Goodall Pottery, Charlotte, NC
After four years of training and education in ceramics and art, Greg and Babs Goodall established Goodall Pottery in 2003. As a studio potter, initially Greg’s work consisted of a variety of one-of-a-kind functional pots. In 2007, Greg began shifting the focus of his work toward the development of a line of garden lanterns. Each of Greg’s lanterns is individually crafted from stoneware clay, fired in a gas reduction atmosphere to Cone 10 (~2300° F). The lanterns are wheel thrown, hand built and altered. They are made for year round outdoor use. Though each lantern bears the mark of its crafter’s hand, the clay itself, the glazes and texturing along with the flames from the fire of the kiln all contribute significantly to the resulting uniqueness of each piece. Nature is a major influence in Greg’s work as evidenced by his careful selection of glazes, the texturing he does and the creation of the form itself. He has created two different lines of lanterns. One is of an organic nature in two sizes, and the other is based on the universal elements found in design and nature. Additionally, a reference to the stone lanterns of Japan produced centuries ago can be seen in Greg’s lanterns. As a studio potter, Babs has always worked in series making functional pieces from stoneware and porcelain clay bodies, ranging from large platters to stacked candleholders. Currently, she is in the process of developing a new direction of clay pieces moving toward sculpture for the garden and home.