Robin Smart

My passion for wheel-thrown pottery started at Jordan-Elbridge High School.   At the time, I didn't realize how fortunate I was to have a teacher (Bill Marinich) who liked to throw pottery and incorporated the pottery wheel into the curriculum.

The process was a bit different back then...

I remember there was a big bucket of reclaimed clay that we had to wedge before we could use it.  New bagged clay was like gold.  Now I only throw new clay.

We made our bats out of plaster and then secure them to the wheel head with lumps of clay.  How did we ever center anything? 

Glazes were in several garbage buckets and had no idea what color we were dipping into. 

Our work had to survive a lot (especially sitting on a shelve of a high school art room). Check out some of my first pieces in the 80's.   

Thank you, Mr. Marinich, for giving me the opportunity to throw clay and making me better.   If it weren't for all those passes to art you gave me, I would have never become a potter.

September 2004 - I bought a pottery wheel.   I threw on and off for 15 years and would have various local potters bisque and glaze firing.  Thank you Sally & Nanette!

April 2019 - I purchased my own little kiln. Now I throw pots and fire all year long.  I get to try different projects all at my own pace and time schedule. It's wonderful.

November 2019  (Thanksgiving) I came up with the name Turkey Foot Pottery - you can read the story here. 

December 2021 - Opened Clay & Craft Studio with a small gallery and began offering Intro "Take-it-for-a-Spin" pottery lessons.    

SYRACUSE WOMAN - MAGAZINE ARTICLE

January 2022 - First lessons started

July 2022 - As of July, over 150 sets of hands (big and small) have turned mud into something amazing - visit the photo gallery.

August 2022 - Clay & Craft is now primarily Pottery Wheel Lessons & Pottery retail store.  We have expanded the studio to 4 pottery wheels and reduced the size of the retail section.

Email robin@turkeyfootpottery.com if you think it's something you want to try.