For the last 25 years, Barb Dzsudzsak has revelled in the medium of pottery, tapping into her creativity and creating pieces that are unique and sometimes even draw a deeper meaning for customers.
Dzsudzsak, who has made Burford her home for five decades, explained how she first started in pottery.
“It was introduced to me by a neighbor of ours, and I always thought that it was fascinating in what she could create. And it was just something that stuck with me. And around 25 years ago, I just decided I was going to go to Mohawk College and start taking pottery classes. I became hooked, and it quickly became a passion for me,” she said. “When Mohawk closed, I went down to the Dundas Valley School of Art and have been going there ever since, taking the spring, fall, and ten-week courses offered. Michael Collins was my first instructor at Dundas…and he just sold me on it…and I saw all the different aspects of how many places you can go with clay. And just fell in love with it.”
However, Dzsudzsak described her passion for pottery and how it makes her feel.
“For one thing, it’s very therapeutic for me. I have my studio in the garage and when I am at my wheel, and get my hands into the clay, I get into my zone….And it’s almost a hypnotic rhythm to it. There are also many avenues you can branch off with clay [and] forms of firing. That’s what I find most exciting about it; you can challenge yourself continually,” Dzsudzsak said.
The gifted artisan has tried many forms of firing, and went on to describe one of her favourite techniques which is Raku, an ancient form that originated in Japan.
“I think it’s one of my most favorite forms…you use a special clay that will tolerate thermal shock, and special glazes…because the pieces are taken out of the kiln, which are glowing red hot. We’re all dressed up in fire suits [when doing this], and [the pieces are] set on a stone base or the dirt base, and you have combustibles, so it could be leaves or sawdust, and this glowing red-hot piece gets set on to it, and then it’s all up to nature, because there are so many variables,” she noted. “You then put a metal lid over it, cover the base of it so that once the oxygen starts to be used up, the piece inside starts to cool [and] that’s when the color begins to develop in the glaze. And it’s like Christmas when you open the lid, because you don’t have a clue if it’s going to be what you were hoping for or something totally different.”
Dzsudzsak went on to describe the results of these firings.
“I’ve had some incredibly gorgeous bowls come out of these firings [as well as] large bowls and lidded jars…And it’s the cracks that just draw me to it. They look so beautiful…these cracks develop with….certain glazes that you use. So, I often use those glazes, because not all of the glaze’s crack, there’s a white crackle, and that’s probably my favorite, because you’ll get a white background, and then you have all these smoky lines all through it…where the glaze has actually cracked and the smoke has penetrated into the line. That’s just absolutely stunning,” she said.
Paper clay, for Dzsudzsak, is a medium that she has enjoyed experiencing and working with.
“It’s a favorite of mine as well, because it’s a very artful clay. It’s the one I use when I want to just have fun and throw caution to the wind, because with the paper clay, it is literally made with paper. It’s very grainy [and] has a lot of texture, and it’s very workable. I can make huge bowls and have them look very rustic. And you can manipulate the clay very well. With a lot of clay, you have a certain time frame that you can work with it, but with paper clay, it’s much more forgiving. And I simply love the creations I can get with it,” she stated. “Usually, I might throw in it for a bit, and then I’ll start adding large pieces of clay to it, and that’s how I’ll mold the bowl that I want. So, it’s just a lot of fun. And some people glaze it. I don’t, because I love to see the raw texture showing through. I just use what we call under glaze. For me, I really like black and white for these creations… I love having a lot of my bowls done just black, or some of them just white. It’s more of an art gallery look.”
Nevertheless, Dzsudzsak’s passion for pottery has been noticed around the community.
“My family have all been extremely supportive right from the start. My daughters and granddaughters, love to pick their favourites when they come for a visit when they go downstairs where I have my gift studio…and a lot of times, the new pieces I have made don’t stay on the shelf too long. When I first started out, I would sell the best pieces that come out of the kiln, and then one time, I found myself thinking [that I had] wished I hadn’t sold a particular one,” she noted. “And so, for a time the best pieces…were kept for the girls and for myself, but now I think we all have what we need. The best pieces are on the shelf, but it was hard parting with my favorites at the start. But, the community, have been very supportive. I have a Christmas Open House each year, and I feel the last couple of years with Burford growing and me growing [as an artist], people have recognized what I have been doing and coming to support me.”
However, the artisan, who operates her studio and giftshop Pottery on Seven, has been overwhelmed with the positive feedback from people taking her workshops.
“I do classes for eight people, and those are my most favorite classes [and] they are the ones I do for an evening. I have a bowl template for them and all my rolling pins, and it is just so much fun. And one of the things I did when I started out, was having a book out….requesting thoughts and feedback from people [and] I was just blown away to read how much they loved the class. It was so rewarding. I love doing them,” she said. “I also offer a chance for one or two people to come out, where I can give them a demonstration on the wheel, and then they can experience it first-hand. And that’s a good one for people who think they want to take a pottery class…it’s an introduction to it [and] if they feel something they really want to do, then they can move forward with that.”
Nevertheless, Dzsudzsak has had the opportunity to connect with many others who share her passion, still taking classes and learning as much as she can about pottery.
“That’s one of the biggest reasons I love going to Dundas Valley School of Art, because it’s the opportunity to hang out with like-minded people….and also I go there because there is always something to learn…[from] either the instructor or one of the other girls…I am always learning and inspired by them, It’s just the most wonderful opportunity to just see what’s going on in their world with it, [and] what they’re creating,” she said.
Many of Dzsudzsak pieces have been displayed in different places including studios, and galleries however, there is one particular one that has been proud of being a part of.
“The Main Street Gallery in Bayfield, Ontario, has carried my work for a long time. Bayfield is a little town that my husband John and I have loved going to for years…and we have gotten to know the owners of the gallery, Linda & Jim Taleski very well. When we initially met them they were intrigued when I told them I was a potter…I ended up bringing in some pieces in [and] since then, they have sold my Raku bowls and jars at their gallery….I love having my work there… because it’s such a beautiful place, and it makes me feel very honored that my work is alongside some many talented artists too,“ she mentioned.
However, one of the most popular pieces that the Burford resident has created has been her horsehair pottery.
“People bring horsehair to me from a horse that they have loved. I will fire it for them, [and] I cast the hair on the piece, and what happens is once the hair hits the pocket, it sizzles and does a little dance and the smoke drifts up the side of the pot. It’s absolutely mesmerizing [but] it’s a challenging process…because of the thermal shock…and at times, the second the hair hits it, it’ll smash the jar. But most often, I have a lot of luck with it…Doing this is such an honor [and] when they come in and they look at how it turned out…just to see the expression on their faces, I get very emotional,” she reminisced.
On a more personal note, Dzsudzsak’s son was overwhelmed when she presented to him with a sentimental gift she had created.
“My son always wanted a horse when he was growing up, but it wasn’t feasible, and he just didn’t let go of getting one. When he got married, he eventually bought a little hobby farm in Burford…[and since then] he and his daughters have always had a horse,” she recounted. “After my son lost his horse years ago, his wife brought me the horse’s hair and asked me to use it to make him a jar for Christmas. And when he opened that jar, he was touched…and said that here couldn’t be a more beautiful gift.”
As well, the passionate potter has translated this special technique for others, truly fostering a personalized experience for people and further growing her reputation in the community.
“I had a girl who had hair from her sister who had passed away years ago, and when she found out I was doing this, she wanted me to do this, with some tiny little vases for each of my sisters to have. When she came to pick up these vases, we all cried. It was such a beautiful moment,” she said. “Out of everything I do with clay, being able to do this for people is the absolute most rewarding part of this journey.”
