Meet the potters Wood fired functional pottery, wheel thrown and altered by Debbie and Scott Williamson, in Lovettsville, Virginia. We made our first pots in January 2007 at a class we took together in Frederick, Maryland. We participated in our first wood firing in May of the same year and by November 2008, we were breaking ground for a kiln shed. One brick at a time, with the help of friends, we built our 27 foot, three chamber anagama/noborigama wood kiln, designed by Stan Burgess with assistance from Kevin Crowe. In Spring 2020, with Tim Sherman’s help, we began a kiln renovation. We train in workshops and value our time in the studio. Scott is CTO at Yakabod, Inc., a software firm that specializes in secure knowledge sharing systems; Our blended family includes 4 grown children and 8 grandchildren. Home is 14 beautiful acres in Lovettsville, Virginia.

Scott As a passionate technologist for the past 45 years, writing an artist statement seems like a betrayal. I have resisted the title of artist. My thoughts are binary (1s and 0s). I communicate best with computers. My career has revolved around logic and rules. My favorite saying is, “there is nothing magic about software; it works like you tell it to work.” Now that I’m working with clay I’m encouraged to ‘color’ outside the lines, be creative, and let the clay have a say. I prefer to create objects that are used in everyday life. I like to spend time with the objects I build to see that their use will be comfortable and provide the user some pleasure. In software we call it “eating your own dog food.” In other words, using what you build. I love the wood fire experience. I want pots heavy enough to endure the long firing yet light enough to use. I want the rugged look from the fire and ash, but refined enough for people to use with comfort.

I make pots. I use dust, water, air and fuel to form and fire clay pots. The most important part of the process is time and timing. Just seconds after a form is thrown, it changes. And it continues to change. One of my teachers reminded me that every thing is connected, and every thing changes. “Pay Attention, ” he said. I’d like to influence how you relate to time and timing through an awareness of interaction. Even with something so familiar and common as a cup. I think when we are fully–perhaps even painfully–aware of the moment (here, right now) we are motivated to experience the joy of anticipation. I am delighted that pottery is the reason our paths have crossed.