I have a long standing fantasy to move to a Caribbean island. So, while on vacation in St. Martin I did a little research. I realized that being a potter on a Caribbean island would be difficult at best. How would I get materials there? (ship from the US) How expensive would it be to ship a wheel, kiln, and other supplies to a Caribbean island??? (VERY) ...... hmmm, I pouted.All week I looked for pottery on the island and found only two examples. One had her work in a small gallery on the French side of the island. Hand built mugs, bowls, and other small items. Her prices were pretty steep - I imagine to accommodate for all the issues I mentioned above. I'd have to charge an arm and a leg just to keep myself in supplies.
Then I came across this little beauty:
I found her in Grand Case, the town we stayed in, on the French side of the island. This town celebrates Mardi Gras every Tuesday night during the month of February. The main street is closed off to traffic and vendors of all sorts set up in the street. There is music, local kids perform, people are out selling food~ it's a blast. Anyway, I came across a woman selling these fantastic raku pieces. I was so excited! Where is her studio? In France. Yup, she makes these in France and ships them to St. Martin where she spends part of the year. She sells them, along with her paintings, on the Island.
Well, this raku piece is just the right size to fit in a suitcase and make it home safely. Now she sits proudly on my mantle in upstate N.Y.
So......maybe raku is in my future?!
