The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by Dessa Rodeffer, Quill Publisher/Owner
Two women who have especially enjoyed preparing for Heritage Trails over the years are Linda Sickmon and Carol Tenold operators of SMITH CREEK POTTERY situated along Route 164, 5 miles east of Oquawka (just west of the Biggsville-Rozetta Junction along the Oquawka-Monmouth road).
The ladies have enjoyed fashioning hand thrown pottery since the late eighties, early nineties.
Linda became interested in 1988 when she began thinking about selling her beauty shop in Monmouth "The Hairdressers". One of her friends invited her into her kitchen and gave me a class on clay making, and that did it.
She sold her shop and took classes at Carl Sandburg and later got involved in Buchanan Art program where adult ceramics classes were given at Monmouth College by an excellent teacher, Cheryl Meeker.
It was in 1991 that Carol became involved in the same class. The Buchanan Art Center had called Carol and asked her to come to help complete the minimum enrollment to hold the class.
Cheryl was an excellent teacher, and the class was only $10-$15 a week which included all your material and access to the studio.
The girls continued taking the class and loved it so much, they even paid the extra amount needed during times minimum enrollment wasn't reached.
"Cheryl taught us to make clay, make glazes, fire the kiln and throw clay on the wheel," Linda said.
The ladies also go once or twice a year to educational workshops which, if in reasonable distance, includes the National Conference of Clay.
"We always come home with a new technique and process such as a different way to put on a handle or a new form."
"Everyone has their own style of art," Linda said. "It flows through you and is a reflection of the artist. Each item will be the artist's own style. And no two pieces are identical."
When Linda and Carol refer to "hand thrown", it is not like making pizza and throwing the dough in the air. They start with a ball of clay, place it on a center of a moving wheel, and as the clay spins, they form and alter the piece. Some times they hand build without the wheel, but both ladies love to use the wheel.
"There is a magical rhythm and a flow to it. It just intrigues me," Linda said.
Carol explained how the color comes from various ingredients of the layered glaze they apply to the clay. The end results, though glazed identically, may still vary because of the placement in the Kiln.
It was in the 50s but the room was noticeably warming as we spoke.
"We had fired the Kiln early in the day and the temperatures are slowly climbing," Linda said. "It's time to check it, do you want to see?"
It was a bit frightening at first to approach the Kiln because of the extreme heat coming from what looked like a huge layered brick oven the size of a 8' by 8' closet. With a hot pad, Carol pulled out a brick and peered in through the extremely bright flame inside the oven and checked the cones used as gauges. This tells them when to turn the heat up again.
"It's a process of turning earth into rock which takes a mixture of time and heat," Linda explained "It's a chemistry."
Carol explained how the moisture has to be released slowly. It's the atmosphere inside and outside the kiln, and from the front to the back of the shelf can vary.
"The same color of glaze can look differently, even when put on each piece the same," Carol said.
"During the whole process, we've had our mistakes," Linda admitted. "Different materials require different temperatures."
"You learn from your mistakes," Carol added. "They say it takes 7 years to make a potter, I didn't think so, but I am still learning."
Groups have enjoyed visiting the studio, Linda said. People call and arrange for a visit since there is no set hours.
It was the summer of "94 Linda came out to the old run-down farm house without running water or restrooms and began throwing clay. That winter they put in the basics, running water, a restroom and a furnace. The first Heritage Trails display was in the hay barn. The next year they gutted the house and moved from city life in Monmouth to the country and built the studio out back which is the present location of Smith Creek Pottery.
Carol and Linda display their work together, each with their own unique style. Their pieces range from pie plates, bowls, pitchers and vases, to tiny tooth pick holders and many unique pieces. I purchased a beautiful cookie jar for $30 that Carol had formed and designed a unique leaf pattern around. It is exquisite, and of course, one of a kind.
As you tour Heritage Trails, make sure you stop at Smith Creek Pottery and see the nicely arranged display of pottery.
They will be open Saturday, September 24th from 10-4 p.m. and Sunday, September 25th Noon to 4 p.m. Other times can be arranged by calling Linda at (309) 627-2746.
Ready for the weekend: Linda Sickmon (left) of RR1 Oquawka and Carol Tenold of Monmouth display their beautiful hand thrown pottery work at their place of business beside Linda's country home 5 miles east of Oquawka.