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We make art you can cook with

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Meet Morgan

June 1, 2022 By Morgan

Morgan at Clay Coyote show
July 1993: Doing homework behind the booth

When people ask where I grew up I say, “a pottery farm.” It normally garners a chuckle and a follow up “what’s that?” But it’s my story. In 1994, my mom (Betsy) and her partner (Tom) decided to move our family from the suburbs of Chicago to start what became the Clay Coyote Pottery business on a 60-acre hobby farm in Hutchinson, MN. Their vision was to create a destination where people could come to buy handmade, functional, and affordable pottery in central Minnesota.

I grew up at the Coyote. After school I’d come down to the Studio and tell Mom and Tom all about my day while scraping clay off bats. On weekends I’d travel with them to art shows, often doing homework on the curb behind the booth. And I still have the set they made me when I left to college with my initials on the bottom. Each year, I’d be home for our seasonal Open Houses, Christmas Eve rushes for last minute gifts, and other special occasions.

In 2002, I came home to help open the Gallery. It was a beautiful site, the red gleaming building on the edge of the prairie. And it was a joy to meet the new artists as we began to fill the shelves. Each year since then, Betsy and I have met up annually in Philadelphia to find the new art for the Gallery. Tom and Betsy would always say, “some day it will all be yours.”

In 1998, I went off to college at the University of Wisconsin – River Falls where I studied political science, journalism, Spanish, and art. After graduating I moved to Washington, DC to work for the Center for Public Integrity as a writer and researcher for close to three years. Through a friend at the Center, Ian and I met and we’ve been together ever since.

In 2004, I took a position as a consumer advocate and lobbyist for Consumers Union (the policy and advocacy arm of Consumer Reports). I stayed with Consumer Reports for more than twelve years. First in DC, then in the Austin, TX office, then at Headquarters in Yonkers, NY.  While working for Consumer Reports, I went back to school at Columbia University for a Masters in Fundraising and Nonprofit Management.

All the way along, Betsy and Tom have been rootin’ and cheerin’, and helping me reach every milestone that was on the path to coming home.

In 2016, Ian and I made the move from New York to Hutchinson. While Tom retired fully, my mom stayed on to work with me in the Gallery and Studio.

We launched our new Emerging Artists Studio program, where we hire artists to help make our unique pottery. And they are able to hone their skills, have access to more materials and equipment, leverage our buying power to keep their costs down, and get advice as they grow their own small businesses. In 2016, we had two potters, now in 2022 we have grown to eight.

In 2020, we moved the business from the original farm location to a commercial space in downtown Hutchinson, while we miss the farm and the stunning views, we are delighted to be part of the vibrat downtown business and shopping community.

When I’m not working, I’m at home with Ian and our daughter Elle. We love to walk down to the Coyote, or along the river, or over to Below Zero for frozen yogurt.

I serve on a few local committees and boards including:

  • MN Pottery Festival
  • MN Citizens for the Arts
  • Hutchinson Ambassadors
  • Hutchinson Public Arts Commission

Come visit any time, we’ll put the coffee on (there are still plenty of mugs).

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Filed Under: Our Story Tagged With: gallery, Hutchinson, minnetsota, pottery, remodel, Studio

The Hottest Event of the Summer in Hutchinson, MN!

July 26, 2017 By Kylie Lawson

It’s almost time for one of the ‘hottest’ events of the summer: The 6th Annual Minnesota Pottery Festival! This event will take place Saturday, July 29th from 10am – 5pm and Sunday, July 30th from 12pm – 4pm. This is a free event and open to all ages. Located at 17614 240th St. Hutchinson, MN 55350, you will find over 35 different pottery vendors from across the United States on site ready to showcase and sell their works of art. Some of the returning artists include:

Karen & Mike Baum — Baum Pottery (OH)
Kerry Brooks — Dock 6 Pottery (MN)
Kevin Caufield — Caufield Pottery (MN)
Miky Cunningham — Cunningham Pottery (IA)
Lewis Derry — Asleep @ the Wheel Pottery (MN)
Bill Gossman — Gossman Pottery (MN)
Luci Haas — Adorae Artworks (MN)
Travis Hinton — Travis Hinton Pottery (SD)
Tony Holman — Holman Pottery (TX)

…as well as 11 others and 14 first-timers to the festival, four of them being new, emerging artists.

There’s plenty of things to do and see at the festival.  The Hutchinson Phoenix Drumline will be performing at 10:30am on Saturday and 1:45pm on Sunday. They will also be selling concessions throughout the day with the proceeds going to their fundraiser. Another fun event is the Kids’ Station where children of all ages can try their hand at throwing a pot and the Clay Coyote will fire the pieces and families can come back to pick them up between August 4-12. This is a great way to get the kids involved and put their artist skills to the test!

A Rakú demonstration will be happening twice on Saturday at 11:45am and 3pm and once on Sunday at 12:45pm. This will be done by potter Joe Frank McKee from North Carolina. He will be demonstrating the art of the Rakú style of firing pottery! Rakú is a Japanese word that means enjoyment, happiness, and comfort. This is an ancient technique where the pottery is fired outdoors in a wood or propane kiln. While the glaze is still molten, the pots are pulled out to cool in the open air. Be sure to check it out!

The main event that is being held is the Pottery Olympics! The potters that our joining us this year will compete against the clock and be judged on their work in different categories such as tallest cylinder, widest bowl, and even best piece while blindfolded! There will be five different heats, three on Saturday and two on Sunday. Each heat will last a half hour and the winners will be announced Sunday at 3:30pm. This is one event you will surely not want to miss!

Here is the full schedule for this weekend’s event!

We hope to see you out here THIS WEEKEND to support the potters and appreciate the art being made. This fun and exciting event will be sure to create lasting memories!

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Filed Under: Events, On the Horizon, Potter's Life, Pottery, The Gallery, The Studio Tagged With: 6th annual, adorae artworks, asleep @ the wheel pottery, baum pottery, caufield clay works, clay coyote, clay coyote gallery, cunningham pottery, dock 6 pottery, gossman pottery, holman pottery, hottest event of the summer, Hutchinson Minnesota, hutchinson phoenix drumline, joe frank mckee, minnetsota, MN Pottery Festival, pottery olympics, raku, travis hinton pottery, treehouse pottery

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