La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
Most of us, those who are not minimalists (I tried and failed) have lots of stuff around the house that solicits the question “where’d you get that?” I usually remember. Sometimes I don’t. San Geraldo and I will celebrate our 45th anniversary in 16 days. That’s a lot of things to remember.
I’ve shared before the view of the display cabinet we have in the kitchen and a number of you have wondered about the things you see there. So, I thought I’d tell their stories, if I remember them. But when I started taking pictures, I realized there are too many things to share all at once. To begin, here are the one-of-a-kinds in the display cabinet. Each piece is signed by the artist.
I’ve written what a know. We bought several pieces (and were gifted some) from the Guilford Art Center, a non-profit art school, gallery, and craft shop down the road from our house. We loved going there and it’s apparently grown since we moved to San Diego (gasp, 33 years ago).
My stomach has been a bit off, so I haven’t been out today. SG was out for a few minutes and said the heat was oppressive. It’s 42˚C/108˚F in the shade.
La mayoría de nosotros, los que no somos minimalistas (lo intenté y fracasé), tenemos muchas cosas en casa que suscitan la pregunta “¿de dónde sacaste eso?” Normalmente lo recuerdo. A veces no. San Geraldo y yo celebraremos nuestro 45 aniversario en 16 días. Son muchas cosas que recordar.
Ya les he mostrado la vitrina de la cocina y muchos me han preguntado qué hay dentro. Así que pensé en contarles sus historias, si las recuerdo. Pero al empezar a fotografiarlas, me di cuenta de que hay demasiadas cosas para compartirlas todas a la vez. Para empezar, aquí tienen las piezas únicas de la vitrina. Cada una está firmada por el artista.
Ya he escrito lo que sé. Compramos varias piezas (y nos regalaron algunas) en el Guilford Art Center, una escuela de arte, galería y tienda de artesanía sin ánimo de lucro que está cerca de nuestra casa. Nos encantaba ir allí y, al parecer, ha crecido desde que nos fuimos (¡vaya, hace 33 años!).
Me siento un poco mal del estómago, así que no he salido hoy. SG salió un rato y dijo que el calor era sofocante. A la sombra hace 42°C/108°F.
• Plato grande hecha por San Geraldo en San Diego, en uno de esos cafés de cerámica en los que puedes pintar tu propia cerámica. Eso es lo que una amiga quería hacer para su cumpleaños.
• A good-sized serving bowl San Geraldo made on that friend’s birthday.
• Un tazón para servir de buen tamaño que San Geraldo hizo para el cumpleaños de ese amigo.
• Nuestra amiga Leslie nos lo hizo hacer como regalo de despedida cuando nos mudamos de San Diego a San Francisco.
• SG ha horneado banquetes en esto.
• Bandeja grande.
• Molde para tartas.
• Molde para tartas.
• Un pequeño cuenco, hecho por el mejor amigo del tío de SG y regalado a SG por Navidad en los años 70.
• Cazuela grande.
• Otra cazuela de Connecticut.
• Un tazón de buen tamaño que suelo mantener lleno de fruta.
• Nos lo obsequió nuestra amiga Joan de Seattle, una de las más viejas y mejoras amigas de SG que falleció de cáncer justo antes de que abriéramos el hotel en 2000. Abajo están Joan y SG en Seattle en los años 70. La conocí y me enamoré al instante en 1982.
Now you know I just adore the pottery. I a huge pottery whore…bowls, platters, pitchers, you name it. You have a wonderful collection!!!! Hatd to pick a piece…but I’m loving the fruit bowl with the little bird in it…I like the simplicity.
Mistress Maddie:
There’s more to come. I’m so tempted to buy local things now. There’s an exceptional shop in walking distance. I’ve managed to restrain myself.
What a wonderful collection of marvelous pieces! Each one is elegant or fun or quirky or just plain beautiful.
Debra:
It’s definitely an eclectic mix, and there’s more to see.
Some of those pieces are very ’70s — and I mean that in a good way. My stepmother had handmade pottery like that (which I assume my stepsister has now). I love SG’s fish plate! And the nice-sized fruit bowl with the bird on the bottom is beautiful too. (And appropriately minimalist!)
Steve:
The bird bowl was a gift, but I can’t remember from whom. Shameful! I had quite a bit of funky ’70s pottery (coffee mugs, sugar bowl, etc.) I left them behind when we downsized. I miss some things, but not others. The coffee mugs were way too heavy and clumsy and I didn’t like drinking from them.
Very nice collection, I love the two platters. I’ll have to show off my bowl collection (for looks only).
Ellen Abbott:
I look forward to seeing your collection. I’m still walking around the house taking pictures.
I love this pottery. I kept picking a favorite then seeing something even better. I love the blue spatter ware a lot. You and sg are both gifted at friendship. Happy forthcoming annie! Boud
Boud:
I love that blue spatter ware, too.
A very interesting and unique collection you have there, boys! I imagine you must be exceptionally careful when handing such things – I can’t see me having some of those ceramics for long without there being at least one chip or crack. Jx
PS The consensus is growing – I, too, am a fan of that fruit bowl with the bird at its base.
Jon:
We’ve been lucky with these pieces. The quality stands up to abuse, but we do try to be careful with them. I’ll be sharing photos of a some chips soon. And house cleaner has broken a couple of things I now have in my office waiting for repair!
I think the vase has my heart. As would have Joan.
Of course I love the fish platter. How could I not? And quite honestly, I would probably have any or all of these in my kitchen although people would constantly be asking who Jerry and Mitchell are.
Mary Moon:
You and Joan would have instantly connected. That would be pretty funny to have that specific happily ever after platter in your kitchen. I could have another made in honor of Glen and Mary Moon for our kitchen.
I adore anything blue and white, and your pottery bowls are no exception, especially the blue-green one decorated with seals and birds (photo #7). However, I’m also liking the whimsy of SG’s “Woman Swimming With The Fishes” bowl as it would look great as a catchall tray in a bathroom or guest bedroom!
Tundra Bunny:
I love blue and white pottery, too, but it goes with nothing else in our house. Blue is just not around. But I LOVE the one with the birds in flight and the seals around the band. I love SG’s handiwork. But I hate to put anything in it and cover her up.
I love the pieces SG made; he’s quite talented. And, like you, we also have several pieces of rustic pottery we’ve found or been gifted through the years. They each hold a special place in our hearts, like yours.
Bob:
I was especially impressed with Jerry’s free-hand woman with the fishes.
All beautiful!
Rade:
Nice memories. If only I could remember.
This last move of ours has us near being minimalists compared to before the move. It was difficult to part with certain things but we kept the ‘most’ important objects and cherish them, as do you with these beautiful pottery pieces.
Jim,
It was difficult to begin but it became easy and freeing once we got underway. Now, I miss things!
I am mad-jealous! You are a lucky one for that! I think your bowls and plates are stunning.
Urspo:
This has been a fun exercise. It’s making us both enjoy and share all these memories with each other, too.