Dreaming about pottery!

Recently, at the North Carolina Potters Conference in Seagrove, a group of participants visited a lunch table. Everyone was talking about their passion for pottery. We spoke about our love of clay, its touch and smell—everything about it. The artists at the table had a wide range of experience, ranging from decades to only several years.

Then the conversation turned to the idea of dreaming about pottery. This was my kind of discussion. I said that often I dream at night about making pieces, and frequently, a design will cometo me in the night in a kind of half-awake, half-asleep time. Then as soon as I can, I begin to work on that piece. Often some of my wildest and most unique works come from that dream. What surprised me was that so many potters sitting at the table agreed that they frequently dream about pottery.

After a long career in music, I don’t ever remember dreaming about music, even though I love teaching, performing, and hearing music. Now, I wonder why clay and the creation of ceramic pieces affect me and so many others in this absolutely unique way.