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 Please Note:

This is a legacy site to showcase James Sankowski's work at the time of his passing in 2017. Go to his Wikipedia Page by following this link:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Sankowski

 

 

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Ballston Lake Pottery

 Offering A Distinctive Line Of Contemporary Pottery For The Home

 

Ballston Lake Pottery Blog

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  • September 29 Construction Project Pictures

    Posted by Michael Tonnesen
    Michael Tonnesen
    Bistro Tallulah Features Food With Taste
    User is currently offline

    Sep 29 Tags: Untagged
  • Spring 2014 Wood Firing

    Posted by Michael Tonnesen
    Michael Tonnesen
    Bistro Tallulah Features Food With Taste
    User is currently offline
    Here are some images from our Spring wood firing at Dan Greenfeld's kiln, Athena, in Charlton NY.  In addition to the views of the firing process, I've put up some images of my work from the firing.  To see more photos of the wood firing and my pots,use the link above to see my posts from April and May on my Ballston Lake Potteryfacebook page.
    CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO ENLARGE
     
    • /media/zengridframework/imagecache/01 spring 2014 firing athena-2297f47032bb84196e206fe1c176b55f.jpg
      01 spring 2014 firing athena

      01 spring 2014 firing athena

    • /media/zengridframework/imagecache/02 the first chamber loaded with pots as dan bricks up the door-08b6569fa5ddabd95b957a460133bcba.jpg
      02 the first chamber loaded with pots as dan bricks up the door

      02 the first chamber loaded with pots as dan bricks up the door

    • /media/zengridframework/imagecache/03 inside the fire box the first night 1300 deg f-b9bcce93ef41bb371d57745c203bfa36.jpg
      03 inside the fire box the first night 1300 deg f

      03 inside the fire box the first night 1300 deg f

    • /media/zengridframework/imagecache/04 athena by night jordan checks the reduction-4ec3c9e4072dead306acbdd9b859d7ff.jpg
      04 athena by night jordan checks the reduction

      04 athena by night jordan checks the reduction

    • /media/zengridframework/imagecache/05 jordan the master stoker feeds the fire-1277510acbf1eb328014c99daf9bae94.jpg
      05 jordan the master stoker feeds the fire

      05 jordan the master stoker feeds the fire

    • /media/zengridframework/imagecache/06 jim side stokes the second chamber.-ada47be09dffa5d4d20da7f87ab62e09.jpg
      06 jim side stokes the second chamber.

      06 jim side stokes the second chamber.

    • /media/zengridframework/imagecache/07 jim feeds the fire on the third night we are at 2175 f now-f122101e9fd911ff034d6b8c2de88862.jpg
      07 jim feeds the fire on the third night we are at 2175 f now

      07 jim feeds the fire on the third night we are at 2175 f now

    • /media/zengridframework/imagecache/08 the first chamber with finished work ready to unload-54d088e66e583ff262b66db8cf68528d.jpg
      08 the first chamber with finished work ready to unload

      08 the first chamber with finished work ready to unload

    • /media/zengridframework/imagecache/09 footed bowl-127fb2d32706ea55e0bcbfcf03a0f0ed.jpg
      09 footed bowl

      09 footed bowl

    • /media/zengridframework/imagecache/10 footed vase with cut sides and slip-a315e7cce56fdf1c571144084151dd86.jpg
      10 footed vase with cut sides and slip

      10 footed vase with cut sides and slip

    • /media/zengridframework/imagecache/11 altered vase with hasp cut sides-8dc99a61aa4a4c9d097098bd80fd0427.jpg
      11 altered vase with hasp cut sides

      11 altered vase with hasp cut sides

    • /media/zengridframework/imagecache/12 beaked pitcher altered form with slip and shino glaze-35661c8bcc4c1ecd560101671a218b1a.jpg
      12 beaked pitcher altered form with slip and shino glaze

      12 beaked pitcher altered form with slip and shino glaze

    • /media/zengridframework/imagecache/13 small sq bowl with celedon blue glaze-ef4b8ff62064799266ee19e93a90ccd4.jpg
      13 small sq bowl with celedon blue glaze

      13 small sq bowl with celedon blue glaze

    • /media/zengridframework/imagecache/14 small bottle with cut sides and slip trailing-1ad2ca8677df62ee5096e150d419cfa6.jpg
      14 small bottle with cut sides and slip trailing

