BILLY RITTER 77

HANDMADE CERAMIC WARES & WORKSHOPS // CLEVELAND, OHIO

https://columbusflea.wordpress.com/

In the thick blanket of fog, we fantasized what lay shrouded beyond the visible horizon
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#voyage #travel #maine #mainemagazine #stonington #ocean #imagine #fantasy #rocks #ecosystem

Stonington Granite was formed at least 350 million years ago, when what is now costal Maine was geologically active. “Granites are the basis of most of our ceramic materials and make up 75% of the earth’s crust. They are rocks, which by definition are mixtures of one or more minerals. Granites consist of over 50% potash and soda feldspar and up to 25% quartz. They also contain as much as 20% mica and lesser amounts of magnesium-iron minerals. Some granites, if crushed to a fine particle size, will make exciting glaze surfaces at high stoneware temperatures.” .
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#alchemy #chemistry #geology #maine #pottery #ceramics #glaze #rocks #shore #beauty #love #mainemagazine (Quoted text from: Understanding Glazes Through Raw Materials: Using Glaze Cores
Jennifer Harnetty • March 14, 2009)

Full vacation mode
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Photo by @heidi_robb

The true essence of vacation, in situ -with your family and friends. This is a Latin phrase that translates literally to "on site" or "in position". It means "locally", "on site", "on the premises" or "in place.” Heidi and I have been coming here every summer since we’ve met and it’s always a treat. A magical place to recharge and inspire your spirits. This year we are fortunate to be traveling with her kids. As you might know, or not, I don’t have any children. Furthermore my experience of family was fairly shattered growing up without a father. This past week for me though, has been a celebration of this new family that I’m thankful to be a part of. As I’ve said many a time, I craft pottery to share with you all that celebration of family, community, and shared nourishment. It’s the most meaningful thing to me and I enjoy sharing these moments with you all
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#lobster #insitu #family #dinner #onsite #maine #stonington #love #steamers #grattitude

Tuesday dinners with friends. Tablewares from my previous years collections, photo by Aubrey @thatswhatsheeats .
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#friends #dinners #supper #pottery #ceramics #tableware

Before and after. A firing at the studio with the amazing @toddleech27 .
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#studio #ceramics #ceramicsstudio #pottery #instapottery

When you visit the studio the first thing you might notice is this installation on the wall in the shop. Front and center, I display this community brick that was awarded to me by my mentor, teacher, and friend Josh. The skateboard shelf was built by my friends Carl and Scott of Shred and Co. Lastly, the platter I see as a planetary body illuminating the composition of this whole thing even having the occasion to take flight. That platter was made by one of my best friends, Todd Leech. Todd and his lovely wife Stephanie Craig are the founders of the original Hectic Studio here at the Hildebrandt. I met Stephanie about five years ago and we taught at Cuyahoga Community College for several years together and became dear friends as well. A little over two years ago, as I outgrowing my space at the ArtCraft Building, they offered me a chance to move into their Hectic Studio and grow onward and upward. Had that not happened, the rest of this story wouldn’t have evolved the way that it did. And so, you see, and perhaps it comes as a surprise, or not...but making pottery or anything else, isn’t about you or me, it’s about the story of the work itself and how it came to fruition. In that tale the contents contain: the merits of the work itself as well as all of the people along the way who shaped the voice of said merits. Each of you who consciously became a part of the story, through their contributions, support, love, and assistance. This, I tell you is a community of people working together towards evolving something much greater than the elevation of an individual or the objectivity of something tangible. This is about a family of friends, a posse of creatives who have combined their powers into a collective superpower. Fueled by the electric desire to humbly give without expectation. This is friendship. This is love. This is the most beautiful possibility of humankind. And I am forever thankful for this community I have forged with these incredible people
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#community #friends #love #apotterslife #ceramicsstudio #potterystudio #instagram #instapottery

