(828) 526-0173 | [email protected] | Copyright 2024 – All Rights Reserved.
Backwoods Haiku
Written By: Donna Rhodes | Issue: 2016/06 - June | Photograph By: Marjorie Christiansen Photography
One day, after dealing with a particularly disagreeable client, Justin Allman was told by a friend, “I’ve been with you for five years. You are always stressed, eternally angry, and the only time I ever saw you happy was when you were taking that pottery class.”
“My friend was spot on,” says Justin with a grin. Enlightened by the epiphany, he left his management company, immersed himself in pottery lessons, then headed for his family’s stomping grounds, Highlands. He connected with Frank Vickery and worked at The Bascom, which nurtured his new outlook and launched a “turn” for the better.
He got a lot of wheel practice creating 10 percent of the 800 bowls he, Vickery, and other ceramicists created for the 2015 Empty Bowl Project.
Justin noticed Cashiers didn’t really have an active ceramics center, so he opened a clay studio, FireMoss Pottery, to offer classes and exhibit work. His 900-square-foot space houses a gas kiln and two electrics, which will be available for firing independent work. Coming soon, a Ladies Night featuring hand-building lessons plus wine and cheese.
In addition to giving back to the community his goal is to make his pottery accessible to everyone, from simple-affordable wares, to the sophisticated hand-carved art pieces.
Business hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Call (239) 331-0054 or email [email protected]. You can also visit firemosspottery.com. Justin is available for commissions in his signature style– Backwoods Haiku (AKA Appalachian Asian).
