spring in the south

As you seek the sun, the warm air of a clearing, the pinks and yellows of the blooms that promise new life, pause for a moment to consider the shadows of the path to spring. The lingering cool, the dew of a chilled rain, the essential transition that nature, and ourselves, take to make it here from winter.

Written by Erin Wilson
Photographed by Paige French

bloodroot blades

Our friends over at Bloodroot Blades live and work out in Arnoldsville, GA, living off their land and growing much of their own food. These are just a handful of shots Paige took one clear morning last summer with Katy, part of the Bloodroot team. More about their work, from their website:

“Bloodroot Blades builds artisan and custom kitchen knives and other tools designed for everyday use. We employ as many recycled, personal, handmade, and local materials as possible without sacrificing the durability and functionality of the tool. It is our goal to manage our shops, resources, and waste in a way that acknowledges our vital relationships with our neighbors as well as the land. We want the chef, the home cook, and the outdoorsman to have the best American-made tools available, and we stand behind our work with an unconditional, lifetime warranty and free maintenance.” 

r.wood studio ceramics

These dishes are the work of r.wood studio ceramics, founded by Rebecca Wood 25 years ago. You can see more of her products and work on her site, and read more about her path to where she is now here. Paige took these photographs in her home during a collaborative shoot with photographer Kristen Bach, just as summer was beginning to slip into fall.

Empty Bowls

The Empty Bowls Project is a nationwide movement founded by potters. Together with Sarah Kersten, Emily Reinhardt, Helen Levi and Regina Mandell, we are on a collective mission to raise money for organizations that support the rights of women, minorities, refugees, undocumented immigrants, protestors, the environment, the underrepresented…those who need protection now more than ever.

The week of the presidential inauguration we gather for regional events in New York, Berkeley, Kansas City...and right here in Athens, Georgia on Monday, January 16, 2017. 100% of proceeds from Empty Bowls South will go directly to the Athens Immigrant Rights Coalition and the American Civil Liberties Union.

How does it work? Potters across the country donate bowls, chefs and farmers donate food for a meal, you donate money and enjoy that meal in addition to selecting a beautiful handmade bowl to take home. At the event, each guest will choose a bowl; you will use it to enjoy a dinner made with love at a table of fellow people giving back to those who need it. Then, you take it home as a reminder to do good every day this year. 

Empty Bowls Project South
on Martin Luther King Day, Monday, January 16
at The Old Pal, 1320 Prince Avenue, Athens, Georgia
100% of proceeds for this regional event benefit the Athens Immigrant Rights Coalition and the American Civil Liberties Union

A Short List of Potters Who Care:
thank you all for donating bowls to our cause

Forged and Found
East Fork Pottery
Facture Goods
R. Wood Studio
Linda Rivolis
Eve Nettles
Maria Dondero
Chona Reyes
Erica Lackey
Grace Montgomery
Jonathan Barnes
Salt Ceramics
Honeycomb Studio
Kerry Steinberg
Chris Joseph
Joseph Sand Pottery
Michelle Dross
Sadie Harris
Liz Kelly
Lou Kregel
Travis Burch
Andrew Lentini
Sarah Cihat
Charlotte Smith
Gail Kurtz
Rebecca Cash
Julia Paul
Gretchen Quinn
OCAF Studio Potters

Thank you to our sponsors whose food donations made this event possible!
Donna Chang's
The National
Seabear Oyster Bar
Woodland Gardens
The Turnip Truck
Community Meat Co.

tybee time: a glance back to our island exploration

Last April we travelled to Tybee Island, just off the coast of beautiful Savannah, Georgia. Life moves at a slower pace here, a phenomenon affectionately known as "Tybee time." This trip was restorative in so many ways, and the island is now one of our favorite places. With the arrival of spring, we are anxious to go back. 

A very special thanks to Jennifer Abshire and Kara Ford of Abshire PR, as well as Stayce Jarrell of Oceanfront Cottage Rentals for their exceptional hospitality during our stay on Tybee Island. 

Photos by Paige French

how to shuck an oyster

Shucking an oyster is a process combining finesse and force. Unlocking the briny interior of an oyster's hard shell is all about finding the natural hinge. "It's not necessarily about pressure," said Patrick Stubbers, executive chef at Seabear Oyster Bar in Athens, Ga. "It's about the spot."  And each shell is different, each created by the living organism, fortified by the motion of the tides that deepens the cup and thickens the layers of calcium carbonate from a brittle beginning. Oysters are a wild creature with a connection to terrior that begs you to pop the hinge and try another.

Beauty in the Remains

Recently our Director of Photography, Paige French, taught a class at a local camp for children in Athens, Georgia.  The class took place at Treehouse, a lovely shop that encourages young people to engage creatively, with each other and their teachers, through learning craft and making art. Paige took these photographs of the remains after the food styling portion of the camp was completed.  They showcase the beautiful ingredients provided by Home.Made and the incredible ceramics of R. Wood Studios.  For more information about these businesses, follow the links at the bottom of the page.  What follows is a visual essay: beauty in the aftermath of food and art. 

---

more information on TREEHOUSE kid & craft

more information on R. Wood Studio Ceramics

more information on home.made catering