Portrait of the artist Isabelle English @rosefire817 This was her first wood firing ever and she was super stoked about it. Isabelle was one of my first interns a few months back. She was a senior at Parma HS working on her senior project. Her aspiration was to work with a ceramic artist in Cleveland for two weeks and then write a presentation about her experience. Believe it or not, she approached five different artists and they all said NO. My buddy Val Grosman at Brick Ceramics told me about Belle and I said I’d consider it. She came in for the interview and was super jazzed and so punk rock. My answer without reservation was YES!
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@woodfiredpotterykilns #apotterslife #ceramics #pottery #woodkiln #woodfired #artist #portrait #piabadasswomen #womenempowerment

Join in the daily visual journey on Instagram

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CATCH ME AT THE CLEVELAND FLEA: JUNE 9, JULY 14, SEPTEMBER 8, AND OCTOBER 13

A fantastic blog post about the day Sarah Sloboda and her Mom came to visit the studio with some wild clay they found in their back yard.

https://sarahsloboda.com/billy-ritter-ceramics/

THIS IS THE THE AMAZING FILM SHORT I DID WITH MY FRIEND RYAN GIRARD, IT WAS IN THE CLEVELAND FILM FESTIVAL!

This is the promotional video for a magical palace of opportunity called NewBridge Cleveland. You can find out more about them here: https://newbridgecleveland.org/

June 24, 2018 -

APPRENTICE OPPORTUNITY / CERAMICS STUDIO INTERNSHIP

Billy Ritter 77 Studio is accepting applicants for the position of: Ceramics Intern Apprentice.

About: In exchange for 5-8 hours per week of work, select interns will have the opportunity to learn in a functional ceramics studio, while being immersed in the production process. This is an invaluable opportunity for an aspiring potter to gain the real mechanics of running a thriving ceramic studio,(i.e. teaching ceramic skills, organizing workshops, making and selling work, glaze and clay chemistry, photography, marketing, and firing kilns).

Available Hours: Thursday 10am-6pm or Friday 10am-6pm, some Saturdays

What I’m looking for: Ideally, you are positive and upbeat, a hard worker, direct communicator, self-motivated, respectful, able to hustle, detail oriented, and committed to the task. Please bring your good organizational skills, a willingness to multi-task and work as part of a team. An interest in photography and video, as well as social media knowledge is desirable.

Duties include:

Studio cleaning, studio organization, mixing clay and glazes, loading and unloading kilns, staging and rotating wares, merchandising, photography, data entry, packing and shipping of works, and assistance at public events and workshops.

What You’ll Get out of This Experience:

You’ll be part of all aspects of the making process from start to finish, as well as the opportunity to learn from many working professionals in my community of makers. Modest studio time, use of recycled clay, studio equipment and materials will be considered, as time allows.

About the Studio:

My studio is located at the Historic Hildebrandt Building in the Clark-Futton neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio. The physical space is sub-leased from the owners of Hectic Studio, and shared with Hectic Studio and another ceramic artist.

To apply please provide:

1. Contact information (Name, Phone, E-Mail, Website, social media)
2. Letter of Intent (Goals you wish to obtain throughout your Internship)

3. Resume or CV (Curriculum Vitae)
4. Two (2) references and their contact information

All applications must be submitted by e-mail to billy@billyritter77.com
*Learn more about the studio on Instagram @billyritter77

Thank you!
Billy Ritter 77

Poster image by: https://www.billydelfs.com/

NEW MUGS in the studio shop, in Everyday Grey and Flaxen Salt (January, 2018)

The latest Bubble Series in the online store, #44-66 featuring the debut of a new glaze: Kuan/Guan an ice frost delicacy. (January 2018)

You can find my extra special treasures at Juicy Lucy in Chagrin Falls, Ohio // www.juicylucyaclothingstore.com/contact/

Cleveland Magazine JUNE 12 2017

https://clevelandmagazine.com/style/style-makers/articles/wrap-your-head-around-these-bowls

http://www.theclevelandflea.com/december-1

Night Market & Party:
December 8, 6pm-10pm (Free)
Ramen Pop Up with Ushabu
Boozy Milkshakes by Mason's Creamery

Saturday Shopping
December 9, 10am-5pm
10am-2pm ($10 guaranteed admission. Get your tickets HERE)
2pm-5pm (free)

