BLIND ALLEY ARTS POTTERY
Clay designs by Peter Michalski
Location:
89 Peel Street
Barrie, ON L4M 3L5
Introduction
Peter Michalski is the owner and operator of Blind Alley Arts Pottery Studio And Gallery Shop located in Barrie Ontario, Canada. He creates unique pottery crafted with quality and passion. His functional work is food safe, and dishwasher safe. Peter also loves to teach pottery and offers individual lessons in the Blind Alley.
Deciding to become a potter, Peter realized this is a BIG challenge, and one day he came across the term "Blind Alley". It was defined as...
ANY PATH, LANE OR ROAD THAT IS CLOSED AND ONE END//A LINE OF INQUIRY, OR WAY OF SEARCH LEADING NOWHERE//AN OCCUPATION, WITHOUT PROSPECTS OF ADVANCEMENT
Initially as Peter embarked on this journey, as he struggled in earlier years, this term "Blind Alley" felt very appropriate, but also inspirational to one day, make this title ironic.
And here we are in year 16 of being a part time potter, full time Dad. The challenges have been great, but my alley is growing and changing, and my search is leading me forward, and my occupation...well...that is the same (but I like it that way).
Biography
Peter Michalski was born in Toronto, Ontario in 1971. He spent his school year in the city, but during the summer months he went to his family camp in northern Ontario which would eventually have a large influence on his work. Later, he attended the University of Guelph acquiring a Bachelor of Arts Degree, specializing in history. Soon after, Peter was accepted to the Ontario Collage of Art and Design and found himself drawn to the ideas and qualities of clay. He found his work steadily improving culminating in his final year he won several awards and was selected to do a 90 piece commission for the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto.
Peter Michalski was born in Toronto, Ontario in 1971. He spent his school year in the city, but during the summer months he went to his family camp in northern Ontario which would eventually have a large influence on his work. Later, he attended the University of Guelph acquiring a Bachelor of Arts Degree, specializing in history. Soon after, Peter was accepted to the Ontario Collage of Art and Design and found himself drawn to the ideas and qualities of clay. He found his work steadily improving culminating in his final year he won several awards and was selected to do a 90 piece commission for the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto.
After completing his formal academic career, Peter moved to Barrie, Ontario with his wife Andrea and set up a ceramic studio under the title “Blind Alley Arts.”
In the beginning pottery felt like a blind alley, with many challenges of form versus function, and creating consistent, high quality glazes, but eventually Peter became more confident and certain with his craft.
Today, his son Pierson has entered High School, so Peter has much more time to create his clay designs(when he is not playing basketball or snowboarding or doing Laundry). He continues crafting his unique clay pieces in limited quantities, exploring his own blind alley.
In the beginning pottery felt like a blind alley, with many challenges of form versus function, and creating consistent, high quality glazes, but eventually Peter became more confident and certain with his craft.
Today, his son Pierson has entered High School, so Peter has much more time to create his clay designs(when he is not playing basketball or snowboarding or doing Laundry). He continues crafting his unique clay pieces in limited quantities, exploring his own blind alley.
Personal Statement
I want to create beautiful unique, clay pieces, crafted with quality and passion. My influences stem from the beauty and elements of nature, to the worn pages of history. I tend to produce pieces in limited quantities, slowing my speed of production, but allowing for new ideas and techniques to be infused into my work exploring the medium of clay. (I believe I am starting to look more and more like my own creations!)
I want to create beautiful unique, clay pieces, crafted with quality and passion. My influences stem from the beauty and elements of nature, to the worn pages of history. I tend to produce pieces in limited quantities, slowing my speed of production, but allowing for new ideas and techniques to be infused into my work exploring the medium of clay. (I believe I am starting to look more and more like my own creations!)
Technical Statement
Most of Peter’s works are functional pieces thrown on the wheel, slab built, or slip cast into handcrafted plaster molds. Afterwards, these items may be altered by gently coaxing the clay, or carving the rims, or applying hand made stamps.
With regards to surface decoration, some work has slip applied during the leather hard stage of drying and are then carved, creating distinctive designs. Other pieces are glazed more traditionally using a variety of techniques, such as sponging, spraying, dipping, and layering. In either case, Peter has created all of his own cone 6 glazes, and is consistently testing for new subtle improvements to his glaze palette.