Clay in the Garden (video)
Jo Ellen Gorris is a prolific sculptor who loves to get other people involved. Most Thursday mornings a neighborhood group gathers at Clay in the Garden to do pottery. And almost any other time JoEllen is at her Bradenton studio, you’re welcome to pick up a lump of clay and work along with her. JoEllen’s statement that hers is the only (messy) “working studio” in the Village of the Arts is not quite true; Miki Boni and others have well-used studio space, too. But JoEllen’s studio is probably the only one that doesn’t have a separate, cleaned-up showroom or gallery space. In her case, massaging the clay is the message.
March 10th, 2007 at 8:57 am
I love Ms. Gorris’s work. Every year when we come to Anna Maria Island, I take home a Sea Haag. I currently have 7. I keep 5 on the top of my old antique roll top desk. Each one spoke to me of one of my 3 sisters or 1 brother. I did not have a man, for my brother who passed away August 2006, and this year I was lucky enough to find one. His facial expression reflects my brother perfectly…….. I found my Haags at The Sea Haag in Cortez, my favorite place to go in Florida. I was unaware of The Village and Ms. Gorris’s studio, but you be assured that will be my first visit next year. Thank you Ms. Gorris for you wonderful work. It has given me and many others many enjoyable conversations…..