Sunday Brunch 'n' Shop:
December 10, 10am-5pm (Free all day)

at 3333 Lorain in Cleveland's Ohio City neighborhood

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Summer Workshop Series // Monday, Wednesday, and Friday's in AUGUST, 2017 (6:00-9:00pm)

Back by popular demand, the Independent Potters Wheel Experience Workshop: Summer 2017

In this exclusive THREE- PART WORKSHOP you, or you and a friend will experience three evenings with me making and glazing vessels that you will craft using the potters wheel as a tool. Full course description, dates, and details in the STORE

Monday, June 5th...

https://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2017/05/30/billy-ritter-teams-up-with-the-black-pig-for-ceramic-plating-event

Chef Michael Nowak & Artist Billy Ritter to Host Artisan Dinner @ The Black Pig

- The Pair Brings a New Meaning to the Art of Dining -

Cleveland, OH (June 5, 2017) — Chef Michael Nowak of the Black Pig and Billy

Ritter of Billy Ritter 77 have teamed up to bring fine art and fine dining together

in one incredible event. On the night of June 5, 2017, the collaboration between

chef and artist will be showcased in a 7-course dinner plated on a series of seven

ceramic pieces, handcrafted by Ritter. Through an artistic and culinary study of

natural color, organic shape, and unique texture, each one-of-a-kind piece will

emphasize the specially crafted menu written by Chef Nowak.

The menu will consist of one cocktail, six savory dishes, and one sweet dish.

Dinner will include meat, seafood, vegetables, and gluten. Due to the unique

nature of this dining experience, substitutions will not be available. The limited

edition ceramic sets used at the event will be available for purchase immediately

following dinner, with 30 of each dish available.

The Boston Globe - MARCH 31, 2017

https://www.bostonglobe.com/magazine/2017/03/31/recipes-keep-these-ingredients-your-freezer-for-easy-weeknight-dinners/BsD9pkg1147mFZH6VxiHkI/story.html

SUNDAY MARCH 26, 2017

SUNDAY 2.19.17 - NEW BUBBLES arrive @ 9:00PM

You can find my white stoneware Dinner Plates at Ohio City Provisions. Sold as singles or sets of four.

Feb-2017: My latest LIMITED EDITION of mugs have arrived at a RISING STAR COFFEE near you! Click on the pic to see their locations.

FIRED IN FREEDOM GROUP EXHIBITION / FRIDAY JANUARY 20, 2017 - FEBRUARY 22, 2017

WHERE: Gelbke Fine Arts Center Gallery at Hiram College

Join us for our opening reception from 5-7pm, with artist talks at 6.
The exhibition will run through February 22nd.

The ceramics exhibited in this exhibition are from two kilns. The first kiln was built five years ago on several acres of land behind Brinsley Tyrrell’s house and studio on route 88 in Freedom Township, just outside of Ravenna. The kiln was cobbled together with several thousand bricks taken from an abandoned commercial bee hive kiln in Tuscarawas County, and from battered and broken bricks discarded by the Kent State University Art Department. It was fired 33 times and yielded some beautiful artwork before it began to show its age. In 2016 it was torn down and replaced by a larger two-chambered kiln with the second chamber used for salt firing. It has seen two firings and should last for many years to come.

This event is free and open to the public, and many of the works will be available to purchase, with the proceeds going to benefit the Estates.

12.16.2016: Guest Artist at Peter Larson Studio @78th St. Studios. Click on image to get teleported to https://www.instagram.com/peterjlarson/

Sweet custom table by Shred and Co. (https://www.instagram.com/shredandco/)

Come visit our lovely studio at 3619 Walton Ave in the Historic Hildebrandt Building.

Thank you all for a wonderful weekend at the Fabulous Food Show!

Porcelain vase in midnight blue and vintage orange, 2015. Photo and styling by Clarissa Westmeyer

Styling and photography by Heidi Robb

Intensive and private Wednesday evening workshops at the studio.

My latest mugs in White Crater and Delany Satin Glaze over a Black Cassius clay body. Available at the Hectic Studio Shoppe