Member Profile – Barb Ruble

I have always had a great love of functional pottery — the plates, bowls, cups, pitchers, and serving dishes of everyday life. These pieces follow a long tradition that enriches the lives of both the maker and the user, creating a communion between them. The finger marks of the potter can be seen, felt, and traced by each person who sips, sups, or washes up after. As a functional potter, I work primarily on the wheel, sometimes altering or adding elements that draw attention to or exaggerate the original motion of the clay through my hands. I enjoy illustrating with underglazes and wood, salt, and soda firing. I make my pieces for everyday use and I like to imagine them living in your kitchen cupboard, with frequent trips to the dinner table, coffee table, and sink.