Newspapers / The Warren Record (Warrenton, … / Sept. 12, 1984, edition 1 / Page 13
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Section B (Jlt£ iSECflfb Section B Wednesday, September 12, 1984 ^^ ^ + Wednesday, September 12, 1984 Littleton Craftsman Is Hopeful World May Beat Path To Door Of Tom Gray By KAY HORNER News Editor The scene could well be straight from a movie titled, "The I«an and Hungry if ears of a Struggling Young Potter." On an acre or so a block o' Luueton's Mosby Avenue, 'The ..venue' as townspeople call it, stand" a fiaute hou^e ag:r.e comfortably despite a porch cluttered with random boards and nails signaling ongoing restoration. Two rooms of the house have been spruced up for display of the artist's wares — a variety of practical stoneware that undergoes the transformation from lump of clay to work of art in a studio conveniently located a few yards away. The artist's residence, a 1960s-vintage mobile home, provides the backdrop. Unfortunately, anyone who expects to find En field native Tom Gray churning out art for art's sake will be disappointed. "There are potters in tnis country wno are already millionaires," Gray commented during a recent interview. "Pottery is a highly marketable product, if you have the marketing skills. It's possible to get rich and if anybody can, I will." Gray is refreshingly candid about his art. "It's a means of fulfilling creative urges I have. But if I find something else to do that is as fulfilling and fi nancially rewarding, I'll do it." The story of how Gray came to be a potter is evidence of that philosophy. After a stint as a commercial art major at Atlan tic Christian College (ACC) in Wilson, Gray, now 34, decided he wasn't suited for the academic world and took off to Virginia Beach, Va. to "find him self." While at Virginia Beach, Gray encountered a friend from ACC, Fran Mercer, who was a potter. Although drawing and painting had been second nature to Gray since childhood, he had never tried his hand at what is known in the trade as "throwing oots." Watching Fran at her potter's wheel, Gray cut to the heart of the matter. "Can you make a living doing that?" he inquired. Her positive response sent Gray in a new direction with his artistic ability. During his five years on the Virginia coast, he refined his talent, took courses, entered shows, displayed his work at local galleries and then decided to return to his hometown. For about nine months, he supported himself by working in construction and then at the urging of ACC classmate Marilyn Nelson and her husband, John, he decided to open a studio on the grounds of American Heritage Campground, owned by the Nelson family, on Lake Gaston. Since his relocation to Littleton in 1977, Gray has been on the move—from a tent at American Heritage, which is now Outdoor World, to a little building that is now the guard station at the camp ground to a studio atop a flower shop on Littleton's Main Street to the current location he owns on "A" Street adjacent to Lakeland Cultural Arts Center. Although sales were few and far between at first, Gray estimates that his overall sales have in creased 20 percent each year with a jump of 40 per cent two years ago. As his reputation as a potter grows, Gray faces the dilemma of how to maintain the personalized element of his work. He already has Christmas orders from 17 stores in A sampling of Tom Gray's line of pottery Is shown above, including the popular "mug and mash" sets for children featuring plates bordered with the alphabet and mugs decorated with teddy bears. Pitchers, coffee mugs, and bowls are three staples of a line that at various times Includes such Items as bundt pans, kerosene lamps, batter dishes, aad egg separators. (Staff Photo) the Triangle Area and eastern North Carolina. "There's not enough time between now and Christmas," Gray said. "I'll be able to supply five, maybe a half-dozen with pottery. The rest will just have to scream and yell at me." Although Warrenton folk artist and crafter Phyllis King lends an occasional assist with her brush work of seascapes on pitchers and bears on baby "mush and mug" sets, the production of the pottery itself is Gray's and he has no immediate plans to expand his operation. The "mush and mug" sets are the latest rage in a production line that changes according to demand and has included such unusual pottery items as wind chimes, egg separators, colanders, and pie plates. "My pottery is meant to be used," Gray stressed, adding that his pitchers really pour, his wind chimes really chime, and his mugs don't leave your chin awash in coffee when you drink. Among his newest items are bundt pans and liquid soap dispensers. Gray finds ideas for his pottery all around him, but surmises that there are no truly new ideas in the art world. "The creative process was taken care of long ago," he said. "It's just a matter of forming it to our needs. We're in constant evolution, but a pot is a pot. It doesn't take long to go through them." Gray used to sketch his designs before he sat down at his wheel, but he found that process discouraging. "It never came out like the sketch, so now I just sit down at the wheel and do it," Gray said. "My ability determines what I can do. Some things I do now I couldn't do two years ago. Some day my ideas and abilities may catch up with each other, but I doubt it." Although Gray has been known to haunt the shores of Lake Gaston pursuing his favorite hobbie, night fishing, he seems intent on the business at hand. "As far as the art industry goes, pottery is probably the most competitive," Gray said. "I'm not sure why so many are drawn to it. It can be lucrative, but it requires a lot of work." Gray has painfully humorous tales of art shows where potters have been known to sneak over to each other's exhibits during lunch break and post signs bearing such advice for would-be customers as, "You don't want to buy this junk!" "We exchange ideas, we steal ideas, but when it comes down to money, they're as hungry as I am," Gray commented about fellow potters, adding that such incidents are funny in a way but also a healthy way to vent hostility. When asked how many pieces of pottery he produced in a year, Gray took out his pocket calculator and came up with a figure that seemed to shock him — 10,000. And there is no Tom Gray pot tery stored in warehouses waiting to be sold. Gray estimates that he can throw some pots in a minute. Others take as long as 10 minutes, but that time factor is misleading because throwing the pot takes the least amount of time. The trimming, drying, glazing and painting of the pots consumes more time. In the past, Gray has marketed his pottery locally through shops in Warrenton, Roanoke Rapids and Littleton. However, his pottery is now being marketed in those areas exclusively at his Littleton gallery, which will provide pottery enthusiasts an oppor tunity to see what Tom Gray pottery is really all about. Visitors there will not only find Gray's reason ably-priced, lead free, dishwasher, microwave and oven safe pottery, but items by other area crafters as well. f He recently had on display stained glass by Brenda Clarice of Warrenton and rag rugs by his parents, Eugene and Florada Gray of Enfield. Oc casionally he displays original water colors by Warren Plains artist Dianne Rodwell. While some artists profess a certain sadness at parting with their work, Gray expressed such feeling for only one work, a one-of-a-kind sculpture of a mustachioed little man, all eyes and ears (and necktie), gazing wistfully skyward in a work ap propriately titled, "Waiting for Halley's Comet." As countless artists before him have done, Gray sold the piece to his friends, the Nelsons, years ago for far less than its current worth, either on the market or in sentiment. "They caught me when I was hungry," Gray mused. If events go as Gray anticipates, it won't happen again. Loughlin-Goodwyn Jewelers Fine Jewelry ■ China ■ Crystal Silver ■ Watch & Jewelry Repair 110N. Main Warrenton, N.C. 257-3220 rU~LTJ~LTlJ~U~Lril~»~ •""" *" ^ ** "* ^ Littleton potter Tom Gray Is shown above working at Ms potter's wheel in his studio on "A" Street adjacent to Lakeland Cultural Arts Center. Gray, an Enileld native, produces what he terms "practical" pottery for everyday use. It is currently marketed in Eastern North Carolina and the Triangle area and can be purchased in this area directly from Gray. 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The Warren Record (Warrenton, N.C.)
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Sept. 12, 1984, edition 1
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