      14 small bottle with cut sides and slip trailing

    • /media/zengridframework/imagecache/15 lamp base-d3e62fb4bce4a8cf1a043741dd370a00.jpg
      15 lamp base

      15 lamp base

    • /media/zengridframework/imagecache/16 vase with cut sides-ca7957151f10beb4122c0e1a5ced6d01.jpg
      16 vase with cut sides

      16 vase with cut sides

    May 23 Tags: Untagged
  • Reflections on a 2013 Holiday Season

    Posted by James Sankowski
    James Sankowski
    Artist James Sankowski lives in Ballston Lake, New York where he has maintained his studio, Ballston Lake Pott...
    User is currently offline

        jim-relaxing
      As we enter the year 2014 and the 39th year of Ballston Lake Pottery, ( Can you believe that it’s been that long?), I want to post some of the photos from my recent  Holiday Sale and Christmas Season.
          The season between my pre-Thanksgiving Sale and Christmas this year was condensed and interspersed with a number of weather events.  It was a challenging time for me in filling everyone’s order requests and making sure that the shop had a good selection of work on hand.
         I’m glad to say this season went well, and customers seemed pleased with the work they found here.  I’ve posted a number of photos below that tell this past season’s story in a visual order of events.
         I thank all who helped support my business this past year.  I wish you well in 2014 and look forward to seeing you again.

                                        Sincerely,
                                                  Jim Sankowski 

    CLICK ANY IMAGE TO ENLARGE


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Jan 18 Tags: Untagged
  • Pictures From 10th Biennial Mid-Atlantic Clay Conference

    Posted by James Sankowski
    James Sankowski
    Artist James Sankowski lives in Ballston Lake, New York where he has maintained his studio, Ballston Lake Pott...
    User is currently offline

    These photos are from the 10th Biennial Mid-Atlantic Clay Conference,  Oct. 3 - 6, 2013, at the  4-H Conference Center in the Blue Ridge
    Mountains outside of Front Royal VA.  The main presenters at the conference were Nick Joerling, Jim Sankowski
    and Joy Tanner.  ( All photos courtesy of Ron Allen )

     

    CLICK ANY IMAGE TO ENLARGE


    Picasa user or album is not correct

  • Nov 06 Tags: Untagged
  • Some New Wood Fired Pots

    Posted by James Sankowski
    James Sankowski
    Artist James Sankowski lives in Ballston Lake, New York where he has maintained his studio, Ballston Lake Pott...
    User is currently offline

    Wood Firing Views and more of my Wood Fired Pots from 2013.

     
    Here are some views of the unloading of work from our fall wood firing of Dan Greenfeld's two chamber kiln in Charlton N.Y.  This wood kiln site attracts many potters from the Saratoga and Capital Regions of N.Y. as well as those from the N.Y. City area.
     
    I've included a number of photos of my pieces here from our summer and fall 2013 wood firings.
     
    For more views of the Wood Kiln " Athena" and the firing process, see my entry below from 2012.

     

     CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO EXPAND

    Picasa user or album is not correct

  • Nov 06 Tags: Untagged
  • Show all entries from Miscellaneous
  • Recent Posts

    • Exerpt From Daily Gazette May 8, 2015 Article

      Posted by James Sankowski
      James Sankowski
      Artist James Sankowski lives in Ballston Lake, New York where he has maintained his studio, Ballston Lake Pott...
      User is currently offline

      Potter’s plans for new studio fire imagination

      The Daily Gazette
      Friday, May 8, 2015

      By Karen Bjornland

      Potter’s plans for new studio fire imagination

      Photo of
      Ballston Lake Pottery owner James Sankowski uses a momentum kick wheel to make a bowl at his shop.

      — If you drive down Route 50 and see that Ballston Lake Pottery has disappeared, don’t be alarmed. It’s only for a few months.

      Artist Jim Sankowski, who has worked at his pottery wheel in the building since 1975, isn’t going anywhere. He’s just building a new studio and showroom and installing a new kiln.

      In June, the old building, a former garage and sign shop, will be removed. Construction will continue into October, and sometime after Nov. 1, when the artist will celebrate his 40th year at the site, he hopes to hold a grand reopening.

      Sankowski creates high-fired porcelain pottery that is both functional and decorative. In a sunlight-filled showroom in front of the studio, visitors admire and buy his handmade dishes, casseroles, mugs, bowls, lamps, vases and teapots.

