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    Home » Travel » Pacific Northwest

    Orcas Island Pottery - Earth & Fire, Inspired

    April 6, 2016 • Updated: June 16, 2022 • by Renée B. • This post may contain affiliate links.

    From one generation to the next, through earth and fire, Orcas Island Pottery continues to create and inspire. | The Good Hearted Woman

    From one generation to the next, through earth and fire, Orcas Island Pottery continues to create and inspire.

    Colorful clay casserole pots with lids, setting at angle on wooden table.

    The Drive to Create

    Some years ago, I had the privilege of visiting the Gallery of Chinese Ancient Ceramics at the Shanghai Museum in Shanghai, China. I remember standing just feet from pottery that dated back thousands of years, separated from each piece by only a thin, transparent wall.

    As I peered through the glass, all I could think about was the long-forgotten hands that created those beautiful pieces; and more broadly, about the inborn and seemingly essential human desire to create.

    I find that last aspect infinitely intriguing; nearly mystical. It feeds a question that percolates in my brain often: What role does art, and particularly the creation of art, play in our survival, both as individuals and as cultures?

    I didn’t set out to get all existential on you, but our visit to Orcas Island Pottery caused me to ponder this question once again.

    Art & Artifact

    We tend to think of such things – the creation of cultural art and artifacts – in terms of ancient history, as in the Shanghai relics or (more close to home) Pacific Northwest Native American/First Nations artifacts.

    In the case of Orcas Island Pottery, however, that tradition of artisans passing on their wisdom through earth and fire from one generation to the next to create enduring art and artifacts is still burns brightly even today.

    Colorful half-pots, with angle bottom for mounting on wall.

    The Potters of Orcas Island

    Orcas Island Pottery is the oldest pottery in the Pacific Northwest and one of our favorite places on Orcas Island. The pottery opened in 1945, when Joe and Marclay Sherman dug their first clay out of the island banks and created the studio and store that visitors have come to know as an island institution.

    Side view of exterior of pottery shed, with large carved wooden Pacific NW native whale mounted on the side, and many wall pots also.

    Knowledge passed across generations is intrinsic to the Orcas Island Pottery story. In 1953, Julia Crandall bought the pottery from the Shermans, who taught Julia and her daughter Trudy all that they knew. In 1989, Trudy’s daughter, Syd Exton, became the manager and lead potter. She inherited the pottery from her grandmother in 1993.

    colorful clay pots and berry bowls, displayed on heavy wooden table, with trees, and Puget Sound visible in the background.

    Now some fifteen potters make and display their works at the store. Much of the pottery is displayed outdoors, and the view across President’s Channel to Waldron Island and beyond is magnificent.

    Many clay berry bowls displayed outside on wooden picnic table.

    Despite warnings to the contrary, Orcas Island Pottery isn’t difficult to find – just follow the signs. When you come to the last turn, you will find yourself on unpaved road. Drive down it (you can't get lost) until you get to the parking lot, and then take the foot path down through the rough garden arbor and into the yard, where you will immediately find yourself surrounded by some of the most uniquely beautiful pottery in the entire Pacific Northwest region.

    There you will find a whimsical pottery garden, complete with fountains, a swing, and a large tree-house for the kids (and kids at heart!).

    Whimsical clay creations for your garden; laddybugs, smiling flowers.

    So, why do humans make art? Certainly, in the case of pottery, it is both functional and beautiful, but a plain clay pitcher holds water as well as one with a tricolor glaze. What makes us strive to transcend functionality and reach for something more?

    Middle-aged woman standing at the entrance to Orcas Island Pottery.

    We have an instinctive need to Create Beauty. In my experience, the need for art is one of the strongest connections humans have, both with the past and with one another. We strive to make, and therein endure through our making.

    Our art communicates who we are and what is important to us. It tells our story. In this way, it is as necessary to the endurance of humanity as water.

