Tom Bivins “Biv”

Tom Bivins

Saturday, March 10th, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM in the ceramics room at the Teton Arts Council building by the Driggs Airport.
The discussion and workshop will be about how to throw bigger pots on the pottery wheel. Those in attendance will discover the little known techniques, mindset and approach to making your pottery bigger. All levels welcome. Photo from the last time I was demonstrating pottery making at the TAC.

Saturday a pottery making demonstration from 11AM to 3PM will happen at the Teton Arts Council in Driggs, Idaho. The focus is on super sizing your pottery while making it easier to throw pots on a potters wheel using little known techniques and skills. There is no charge for the March 9th & 10th workshop. Just a request from me for you to donate what you can to the TAC kiln project that will be building a special kiln and roof complex this summer.

Are we having fun yet?

Moose on Teton Canyon Road

Earth air, fire water. These are the ingredients of pots and human beings alike, and each formula contains also the elements of chance. Do not seek perfection in pots or people, for your search will go un-rewarded and you will miss knowing many good pots and many good people…

The above quote, found in a sketchbook from a workshop, summarizes Thomas Bivins’ attitudes towards life and his work. Tom is currently an adjunct instructor of ceramics and design courses at Yavapai Community College, and works out of a home based studio in Clarkdale, Arizona.

Tom has studied at and received degrees from Chaffey College, Orange Coast College, California State University Long Beach and Northern Arizona University. He is one of the new generation potters combining commercial training with a formal education in Fine Art. The result is an expansive body of work with personality destined to be treasured.

Thomas (or “Biv” as his friends know him) has been involved with clay in one way another since the seventh grade. Although he often pursued other passions in life, the pottery and clay world captivated him. Along the journey, Biv credits school and his professional experience as a factory potter and designer for polishing his attitude toward ceramics.

The list of influences is endless; however there are a few that cannot go without mention: John Rothrock from Edison High School in Huntington Beach, Ca. Don Jennings at Orange Coast College, Larry Thomson and the crew from “The Studio Pottery” in Whittier, Ca. and Crispin Gonzales from Chaffey College.

Thomas adheres to the belief that it’s not where you’ve been but where you’re at that matters. Working with Mr. Tom Schumacher, getting to know the students at Yavapai College, and a wonderful relationship with his wife and daughter have put him in a special place. Asked to describe himself and his work, Tom said,”I’d rather let the work speak for itself.”

I no longer teach at Yavapai College and can only say it was a great time in my life. The students and staff made my life better and even to this day I am grateful for the great time there!

Toms favorite piece on display at the Bray Center

This piece by Kelly Garret Rathbone was my favorite from the shows at the Archie Bray over the 60th Anniversary gala. The event was seminal on many levels and a memorable time for me. I returned home a different and better person/potter from  all of the demonstrations, lectures, discussions and celebrations. There is something special happening in ceramics right now and the Archie Bray Center had and has a hand in it. This piece I selected as my favorite sums up the spectrum of the weekend experiences with the sculptural and vessel combination. It was significant to me because it demonstrates a sense of the squares and circles of the ceramics world together as one. The weekend was one of the greatest ceramics experiences of my life.

Making a vase on the potters wheel

Here we go again. The rebirth of “tombivinspottery.com” has begun. Technical issues forced a change in the location URL resulting in “bivinspottery.com”

Looking to the Teton Range