Kim Marcadis demonstrates one of her techniques using her pottery wheel.

Text and Photos
By Ian Brown
InkFreeNews

NORTH WEBSTER — Kim Marcadis is a prolific potter from North Webster who has been creating beautiful pieces of art for many years.

Her studio/gallery is located at 72 EMS W22 Lane, North Webster, where she grew up. The studio once belonged to her grandfather, who used it as a garage where he worked as a mechanic.

In 2018, Marcadis renovated the space and turned it into her own personal workshop, where she continues to create stunning pieces of pottery.

According to Marcadis, her interest in pottery began in elementary school. She had done pottery one year at North Webster Elementary and had always wanted to pursue it further. Years later, she met someone who did pottery at the Jewish Community Center, and pottery came back into her life. Some like-minded artists asked Marcadis if she wanted to go with them to North Carolina, where there was a prevalence of potters. She took the opportunity, and in 2004 made the move to Charlotte, where her clay journey really began.

Marcadis became involved with Clayworks, the fourth largest nonprofit studio in the area. They do a lot of outreach and have classes in the studio for studio artists. Marcadis became a studio artist and an assistant, loading and unloading kilns, fixing kilns and wheels and cleaning blades.

She and a few others were given space for free but had to work six hours a week. Marcadis remained at Clayworks from 2005-2016 before returning to North Webster.

During her time in North Carolina, Marcadis also became a member of Carolina Clay Matters Pottery Guild, with which she is still actively involved. The guild has two shows of 50-60 potters each year and is all about education, so there are several workshops every year for members.

Marcadis has since made pottery her full-time job, creating a wide variety of pieces from bird baths to dinnerware, many of which are embellished with nature-themed adornments of turtles, frogs, birds, lizards, and other wildlife.

“When I was in Charlotte, part of the classes were thinking, ‘Why you do what you do. You know? Your artist statement.’

“I grew up catching the fish and turtles. I played with little frogs and these tiny little toads and I would build these big wooden houses and play with them all day and then let them go. So, I’ve always been into little animals and flowers.” said Marcadis.

Marcadis’ Poppy Series dinnerware, inspired by her grandmother’s poppy patch, features intricate floral designs and gives back to the community by donating 10% of sales to the North Webster American Legion Auxiliary.

Marcadis’ Poppy Series, which consists of dinnerware like plates, coffee cups and bowls of various sizes and styles, was inspired by her grandmother, who kept a poppy patch. When Marcadis wanted to grow her own poppies and didn’t have much luck, she thought, “Well, I’ll just paint some on here,” pointing to one of her unfinished works.

Ten percent of the sales from her Poppy Series is donated to the North Webster American Legion Auxiliary.

Marcadis is especially proud of the collection because in her time in Charlotte, N.C., she used a technique involving gas reduction firing, a different process than what she does now.

“I don’t have access to that. I was never interested in an electric kiln because it doesn’t do all the crazy chemical reactions. So it’s taken me like five years to come up with the color. And I like lots of color,” said Marcadis.

In addition to her own gallery pieces, Marcadis is one of the few potters who make pieces in Townsends, which are based out of Pierceton and sells historical reproductions of period pieces from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Marcadis made 100 nutmeg jars for them and will be making soup bowls and pie plates sometime this year.

She not only does work for her own series but also takes requests from customers. Two years ago, a customer with whom she went to school was remodeling his house on Papakeechie Lake. He wanted the theme to be of nature and wildlife. Her tiles were installed last spring.

“It was my first time doing a tile project,” she said. “It feels pretty cool to have my work as a permanent part of someone’s house. The other cool thing is his mother was one of my high school art teachers.”

In an effort to showcase her beautiful pottery, Marcadis has several exhibits lined up. One of her upcoming shows will be held in the Lakeland Art Center and Gallery in Warsaw. The exhibit will run from March 1-26, and the reception will be held from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, March 5.

The Lakeland Art Center and Gallery is open from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

Marcadis will also display her work 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 27, at the Wawasee Fine Arts Festival in Oakwood Resort.

Additionally, she will showcase her pottery from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 17, in the Kimmell House Inn Artisan Market, 1397 US 33, Kimmell.

For those unable to attend any of the exhibits, she will have more in the fall. Information can be found at marcadisarts.wixsite.com/home, where customers can find exhibit dates and learn more about her and her artwork.