      In our region, Sankowski has been invited to show his work at the “Made in New York” exhibit at the Cooperstown Art Association; Lapham Gallery at the Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Council; Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute in Utica, and the Northeast Fine Crafts Exhibit in Schenectady.

      Over the years, he has also shown his pottery at many art and crafts festivals, including the Saint Louis Art Fair, the Smithsonian Craft Show in Washington, D.C., and 100 American Craftsmen in Lockport, New York....

      VIEW FULL ARTICLE ON DAILY GAZETTE WEBSITE

      May 12 Tags: Untagged
    • News from the Town of Ballston

      Posted by James Sankowski
      James Sankowski
      Artist James Sankowski lives in Ballston Lake, New York where he has maintained his studio, Ballston Lake Pott...
      User is currently offline

      Rendering of New Studio

      After nearly four decades of pottery work I've outlasted my humble studio space and my made over garage show room. I'm now planning to build the studio and kiln room I've been wanting for years. I'll also have a new gallery, 2 X's the space I have now. This should all take place later this year. I'll keep you all informed on my FB page on the construction progress.

      Click on Images Below To Enlarge

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      Feb 11 Tags: Untagged
    • NE Fine Craft Festival at Proctors in Schenectady This Weekend!

      Posted by James Sankowski
      James Sankowski
      Artist James Sankowski lives in Ballston Lake, New York where he has maintained his studio, Ballston Lake Pott...
      User is currently offline

      Ballston Lake Pottery

      Here are some recent wood fired pots that I’ll be showing at the NE Fine Craft Festival at Proctors in Schenectady.

      The show is this weekend Sat. Oct. 20th from 10 AM to 5 PM  and Sunday the 21st  from 11 AM to 5 PM.


      I’m finding that the cut side and textured surfaces are working well in directing and displaying the ash glaze runs on my wood fired pottery.

       CLICK ON ANY IMAGE BELOW TO NAVIGATE THROUGH ENLARGED PICTURES

      Picasa user or album is not correct

    Oct 17 Tags: pottery, Proctors
  • Show all entries from Announcements
  • Recent Posts

    • Saratoga Clay Arts Members Exhibition, Dec. 8, '12 - Jan. 14, '13

      Posted by James Sankowski
      James Sankowski
      Artist James Sankowski lives in Ballston Lake, New York where he has maintained his studio, Ballston Lake Pott...
      User is currently offline

      Here are two views of my work that I took at the opening reception for the members exhibition at SCAC. This show runs till Jan.14th,2013. More photos of the opening are posted on the Saratoga Clay Arts facebook page.

       CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO EXPAND

      Picasa user or album is not correct

    Dec 26 Tags: Untagged
  • Holiday Pottery Sale of Nov. 17th & 18th 2012

    Posted by James Sankowski
    James Sankowski
    Artist James Sankowski lives in Ballston Lake, New York where he has maintained his studio, Ballston Lake Pott...
    User is currently offline

    I want to thank all those who came to my annual Holiday Pottery Sale this past November!

    It is always rewarding for me to meet both old and new customers that share an interest in my work. I know some customers came from a few hours drive away to take advantage of my sale items and to view my latest work.

    I posted a few photos here from this year's event.

    I hope you all have an enjoyable holiday season and I'll see you in 2013.

     CLICK ON ANY IMAGE BELOW TO EXPAND...

     Picasa user or album is not correct

  • Dec 26 Tags: Untagged
  • Sonnenberg “Arts at the Garden” show

    Posted by James Sankowski
    James Sankowski
    Artist James Sankowski lives in Ballston Lake, New York where he has maintained his studio, Ballston Lake Pott...
    User is currently offline

    I returned from the Sonnenberg “Arts at the Garden” show three weeks ago, The weather was perfect for this outdoor garden setting. The result was increased attendance for this event. The patrons showed much enthusiasm and interest as usual.

     

    img 3577

    Mary Beth shares a lighter moment with one of our customers at the show.

     

    img 3574

    Long Boat: This was the first sale of the show for me on Saturday morning. I hope to have more of these boat forms for my shop and The Rochester Clothesline Show this weekend, Sept 8th and 9th

     

    img 2923

    This slab formed platter, one of my newest of this style, went home with a customer from Ontario, NY.

    Sep 05 Tags: Untagged
  • Show all entries from Events & Shows