News for 2019

An active and prolific creator of functional and decorative pottery for 40 years, Granby-based potter Avis Cherichetti has found a new, refreshing energy while producing over 100 innovative clay works reflective of seed pods and flower forms. All are original, singular works that reflect her continual experimentation and desire to expand the boundaries of her chosen medium.

Avis's current work is expressed in repetitive forms of varying colors that are finished using an array of firing techniques. Every piece in this series of ceramic pieces are glaze fired at high temperatures in soda, reduction or oxidation kilns. Some of the kilns are powered by electricity, while others may be fueled by gas or wood. An endless array of surface patinas can be achieved depending upon the final firing process selected. She is presently enamored with the process of soda firing at a community kiln in South Kent, CT. The kiln is owned by Alison Palmer and has 45 cubic feet of space for pots inside.

As she meets the demands of working with clay, taking into account that pieces are 15 percent smaller after the final firing than they were when she started, Avis is reminded all artists must contend with natural limitations inherent in "the materials used, the equipment available and the skill of the artist." Avis embraces this element of mystery. She is inspired by all she sees, both natural and human-designed, but her greatest inspiration is the clay itself. During the process of creating, she is always considering what to try next, as the possibilities are endless.

Her pottery has earned accolades and awards including an Individual Artist Fellowship from the Greater Hartford Arts Council. Her work has also graced the pages of Yankee magazine and been represented by fine galleries and selected for the Slater Memorial Museum's permanent collection. One of her clay pots even survived a trek to the top of Mount Everest.

In Granby her gallery is at 31 Barndoor Hills Rd. It is open daily.