting pottery that not only serves as practical items for the home but also adds a touch of character and warmth to living spaces. With each piece I create, I strive to infuse it with texture and depth, imparting a sense of uniqueness and individuality.

For me, pottery is more than just a medium; it’s a canvas through which I express my creativity and appreciation for functional art. I pay careful attention to the balance between form and function, ensuring that every piece not only exudes aesthetic appeal but also serves a practical purpose in everyday life.

Ceramics/Pottery
Alex Dumont, Room 318
@dumont.ceramics

I am an artist from Latvia, drawing inspiration from Latgalian pottery, one of the country’s oldest art forms, with roots going back to the Neolithic Age. For me, working with clay is more than just a creative practice—it’s a mindful, tactile experience that offers both flexibility and depth.

What I find most meaningful is the sense of community with fellow creatives, whose kindness, support, and collaboration have deeply enriched my journey as an artist.

Currently, I am focused on creating “scarred” pieces, heavily textured works that reflect my interpretation of kintsugi—the Japanese art of embracing imperfections by highlighting cracks and breaks rather than concealing them. This philosophy aligns with my studies in clinical psychology, where I see parallels to emotional healing: just as pottery bears its marks, so do humans carry emotional scars as part of their lived experience.

My work is also influenced by wabi-sabi, which celebrates the beauty in imperfection and transience. By incorporating these principles, I invite reflection on the natural and flawed aspects of life, echoing both the human experience and the ancient legacy of pottery.

Ceramics/Pottery
Dorothy Allen, Room 316

For the past eight years I have been immersed in the craft of pottery, producing sculptural as well as functional ceramic pieces. The work is usually made from mid-fire stoneware as well as high-fire sculptural clays. It is varied as I explore the traditional craft of throwing at the wheel and the more ancient practice of hand building. I also use clay for making sculpture and at times combine it with practical function.

Patiently, I enjoy every step in the long process of creating a final version of each piece. Prior to creating ceramic pieces I painted in oil and drew using pastels and pencil, usually portraiture and life figure. I have taken art courses at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Monserrat College, Bennington College and the Tufts Museum School. I participated in numerous workshops, having the privilege of learning from many respected artists. I exhibited work at Monserrat College, the Marblehead Arts Association and local fundraising venues. On a parallel path I received biology and engineering degrees from Bowdoin College and UMass Amherst and have worked professionally for US EPA and Massachusetts DEP.

Currently, I maintain a ceramic studio in Swampscott and participate at the Clay School in the Pinkham Building, Lynn. The atmospheric firings are accomplished at the Truro Center for the Arts and Ben Eberly’s Train kilns, or within the Anagama kiln on Chris Gustin’s property in South Dartmouth. Either in solitude of the private studio, in company at the clay school or amongst the shadows during the long dark hours of arduous wood firings I feel connected to people who share with each other the long history and tradition of finding their way with clay. The direct inspiration to move clay, however, arrives to me from nature as it reveals itself to the eye and the heart.

Each ceramic piece is often unlike its idea at inception and unlike its many succeeding forms. However, upon close inspection it reveals its progress through time and the bowl in the end arrives in your hand just as it is. This is also true of human beings, so too all living and non-living forms, we all wind our way along an evolutionary path, develop a personal journey, change, arrive to be held.

Metals
Lindsay Welch, Room 314D
@_naladesigns
http://www.nala-designs.com

Nala Designs Metalworks offers hand-crafted jewelry and homegoods made by Lindsay Welch in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Lindsay uses ethically sourced materials and slow-fashion metalsmithing practices to transform natural elements including silver, copper, wood, and stones into pieces that enhance the beauty of our everyday lives.

Ceramics/Pottery
Room 316

I have been working with clay for a year and a half, bringing a lifetime of creativity into this new medium. Growing up, I developed a passion for woodworking through my father, which laid the foundation for my love of building. My education and work background in mechanical engineering has additionally influenced my approach to ceramics.

This is my first year participating in the Lydia Pinkham Open Studios, and I’m excited to share my journey with clay.

In my work, I focus on learning and experimenting with different styles to define my own. I aim to bring a sense of movement into my pieces' static forms, leading to curved edges, smooth surfaces, and dynamic glazes. My engineering and woodworking experience drives my desire for all of my pieces to be functional, regardless of how structural they appear.

I look forward to continuing to explore how I can bring movement and functionality into my future work.

Paintings and Ceramics
Liana Van de Water, Room 205A
@art_as_medicine_

With a bachelors in Studio Art from University of Colorado and a Master of Arts in Expressive Arts Therapy, Liana uses paint to create cosmic, nebula inspired paintings that transcend gravity and the concrete limits of the mind. She also works as a therapist at Lynn Community Health Center, where she uses art to treat depression, trauma, and anxiety, along with helping clients navigate inner battles, reduce unhelpful defenses, and to find lost parts of themselves. Her art is another reflection of the different energies present in this world, the darkness and the light, and the powerful ways they manifest. She has shown work in Vermont, Colorado, and now Massachusetts, and is excited to be participating in her first year at the Lydia Pinkham Open Studios.

Mended Cashmere and denim throws
Michèle Fandel Bonner, Room 313C
michelebonner.com

Michèle Fandel Bonner is a mixed media and fiber artist. Making is in her DNA. Her work explores the relationship between time, identity, beauty and waste. She was an Associate Member of the Boston Sculptors Gallery, an is an Artist Member of the Cambridge Arts Association, and a member of Surface Design Associates. Using recycled and found materials, she brings originality and thoughtfulness to her up-cycled creations. She is currently mending cashmere sweaters as a way to keep holey sweaters out of the waste stream. She also makes throws using jeans that she has taken apart and reassembled.