On Saturday, August 22nd, join local potter Solveig Comer at the Round Barn as she shows children how to create butterflies from simple materials.
Weekly Workshops at the Round Barn
Every Saturday from 10 am to noon, kids are invited to free workshops at the Pakatakan Farmers’ Market. Sessions are taught by members of the Catskill Mountain Artisans Guild. Workshop themes relate to the Pizza Garden, an installation created by Transition Catskills. A Pizza Garden is shaped like a giant pizza, and it’s where you grow the topping ingredients for your favorite food.
Butterfly Decorations
Each butterfly is made by coloring and combining simple materials: a clothespin, a couple of coffee filters, and a pipe cleaner. Along the way, children discover that you don't need expensive materials or electronic gadgets to be creative.
Making Pottery is Fun
Solveig began her ceramics journey when she took a pottery class 20 years ago, thinking it might be fun. From the first session, she was hooked. After she finished her Bachelors’ degree in Math, she attended the Worcester Center for Crafts in Worcester, Massachusetts, and earned a certificate in Studio Arts for Ceramics. As a professional potter, she developed a signature style: white porcelain clay fired with a translucent colored glaze. Her focus is on functional items for the home. Mugs, bowls, dishes, pitchers, teapots and wine goblets are formed on the potter’s wheel. She uses a layered slab technique to create dishes that can hold a variety of materials, including soap, candles or snacks.
Maple Leaf Mugs
The natural world has been a recurring theme in Solveig's work. She grew up in New Paltz and stilll has memories of her grandfather's farm, her mother's garden, and the wilderness of the Mohonk Preserve. Now married and residing in the Catskill Mountains, her daily visits to the Catskill Scenic Trail maintain her love of natural, rural beauty.
Solveig is currently creating several lines of porcelain pottery using her signature style. One version incorporates maple leaf impressions, and another uses herbs. These mugs will be available at the Round Barn, and also at the Artisans Guild stores in Margaretville and Delhi.
Farmers’ Market and Workshop Hours
The farmers’ market is open from 9 am to 2 pm every Saturday through October. Please note that the Artisans' Guild workshops are only offered from 10 am till noon. Parents often do their shopping while kids learn a new skill at the workshop. However, children under the age of five should be supervised by their parent or guardian.
The Pakatakan Farmers' Market is located at the Round Barn on Rte. 30 in Halcottsville, about 5 miles north of Margaretville.