At Hartsoe Pottery in Celo, Jason Hartsoe creates pottery directly informed by the potters of the past but reflecting something of his own experiences in this world. Jason grew up in the Catawba River Valley, a region well-known for its own style of pottery. But it wasn’t until he was teaching English in Japan that he started making his own pots. From Japan, he moved on to England as a potter’s apprentice. His journey took him to apprenticeships in Virginia and the Penland community and eventually a stint as an artist-in-residence at Penland School of Craft.
Jason’s work is connected to and inspired by the functional, everyday pottery of cultures in Japan, England, and North Carolina. “Crossing both epochs and cultural boundaries ceramics communicate some very essential ideas about being human. This was an explosive revelation for me, and it fueled my desire to become a ceramic artist” he writes. The general functionality of his pots sometimes gives way to more exploratory pieces, but Jason’s work is always connected to place, past, and practice. Sharp angles meet gentle curves, and elemental colors are accented with pinks, greens, and blues.
Visitors to Hartsoe Pottery can see the studio Jason built himself. Work in all stages of completion fills the studio, and a gallery showcases completed pieces. His more standard lines of work include mugs, cups, bowls, plates, vases, and more.
Open by Appointment
