Meet Lisa York | Artist/Potter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lisa York and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lisa, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I grew up in the Washington DC area; I have lived on both the Maryland and Virginia side. I am one of twelve in a blended family.

I value our family’s slow time together gathering around a big meal. This meal typically happens on a Sunday afternoon. It’s very rare these days that we have a family get together with fewer than 25 people as most of us have started our own families now. Now that I live far away I really count on these Sunday dinners to see as much of my family as possible when I do come back into town.

This upbringing of celebrating family and community surrounding the activity of a meal has really impacted me as a potter. I cherish these memories in the kitchen making food and serving food. There are treasured platters and vases that have become heirloom items, and I love to think of my pieces of pottery becoming those cherished items for other people. Like I mentioned before I grew up in the DC area. It was not uncommon to always be on the go, and eating fast food in the car. So when we did have one of these slow Sunday night dinners it made them extra special.

I love the idea of people picking out a favorite coffee mug, platter, or vase to make these everyday occasions a treasured time to slow down a little.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a potter, and I would have to say that I am most proud of my ceramic sets that I have carved special wooden bases to go with them. The aesthetic look of pottery is currently evolving as my access to firing and materials have been changing.

Being an artist is definitely not your traditional salaried 9-5 job. It’s not easy. But the creativity involved in making it work while at times stressful can also be very fun and fulfilling. I am a big advocate for not having all your eggs in one basket. Meaning having multiple streams of income. Whether that be a variety of ways to sell your actual project to making income from alternative activities as well such as teaching. There is no black and white right or wrong approaches to making your career work. You have to decide if it’s a good fit for you, and keeping setting attainable goals to evolve and make it a lifestyle you are content with.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I really love the Colorado Spring region for having out of town guests, because they have some easier hike options as they may be getting accustomed to the higher elevations. Our day would start with a coffee run to Switchback Coffee Roasters, and then we would head on over to the Garden of the Gods for a stroll around the gorgeous red and white rocks with a view of Pikes Peak as we have a picnic lunch. We would wrap up the day by driving over to Paint Mines, which has unique eroded geological features comparable to the badlands. Eventually we would crash back at the house and make a homemade curry and settle in for the night.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My shoutout would definitely have to go out to Kevin Crowe, a potter I apprenticed under in the blue ridge mountains of Virginia.

He really inspired me to look at an art career more holistically. Life is not about putting yourself first, but rather about building community. He also shared values of taking care of yourself. Pottery is a very physically demanding job at times so keeping yourself healthy is part of your job and making time to eat well and workout. In addition, I learned a lot about the cyclical nature of being an artist. Some part of the year are more focused on making, marketing, teaching, etc.

Website: lisayorkarts.com

Instagram: @lisayorkarts

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisayorkarts/

Image Credits
Lisa York