Mostly Clay was started by a group of potters in
1989. Mark Kaelber, Linda Kubick, Susan Schepp, Margie LaTourette,Albert
and Ellen Lowry, Ed Roselene and Emily Yee each contributed start up money
and worked in the store one day a week. The gallery was originally intended
as an outlet for their own work but it has grown and evolved to include
many other artist's work in several craft media. The first location was
in the Village Gate Square Mall in Rochester New York. In 1994 the store
was moved to its present location on Schoen Place in Pittsford New York. |
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Susan, Ed, Emily and Margie were all long time
members of the Genesee Co-op Pottery on Monroe Avenue where they taught
classes and produced their own work for sale at area art festivals and
in the Co-op's gallery store. In the summer of 1989, a political dispute
with the other members of the non-profit board which oversaw the entire
Genesee Co-op building prompted the potters to resign en masse. At the
time, it was a devastating blow for the four potters because not only
did they lose their communal workspace, but they gave up the operation
of a non-profit organization that was dear to their hearts. Between the
four potters. they had well over fifty years invested in the stewardship
of the Genesee Co-op Pottery. They had helped the pottery grow into a
popular, vibrant self-supporting non-profit entity. While most non-profits
had their hands out for operating expenses, it was a source of pride for
the potters that the Co-op Pottery was able to sustain itself without
major outside assistance. The educational mission of the pottery was fulfilled
and then some as evidenced by the community pottery classes which were
always full. The students benefited and were inspired by the opportunity
to work alongside professional potters. Many former Co-op students went
on to pursue part-time or full-time careers in the arts including: Hodaka
Hasebe, Elisa Root, Jennifer Lapham and Don Prey. A year or so after the
Genesee Co-op Pottery closed, it was reborn because of the hard work and
determination of former Genesee Co-op potter Mark Lyons. The pottery is
now called the Genesee Pottery and currently offers classes, workshops
and workspaces for potters.
After leaving the Genesee Co-op Pottery in 1989, The four former Co-op
potters joined forces with Bert, Ellen, Mark and Linda to incorporate
and open Mostly Clay. Over the years, all of the potters except for current
owner Margie LaTourette, left the business to pursue other educational
and career opportunities. Ed has received a Masters Degree in Education
and has traveled extensively visiting places such as France, Guadalupe
and Viet Nam. Susan is working as an elementary school teacher and she
continues to make her beautiful porcelain pottery when her busy schedule
allows. Bert makes and markets his pottery in his Groveland, NY home and
studio.
Mark is working as a self employed mason. Linda has a small pottery studio
in her home and gives private pottery lessons there. Emily has "retired"
and she travels around the country visiting family and friends. She is
active in arts organizations and has won recent awards for her paintings.
Ellen has remarried and lives in Caledonia with her husband and her children
Owen and Fiona Lowry. Margie operates Mostly clay on her own now. In addition
to making pots in her Canandaigua N.Y. studio, Margie makes time for some
volunteer work with Canandaigua Youth Soccer and the Woman's Club of Pittsford.
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