Hello, my name is Caleb Phillips and this is my pottery. It is named for
the black-billed magpie (
Pica hudsonia) a conspicuous and charismatic resident
of the Colorado plateau.
The concept of this pottery is for proceeds from pottery sales to go to charitable causes.
Because the dollars can have a larger impact there, the focus is on vetted international charities.
In 2023, funds raised through the sale of my pots supported
Womens' health in rural Nepal.
In 2024, funds have provided medical supplies to civilian defenders through
Sunflower Seeds Ukraine.
I did my initial pottery training with Liz Aylmer and Jenny Stock
at the
Artesania del Prado nearby to Olvera,
Andalucia, Spain. I've also had the wonderful opportunity to practice at a
number of community studios and learn from the residents there:
Ceramics Academy
with
Taz Pollard in South Molton, Devon, UK;
Céramiques in Melbourne, Australia;
and the
Wakatipu Society of Potters in Queenstown, New Zealand.
I make functional domesticware in the production style, taking inspiration from
high desert and mountain landscapes of the western USA. The sedimentary geological
record is both palette and medium, providing clays, slips and glaze components to my
decorated pots. I am thankful for inspiration from many contemporary production potters, including those who have
been so kind to invite me into their studios and share their craft. You can visit
my
personal webpage if you'd like to learn more
about some of my other projects.