October 15, 2019 – Messy Suitcase Travel Blog

Meet the Artists

We visited the studios of about 13 artists during Fall Vermont Open Studios Tour weekend. We met artists who crafted using a large variety of media, including potters, wood workers, painters and a digital artist who combined computer art with oil, markers and other media. Below is a list of the artists we visited, grouped by type of art. I have included addresses, phone numbers and websites in case you have any interest in visiting their studios or purchasing their products. Meet some of the amazing artists we encountered!

POTTERY/CERAMICS

Diane Echlin Ceramics

Diane Echlin

Diane favored blues and greens that she created for her pottery, and attached decals from a US artist to some of her pieces.

428 S. Wardsboro Rd
Newfane 05345
(802) 365-7874

Orchard Street Pottery

Walter Slowinski

Walter’s specialty was teapots and vessels, and he often attached found pieces of wood and even beads to his one-of-a-kind pieces.
658 Orchard St
Brattleboro 05301
(802) 257-1030

Maya Zelkin Pottery

Maya Zelkin
Maya worked out of an unheated barn off the grid to create pottery for the home in earth tones.

116 Coldham Rd
Shrewsbury VT 05738
(802) 492-2045

Naomi Lindenfeld Clayworks

Naomi Lindenfeld

Naomi crafted unique jewelry and pottery for the home using swirling layers of colored clay.

330 Meadowbrook Rd
Brattleboro VT 05301
(802) 258-6475

The Potter Stone

David Stone

David created simple, affordable, useful pieces for the home, including coffee mugs, soap dishes, sponge holders, and bright orange ceramic jack-o-lanterns.

1735 VT Rte 103
Cuttingsville 05738
(802) 492-2301

WOOD

Rich DeTrano Woodturner

Rich DeTrano
Rich’s turned bowls and vessels, often accented with sticks, were the highest quality we saw. His dragons were amazing, but alas, not for sale.

488 Andover Rd
Ludlow VT 05149
(802) 228-8894

Nature’s Turn, LLC

Gerry Martin

Gerry handcrafted spectacular bowls while celebrating the natural imperfections of wood, often leaving live edges.

998 Lincoln Hill Rd
Shrewsbury 05738
(802) 492-2244

Gerry with his optician’s stand-turned-tool holder

G Felder… Hand Carved Bowls

Gene Felder
Gene Felder use a noisy lathe to turn his wood, preferring instead to create artistic bowls with hand tools.

149 Adams Rd
Shrewsbury VT 05738
802-558-9068

GLASS

Zak Grace Glass

Zachary Grace

Under the watchful eye of his caged parrot, Zac created copper and glass pieces using a hand-made furnace.

446 Williams ST
Brattleboro 05301
(802) 251-0402

Fire Arts Vermont

Contemporary craft gallery and open studio experience featuring live glass blowing by Randi Solin and the open ceramic studios of Natalie Blake. Randi demonstrated how to create maple leaves out of hot glass.

(This wasn’t part of the Open Studios Vermont circuit, but we dropped in and got a wonderful glass demonstration.)

METAL ART

Stragnell Art

R Sanford Stragnell

Sanford, a former electrician, used castoff tools and electrical parts to create metal sculptures of animals and nature.

PO Box 394
Castleton 05735
(802) 468-2327

Vermont Rocks, Original Sports Sculpture

John Davis
John, a triathlete, created unique pieces comprised of native rocks and stainless steel figures of athletes, including rock climbers, runners and fishermen.

442 S. Wardsboro Rd.
Newfane VT 05345
(802) 380-9773