    From one generation to the next, through earth and fire, Orcas Island Pottery continues to create and inspire. | The Good Hearted Woman

    Orcas Island Travel

    NOTE: This post was originally written Spring 2016. Some of the businesses mentioned here may be temporarily or permanently closed due to the COVID pandemic, so be sure to call ahead first!

    • The Best Kept Secret on Orcas Island (San Juan Islands, WA)
    • Spring Getaway to Orcas Island
    • Deer Harbor Inn & Restaurant (Orcas Island)
    • New Leaf Café (Orcas Island, WA)

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    Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details.

    More Pacific Northwest Travel, Hikes, Food & Events

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    • Camassia Nature Preserve: Wildflowers & Family-friendly Hiking
    • Meridian at Headlands (Pacific City, Oregon)
    • Headlands Coastal Lodge & Spa (Pacific City, Oregon)
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    About Renée B.

    Renée is writer, music maker, artist, and storyteller. In her spare time, you can find her writing love songs about cowboys, exploring the moss-covered nooks and crannies of the Pacific Northwest, and making music with her talented singer-husband.

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    1. Christina says

      October 25, 2016 at 10:37 am

      You're right about the pottery garden. It does have a whimsical touch due to the fountains, swing, and large tree house.

      Reply
    2. Morgan says

      June 16, 2016 at 11:44 am

      Love this post! All of these pieces are so beautiful and unique! They would make for fabulous decor! Very nice work! Thanks so much for sharing with us!

      Reply
      • Renée ♥ says

        June 16, 2016 at 11:46 am

        Thank you so much for stopping by, Morgan!

        Reply
    3. Paula Niziolek says

      April 20, 2016 at 10:42 am

      Amazing and your pictures really frame that pottery beautifully. Pottery is a skill I've always wanted to learn. Why haven't I done it?? 🙂

      Reply
    4. Jen says

      April 12, 2016 at 8:20 am

      I can't believe I was there for two weeks and didn't visit! Such lovely pieces. I'll be sure to refer anyone there in the future. 🙂

      Reply
    5. Jenni says

      April 06, 2016 at 9:51 pm

      lovely thoughts on art and its place in history/humanity/future. I wonder the same. I put so much effort and love into my blog posts (at least a far amount of them) that I wonder if because they are not physical they will be forgotten. Or will the internet live on and someday someone will discover some random old copy of a copy of something I created?

      Reply
      • Renée ♥ says

        April 06, 2016 at 9:55 pm

        I'm with you, Jenni. I've been considering having a yearly photo-book of the blog made up for my own shelves. Mostly because I am old and don't complete trust the Internet to endure indefinitely in its present form.

        Reply
    6. Kelley says

      April 06, 2016 at 3:18 pm

      Wow, beautiful pieces in a stunning setting. I can see why you'd feel inspired!

      Reply
    7. Liz Stambaugh says

      April 06, 2016 at 11:56 am

      One of my favorites places on the Island.....I started collecting pieces when I first started visiting Orcas....now I have a home there and my kitchen is filled with beautiful pottery. It's a must see when you are visiting.....it is so peaceful and beautiful too!

      Reply
      • Renée ♥ says

        April 06, 2016 at 12:56 pm

        We love giving the pieces as gifts - the pieces are so unique and are the kind of thing people keep forever. We are slowly building our own collection as well. We have a couple of family weddings coming up, and so we picked up a couple of beautiful pitchers this time. And I got a berry bowl for myself, because I couldn't leave without buying something for myself, right?

        Reply
    8. Erin @ Platings and Pairings says

      April 06, 2016 at 7:50 am

      The pottery pieces are so beautiful! I once took a pottery class in middle school and I absolutely loved it! It would be amazing to get back into making some fun pieces. I need some cool bowls!

      Reply
      • Renée ♥ says

        April 06, 2016 at 7:54 am

        We should have a PDX Blogger event and make some hand-built pieces together. That could be a lot of fun!

        Reply

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