An artist by trade and seemingly by nature, Brian Somers first started eying the 1930s-era Pullman train car in the southwest corner of Bothell’s Country Village some seven years ago.
At various times, the train car has been home to professional glass blowers and more recently, a retail pottery importer. Somers believes the location, which sits in the back and off to the side of Country Village, just isn’t right for retail, simply too far off the beaten path. That’s just one reason he hopes to turn his new Clay Works East into a destination location.
Eventually, Somers, 54, and manager Carrie Gao, will be offering classes in clay and pottery, hosting exhibits from local and national artists and even hope to sponsor events on the oversized patio attached to the train car or on the surrounding grounds.
For now, with their opening only about a month in the past, the pair is concentrating on holiday events.
For example, during Country Village’s “Taste of the Holidays” event the weekend of Nov. 20, visitors had the chance to glaze bisque-fired bowls or Christmas ornaments. The items were then quick-fired again in a Japanese process called “raku,” a technique Somers plans to use a lot at the shop.
“In a matter of 40 minutes, they (customers) can take their creation home,” Gao said, regarding raku. At the same time, she added a quick story of a woman who spent hours glazing her raku bowl. “She took her time and she had so much fun.”
While he works with all sorts of materials, Somers has a master’s degree in pottery and called clay his first love. He said the raku process allows artists of any experience level to glaze — that is, paint — bisque (pre-fired) materials.
After the item is glazed, it is first set on top of a small kiln and heated to what Somers described as the temperature of a warm, not even a hot, barbecue. In the kiln, the item is blasted at 1,300 degrees, then 1,800 degrees. It’s pulled out while it’s glowing hot and placed in a canister of some kind of combustible material, usually newspaper. The resulting smoke gets into the clay.
“It adds another character to the clay,” Somers said, further contending there are several rules associated with raku.
“First, you’re not going to get what you expected,” he said. The colors will change in the smoking process. Also, beginners’ luck rules the day. Someone who has never done pottery before can end up with a pretty exciting looking piece, said both Somers and Gao. Somers added obviously those characteristics of the process make it perfect for beginners.
“It serves as a metaphor for life,” continued Somers, who seems to have a philosophical streak. He believes raku can teach worthy lessons that extend beyond pottery: prepare for happy accidents, quit trying to control everything and go more with the flow.
Between now and Christmas, Clay Works will be offering more raku events; check their Web site (www.clayworkseast.com) for times. A Christmas exhibit of professional works is planned for Dec. 18.
Once the holidays are over, Somers and Gao said they plan to offer classes on hand-building and wheel throwing, among other techniques. Gao said classes will cater to experts or beginners. Somers noted there are other places to go for pottery classes. But smaller class sizes is just one factor he hopes makes Clay Works stand out. Somers obviously believes Country Village and the Pullman car offer him some advantages.
For starters, Somers talked about the European, yet small-town flavor of Country Village. He said his location supplies him with ample grass parking right outside his window, while also offering a natural setting — again, right outside his window. Still, Somers isn’t blind to the fact he’s taking a risk.
“We’re starting a business in a very difficult environment for start-up businesses,” he said. Somers further added that like many artists, his career took a hit during the recent recession. But he also said as the space he wanted had become available, he felt he had to act. Somers said he’d looked at locations elsewhere, but ultimately believes Country Village is the right place for Clay Works.
“Bothell is just a lovely town to be involved with,” Somers said, noting his location can draw customers from two counties. “We were just extremely fortunate… to get this spot.”
