The Warwick Pottery Newsletter - June 2026
- Jul 14
- 3 min read
June is here, summer is in full swing, and our little studio is heating up! This month we're celebrating our fellow potter, Kate Prendergast, chatting about social media hacks, and enjoying small studio upgrades. Keep reading to see what we're up to this month. - Marilyn
REMINDER: Our Annual Show is coming up!
This year, our Annual Pottery Show & Sale will be held on the Sunday before Thanksgiving — the perfect time to gather, shop, and celebrate handmade work! 2026 Annual Pottery Show Details When: Sunday, November 22, 2026 Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Where: Warwick Valley Community Center @ 11 Hamilton Ave., Warwick, NY 10990
If you are a student and would like to sign-up, please click here. If you are interested in volunteering, please click here.
What's New @ Warwick Pottery
Splash Pan Cushions
You'll notice some neon green pool noodles hanging around the studio and they just so happen to make splash pans uber cushy to lean on!
Thank you to Beth, for seeing a solution to a problem and making it happen! The studio is all the better for it!
Plastic Covering
Located on the Wedging Table
There is some new plastic covering readily available on the wedging table!
This plastic is slightly smaller but still plenty roomy! It’s conveniently located in reach, so you can easily wrap up your pieces. Don’t forget to add a name tag!
Pottery Hacks & Social Media
Pottery Stuff I Learned on Social Media That Sounds Really Good
Every potter knows the feeling. You’re scrolling through social media, when suddenly a pottery “expert” appears and shares a tip that promises to solve all your problems.
This week’s hack: If you’re reglazing a pot and the glaze doesn’t want to stick, wipe the pot down with rubbing alcohol first!
At first glance, this sounds wonderfully scientific. Alcohol evaporates quickly, removes oils, and generally makes us feel like we’re doing something clever. But does it work?
Actually… yes... well, sometimes!
A quick wipe with rubbing alcohol can remove dust, fingerprints, oils, and other surface contaminants that may interfere with glaze adhesion. If you’ve handled a bisque-fired piece a lot, or if it’s been sitting on a shelf collecting studio dust, cleaning it first can help create a more even glaze application.
Rubbing alcohol is not magic. If your glaze is too thick, too thin, poorly mixed, or the bisque has become saturated with moisture, alcohol won’t rescue the situation. But as a simple cleaning step before reglazing, it’s not a bad trick to keep in your pottery toolbox.
So this social media tip earns a rare distinction: Sounds suspiciously clever… and is actually somewhat true.
Stay tuned for future installments of Pottery Stuff I Learned on Social Media That Sounde Really Good, where we’ll separate pottery wisdom from pottery wizardry.
Please submit things that you learn, too!
A Daughter’s Love, Cast in Clay
At Warwick Pottery Studio, we often speak about clay’s remarkable ability to preserve memories. This summer, one extraordinary work reminds us that pottery can also become a vessel for love, remembrance, and healing.
Our friend, benefactor, and accomplished fellow potter, Kate Prendergast has devoted years to bringing a remarkable exhibition of paintings by her mother, the acclaimed artist Marcia Marcus, to fruition.
The exhibition is the culmination of years of planning, research, and thoughtful curation, honoring both her mother’s artistic legacy and the deep bond they shared.
Among the works on view is “Fit for a Queen” (2026), a deeply personal collaboration created in response to her mother’s passing.
The urn was produced under the supervision of master potter Marilyn Dale at Warwick Pottery Studio; while the beautifully crafted sarcophagus was created by artist Shannon Dawson, who first met Marcia Marcus in 1977.
Perhaps the most moving element of the piece is Marcia’s face itself. Years ago, while Marcia patiently sat for the process, clay life masks were made from her face. Those original impressions became an integral part of this sculpture, allowing her presence to emerge from the clay with extraordinary tenderness and dignity.
The finished work is far more than an urn. It is a daughter’s final gift to her mother, blending painting, sculpture, memory, and love into a single work of art.
We are honored that Warwick Pottery Studio played a small role in helping Kate realize this deeply meaningful vision. Kate’s dedication, perseverance, and artistic sensitivity have resulted in an exhibition that celebrates not only an important American painter, but also the enduring connection between mother and daughter.
Congratulations, Kate!! We are incredibly proud of you and grateful to have witnessed this journey!
Read more about Marcia below: Marcia Marcus Strange and Clear, Exhibition 2026 at Provincetown Art Association and Museum