Papillon Pots by Tari

All my life I have avoided pottery classes. I don't hate pottery but I hate the chalky feeling of dry clay that is left on your hands after you are finished…. It's like nails on a chalk board! But I did finally take a class a year ago and fell in love. It is, in my opinion, one of the most meditative art forms one can do (besides printing photos in a darkroom). I could get lost for hours in the process of working with clay.

And I discovered that it is equally as enjoyable to photograph that process as photographed Tari in her studio. Tari not only has her own line of pottery that she sells, but she also teaches! Watching and photographing Tari teach was a surreal experience for me. A flood of memories of my aunt LeOma, who passed away a few years ago, came flooding back to my mind. Memories of  doing arts and crafts with her and her caring and motherly nature. Why am I talking about my aunt while I share these photos of Tari...? Because Tari has that same energy and even though Tari is LeOma's niece (my cousin) the family resemblance was so apparent as I witnessed her teaching the craft to someone else the same way my Aunt LeOma taught me. She carried that same care, gentleness and joy in her face as my dear aunt.

You can see some ofTari's work at her website Papillon Pots