We had the good fortune of connecting with Jenny Lou Sherburne and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jenny Lou, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I came from a family of artists. My Dad was a novelist, my mother an actress, my brother excelled at both but became a studio potter and my sister is a fabulous wit and writer. It was a daunting legacy. I probably wouldn’t have had the nerve to pursue art myself except for the fact that in college I fell head over heels in love. With clay. I became a ceramic apprentice and was fortunate to build my skills and aesthetic awareness while receiving an excellent liberal arts education.
Perhaps most importantly however was an amazing teacher that served as a mentor. Sylvie Granitelli came to Berea College to run the ceramic apprenticeship program. A respected studio potter, she took on the five year commitment to teach while providing a real life example of a working artist as she continued to fill orders and do shows.
For a young woman unclear on how to make a living, she was the perfect role model!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have always really loved the idea of embuing a functional object with expressiveness. Consequently, sometimes I get carried away! Not all my work is super practical, Part of it’s function becomes simply expressing joy.
But it was a slow journey allowing myself to stray from the strictly functional. Because I revere beautifully made timeless pots, it was difficult to let myself express humor, with animated forms, goofy proportions, excessive ornamentation, and vivid colors.
I leaned into my love of Dr. Seuss, the Wizard of Oz, and Antonio Gaudi. I still find inspiration in the voluptuous forms of the ancient pottery of Crete, the organic onion domes of Russion Orthodox churches and the many textures and colors of feathers, pollens, scales, fur and stamens found in nature.
After close to 45 years as a potter,
I am wondering if my next chapter will be less devoted to embuing my own brand of inspiration into the mugs, plates and bowls of daily living and more into the grand theatrical largesse of candelabras, vessels and vases. If I do, the question becomes, ” will someone buy them”?
And that’s the biggest challenge!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I read once that we have more artists per capita in our 2 county area than anywhere else in the country! We have an open studio tour the 1st weekend of June and December. Many artist’s are happy however, to welcome visitors anytime if they call ahead. We also have the internationally renowned Penland School of Craft nestled in a beautiful valley with available tours of glass blowing, clay, fiber arts, bookarts, woodworking, drawing, iron works, jewelry and photography studios. There is also an exquisite state of the art gallery on the premises.
We are an hour away from Asheville NC, a town known for its art scene, music and craft beers. All of this is in the Blue Ridge mountains, full of waterfalls, rivers, hiking canoing, kayaking and just tons of beauty!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
-The Berea College labor program, which enables students to work 10-20 hours a week (thus requiring almost no tuition) while they earn their degree. – Sylvie Granitelli, potter extraordinaire
-Wally Hyleck, Joe Bova,
Linda Arbuckle (teachers)
– My family and peers.

Website: Jennylousherburnepottery.com

Instagram: @jennyloupottery

Image Credits
Tim Barnwell LOAM Silvia Palmer

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