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Clay Coyote

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

Behind the scenes: New Studio tour and Potter’s first weeks

September 22, 2016 By Morgan

We finished our Studio remodel and the new potters are hard at work. Take a look at these photos from behind the scenes at the Clay Coyote.

Studio remodel, finished
The Studio remodel is done. Here’s a look at the potters’ nooks.
Electric kiln area
Our electric kilns (Snap, Crackle, and Pop) made a shift to the south side of the Studio. They’re closer to the big gas kiln now.
Potter's nook
Pre-clay view of potter’s nook. They are no longer this clean. They may never be again.

 

Levi Yankosky throwing demonstration
Levi Yankosky, emerging artist, demonstrating his throwing skills to young crowd.
Katie Teesdale throwing pots for group tour
Katie is demonstrating her throwing skills for a group tour.
Katie Teesdale prepping bisque
Katie Teesdale prepping bisque test pots to go in first gas firing.
Levi Yankosky loading kiln
Levi Yankosky loading gas kiln for first test firing.
Levi Yankosky and Katie Teesdale getting ready to light the gas kiln.
Levi Yankosky and Katie Teesdale getting ready to light the gas kiln.
Levi Yankosky checking the peeps
Levi Yankosky is placing the peeps into the gas kiln, clearly it’s not hot yet, or he’d be wearing protective gloves…
Gallery Open Door
Stop by, we’re open 7 days a week and we’d love to give you a tour. You might see one of these potters hard at work!
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Filed Under: Our Story, Potter's Life, The Studio Tagged With: electric kiln, gas kiln, Katie Teesdale, Levi Yankosky, remodel, snap crackle pop, Studio, studio tours, tour groups

Studio Update: One Month to Go

July 30, 2016 By Morgan

four pottery wheels
Lined up and ready for their debut!

Holy hot July! We’ve been working like crazy on the new Emerging Artist Studio (PDF) and want to share a few photos from our adventures.

 

Studio Additions

TLB Construction put up the new walls, insulation, and windows before we had to take a few days off for the Minnesota Pottery Festival, but now we’re back and we’re counting down the days until our three new artists start.

Continental Clay shipped us our three new Whisper-VL wheels and stools from Shimpo. These babies we’re test driven during this year’s Pottery Olympics and let me tell you they are so quiet and smooth.

Also, after a ton of research and advice from other potters we ordered our new sink. It’s stainless, with galvanized legs, and three bays. Next up we’ll get our Gleco HV system. I can’t wait to see the whole thing installed.

Studio Sink
New sink at the loading dock!

 

Next up in the Studio

Over the next two weeks, we’ll do some more drywall, taping, put a mote in our concrete to create a better drainage system, add gutters, install the new energy efficient lights in the Studio, pour the new floor, paint, and bring back all the tools from storage. Wow, I’m tired just reading it. Good thing we have so many awesome helpers, it’s true, “many hands make light work.”

 

Emerging Artist Update, There’s still time to Apply

Wall of pottery
Emerging Artists: Imagine your work displayed in our Gallery!

In other news, we’ve been interviewing artists for the three Emerging Artists positions. We’ve talked to potters from California, to New York, Colorado to Wisconsin, Kansas City to Virginia, North Carolina to Texas, and tons from our home state of Minnesota.

If you’re a functional potter, who likes to work with highfire, cone10, reduction glazes, and you’re looking for a Studio to launch

your small business please reach out via email to [email protected]. There’s still time to get your application in, but the space is filling up quickly.

For more information download our 1-page flyer (PDF) or 2-page information packet (PDF).

 

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Filed Under: The Studio Tagged With: apply now, emerging artists, glazing, handthrown, incubator, opportunities, pottery, remodel, sink, Studio, throwing, wheels

We have walls!

July 17, 2016 By Morgan

Studio walls being installed at the Clay Coyote
Before, during, and after!

There’s an old saying, “you’re a better door than a window.” In the case of the Clay Coyote Emerging Artist Studio we’ve had doors from the original 1929 pole barn that we’ve been using as windows for the past two decades. All that changed last week when we added walls, energy efficient windows, and new red tin siding to the Studio!

Here’s a before, during, and after photo (sorta). Come out to the Clay Coyote any day of the week for a tour (directions). More pictures and an update on the inside remodel next week.

If you’re interested in learning more about joining our Emerging Artist Studio program please contact [email protected] or call 320-587-2599.

What’s included: 

  • Unlimited clay, glaze, & firing
  • Wheels, tools, stamps, slabs included
  • Three electric and one gas reduction kiln w/ advancers
  • Private & collaborative space
  • Ample greenware, bisque, and post production storage
  • Access to glaze recipes & 70+ chemicals
  • Extruder, slab roller
  • Art show trailer w/ booth, register, tents, & boxes
  • Retail space w/ dedicated marketing & sales team
  • Online sales platform and website support

For more information download our 1-page flyer (PDF) or 2-page information packet (PDF).

 

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Filed Under: The Studio Tagged With: clay, cone10, doors, emerging artists, glaze, Hutchinson, kilns, Minnesota, pottery, prairie, reduction, remodel, Studio, windows

Emerging Artist Studio Update

July 2, 2016 By Morgan

Great news from the Clay Coyote Emerging Artist Studio: our remodel is part way completed.

(Almost) Empty Studio
(Almost) Empty Studio

We’ve moved everything out of the studio for the new walls, windows, lights, and equipment to be installed over the next few weeks. It’s a little weird going back there … I keep getting the urge to yodel.

The Studio is being transformed into a small business incubator for emerging ceramic artists in central Minnesota. We supply a state-of-the-art studio space and provide skill development training to help artists successfully launch their own pottery businesses. The emerging artists also have an instant marketplace to sell their work in our established gallery and online store. 

We’ve been getting a lot of interest for the first three spots. If you’d like to be one of our Emerging Artists please contact [email protected] or call 320-587-2599.

What’s included: Word Cloud shared studio

  • Unlimited clay, glaze, & firing
  • Wheels, tools, stamps, slabs included
  • Three electric and one gas reduction kiln w/ advancers
  • Private & collaborative space
  • Ample greenware, bisque, and post production storage
  • Access to glaze recipes & 70+ chemicals
  • Extruder, slab roller
  • Art show trailer w/ booth, register, tents, & boxes
  • Retail space w/ dedicated marketing & sales team
  • Online sales platform and website support

For more information download our 1-page flyer (PDF) or 2-page information packet (PDF).

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Filed Under: The Studio Tagged With: advancers, clay, cone10, emerging artists, glaze, reduction, remodel, slab roller, stoneware, Studio, wheels

Clay Coyote

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Email [email protected]

Phone (320) 587-2599

Mail PO BOX 363, Hutchinson, MN 55350

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