Today we’d like to introduce you to Judy Adams.
Judy, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve been playing in mud since I was a kid. Who would have ever thought I’d make a career out of it?! At Ohio State University I registered for the Art Education program because no one I knew ever got an art degree (and my parents certainly frowned upon “artist” as a career). A person is required to take studio art classes for the degree and I opted for a ceramics class. I was immediately smitten. I would spend all my free time in the ceramic studio which was open 24/7. Working nights as a waitress to help pay my tuition, I would often go to the studio after my shift and stay until sunrise. I was in heaven and ended up getting a dual degree in Art Education and Fine Arts/Ceramics.
Fast forward, I moved to Houston, and soon went looking for a ceramic studio to rent. Walked in to Foelber Pottery in 1985 and my life changed forever. John Foelber has been my pottery partner, life partner, and parenting partner ever since. Together we have built a successful pottery school and gallery in heart of the art district of Houston.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I don’t know any entrepreneurs that will ever tell you that it has been a smooth road. In the beginning, there were huge learning curves pertaining to marketing, client relationships, and all things on the business side. Remember, we were both just young potters wanting to make pieces and just hoping people would buy our creations. Raising a family was a struggle as we tried to juggle time between our two children, teaching pottery classes, and managing the gallery. There were days when I literally had a child strapped to my back as I knelt down to help a student on the pottery wheel. Our students loved having the babies around and now both of our grown children have a deep appreciation for the craft… so maybe that wasn’t so bad.
There were times of struggle when the economy took a nosedive (the Covid pandemic being the latest) or weather disasters that shut the city down for a while and caused damage to our buildings (Allison, Rita, Ike, the freeze of 2021 just to name a few). Those were difficult, unexpected moments when we had to tighten our belts, pivot, reorganize, and move on.
I would say the biggest, continual struggle for any business is to stay ahead of shifts and trends. We started this business before the internet was a thing. It was a huge leap when I created a website. Next came social media which was a game-changer in terms of connecting to other creatives and clients. Just last year when the world had to shut down because of Covid19 I had time to upgrade our website and finally have an online store! Then there are the innovations within the ceramic field to research, cull, and perhaps integrated into our work. Even after 35+ years as a potter, there is always something new to learn.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My personal ceramic work has evolved so much over the years. I still do small batch functional ceramics like cups, bowls, and serving dishes now and then. But my true passion is architectural, modern vessel forms that can stand alone as a sculptural piece.
As the curator for our gallery, my mission is to showcase works by local ceramists that are appealing, unique, and in a reasonable price range. I’m very proud of the artists we represent and the beautiful pieces we have on display throughout the year. Designers and collectors know they will find pieces that are truly one-of-a-kind and make a statement in a room. I love hearing someone exclaim, “I’ve never seen anything like this anywhere else”.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
What a great question! The pandemic really turned the art/retail world upside down. I see a trend to fewer and fewer brick-and-mortar galleries and more pop-up shows in rented spaces. This is understandable given the expense to operate a retail space but it does make it difficult for the average buyer to find handmade, local products. Farmers markets and art festivals will continue, I believe, and with good publicity people will be able to support makers in these venues.
The biggest shift for small businesses is that they now must be able to self-promote via the internet. This means social media, website, and email newsletters. It’s the only way to be seen and heard but that can be hard for an introvert/creative. Part of the appeal of buying local and handmade is in the story of the maker. This was easier to do at an art festival or having someone walk into your shop. It’s much harder to do in the cacophony of social media. Photos speak louder than words so either you have to be a good photographer or you need to budget for one. All this may seem intimidating but I’m seeing that social media can be a very positive way to find a bigger audience, support other businesses, share content, find mentors, and become part of a larger creative community. It’s actually quite exciting.
Pricing:
- Functional cups, bowls, etc $25-$50
- Larger serving pieces $70-$300
- Vases of all sizes $30-$900
- Wall art $45-$500
- Sculptures $45-$700
Contact Info:
- Email: foelberpottery@gmail.com
- Website: https://foelberpottery.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foelberpottery/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/foelberpottery/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/FoelberPottery
