By: Emmie Reeves
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| Lori Dunn, an artisan at Tire City Potters, glazes a coffee mug. An old tire tank of an old automotive garage serves as studio and gallery. |
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| Owner and artist Shashir Chokshi throws a pot in the studio. Chokshi opened Tire City Potters in 2001, and it has become a popular place for one-of-a-kind pottery items as well as private events and classes. |
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| Chokshi uses a kick wheel as he prepares to throw a new piece. "Learning to manage the treadle is the key to controlling the wheel", explained Chokshi. |
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| Chokshi uses both hands to adjust the clay after slamming it to the bat's center. It is called throwing a pot because you literally throw the clay down on the bat with enough force to make the clay stick. |
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| Chokshi uses a wet sponge to smooth out the surface of the clay. Mudtool sponges are great for adding and soaking up water when throwing on the wheel. |
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| Chokshi carefully shapes the current piece. Careful attention must be given when bringing up the walls to prevent the pot from becoming uneven or collapsing. |
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| Dunn examines the clay extruder which seems to be clogged by dried clay. An extruder is a machine that pushes out clay through a die or nozzle to create uniform shapes. |
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| Dunn adjusts the lever so she can open the chamber to remove the dried clay. She had to climb up on a stool in order to get the lever at the right angle. |
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| After clearing the dried clay from the extruder, Dunn opens a bag of fresh clay to refill the machine. Storing clay in plastic bags or airtight containers prevents drying and helps maintain proper moisture content. |
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| Dunn pounds and wedges the clay to make it soft and pliable. Preparing the clay for the extruder includes shaping it a little smaller than the cylinder so it will easily fit into the machine. |
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| Once the extruder is filled, Dunn pulls the lever to produce a a uniform rope of clay. The extruding process is much like squeezing icing out of a piping bag. |
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| Dunn lays uniform ropes of clay produced using the extruder onto a canvas board. The canvas soaks up some of the clay's moisture. |
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| Chokshi trims excess clay from a bowl while it is in the leather hard stage. Clay in this stage has hardened enough that it can be handled without destroying its shape or marking it up, yet it can be trimmed or handles can be added. |
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| Dunn removes some fired pieces from the kiln and places them on a rack. Other pieces will be placed in the kiln to be bisque fired once they are bone dry. |
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| Dunn sands the base of several pottery pieces to ensure their bottoms are even. Most of these pieces were thrown on the potter's wheel, but the snowman is an example of a ceramics project. |
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| Dunn uses a wet air grinder to smooth the bottom of a clay bowl. Sanding is done outside on the sidewalk and while wearing a mask to minimize exposure to clay dust. |
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| Dunn sands the lip of a coffee mug to prevent any sharp spots. She said sanding is definitely her least favorite part of the process. |
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| Dunn glazes a set of coffee mugs inside the studio. Sometimes she has the freedom to be creative with her designs, while other times she has a specific design request to fill. |
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| Dunn places finished pieces on the gallery shelf. All of the pieces at Tire City Potters are crafted and fired on site. |
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| The gallery wall showcases unique handmade ceramic pieces for sale. "Here the days are like these shelves, they are filled with a variety of activities, and no two days are exactly the same," said Dunn. |
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| NOT PART OF STORY [BONUS]: Saw this creation on the shelf and thought it should be shared with the world. Im not sure what it is... other than terrifying. |
