Oriana Allen is a life long seacoast resident, who’s interest in pottery was sparked while attending MassArt. Having taken many clay classes over the years, Oriana has been at EFC for 8 years as a student, studio monitor and now an instructor. “I enjoy learning the infinite possibilities of clay, and glazes, I am excited to share this medium with others.” She is a painter, quilter, avid gardener and mom to 3 creative kids.
Working with stoneware fired in a gas-fired soda kiln, Sarah was first introduced to clay in college and then went on to work in several clay studios. Her forms are influenced by the organic, changing world around us. Like nature, Sarah’s work is constantly evolving. Working in incremental stages, each subsequent series builds on the concepts of the predecessor and Sarah uses these opportunities to branch off and explore new ideas within her work. Having lived in the New Hampshire Lakes Region for 20+ years, Sarah became a juried member of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen in 2003. In addition to exhibiting locally and nationally throughout her career, she also teaches, sharing her love of clay in several community based schools, institutions and her own studio.
Drawn deeply to clay because of its creative energy and tactile response, Roger creates both functional and decorative pottery. Loving how the clay slips and dances through his hands, Rogers feels a spiritual connection with the medium. Working with a medium fired porcelain clay, Roger creates organic textures by the use of slips applied to the surface of his pieces. Further texture is achieved through his use of glazes. Roger loves how the colors blend together, creating an organic feel that adds further depth and dimension to his work. Roger’s life as a potter evolved on a part-time basis alongside his primary work as an Episcopal priest. Beginning his ceramic journey after meeting potter, Bud Wilkinson, Roger had a crash course in pottery with Richard Lafean. He studied with Nancy Joy at the Corcoran School in Washington D.C. and took a year of courses at the School of the Chicago Art Institute. Roger also studied with several renowned artists around the country. In 2005, Roger retired from parish ministry and now spends his time, “working with clay and making beautiful things.”
Linda Decelle’s first exposure to pottery was in high school. After moving to NH in 2016, she discovered Exeter Fine Crafts and was once again hooked. Retiring in 2022, Linda loves spending time in the studio experimenting with new techniques and forms! She also enjoys learning about glaze chemistry and trying new glaze recipes and combinations. Linda is very excited about introducing others to wheel throwing and other clay techniques!
Debbie Genestreti started working with clay 15 years ago and immediately became hooked! Inspired by the process of coaxing unique forms from the clay, Debbie enjoys exploring new techniques where natural colors and textures are a focus of her work. Having worked as an engineer, an art teacher, yoga instructor and bereavement councilor, Debbie joined Exeter Fine Crafts in 2021 and currently works in the pottery studio. She is a mother of three, grandmother of one and lives on the seacoast with her two dogs, three cats and her favorite scrabble partner, her husband. She is excited to share her love of clay!
Drawing inspiration from nature, Carol Ellis has explored many different forms of art including: jewelry, printmaking, ceramics and more! She is also a Grand Reiki Master, Qigong Instructor and practices Yoga. Carol’s thirst for exploration and visualization has led her to create and try out new techniques and/or mediums. The discovery of new paints, tools and materials provide Carol not only an abundance of joy, but the opportunity to manipulate and create a visual story. With a goal to capture the essence of nature rather than a representation of reality, her process begins as an experience that transforms into a sketch, and then into a series of sketches. It is the discovery and beauty of our world that keeps Carol forever captivated and engaged in the imagination of her mind. In addition to creating her own unique pieces of art, Carol also teaches various arts and well being classes in local galleries around the state.
Tif Farmakis-Day has been dabbling in some form of fine art since as long as she can remember. Drawing came naturally to her as a child. Through the careful observation of cartoons and books, she began formulating her own characters and techniques. It was this love of cartooning that brought Tif into the journalism world. After moving to southern California on a whim, she landed a part-time editorial cartoon job for a local newspaper. As her duties increased at her new job, she switched majors from Fine Arts to Journalism and eventually completed her Associates degree in Journalism at Los Angeles Valley College. After retuning to New Hampshire in the Summer of 2005, Tif worked independently writing and illustrating for various online publications. However, she was beginning to feel less enthused about remaining a journalist and decided to finish pursuing her Fine Arts degree. In May 2010, Tif received a BFA in Illustration from the New Hampshire Institute of Art. In addition to be a licensed NH realtor with Keller Williams Coastal Realty, Tif also works as a freelance artist, teaching various fine art workshops throughout NH and beyond.
Lynn Goldberg developed basketry as her primary craft after moving to Bedford, NH in 1983, selling her work and teaching classes sponsored by the Bedford Craftworkers Guild. She has also taught basketweaving to children. Lynn was introduced to the Rivercane Weavers, where she studied with other basket makers to master new techniques and tools. She is a member of the League of NH Craftsmen, and the National Basketry Organization.
Lia Gormley's passion for jewelry started while a student at Rhode Island School of Design. She entered school with the intention of becoming an illustrator, however soon realized that she was drawn to working three dimensionally and found that making jewelry was the perfect outlet for her creativity. After graduating with a BFA in Jewelry and Light Metals, Lia worked as a goldsmith for a designer in Manhattan, where she perfected her craftsmanship and attention to detail. In 2000, Lia earned the title of Graduate Gemologist from the Gemological Institute of America. Her fascination with the beauty of gemstones encourages her to continuously explore gemology through advanced studies. She designs and creates each piece of jewelry utilizing traditional goldsmith techniques. Combining 18k gold and platinum with precious gemstones inspires her to create lasting pieces of jewelry with an heirloom quality.
Wendy Harrington loves to create! Whether it is making quilts, clothing, handbags, and creations for friends and family, her love of ephemera has resulted in a vast collection of vintage materials – old books, photos, postcards, laces, doilies, vintage papers, and more. After finding an old diary of her grandmother’s, telling her story with notes, clippings, recipes and photos, Wendy was inspired to combine her ephemera with journaling! She now creates her original handmade journals in her barn studio in Hampton Falls, where she has lived for over 35 years.
Laura Cassinari King came to visual arts after many years as a music teacher. For twelve years Laura studied with many prominent seacoast artists, the most influential Todd Bonita and Chris Volpe. With her own style and methods of working in oil paint, she now greatly enjoys teaching others to find joy in the journey of self-expression through art. Her work is in the homes of numerous collectors locally, nationally and internationally. You can see her work online or at Ceres Gallery and Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery in Portsmouth, NH, as well as Seacoast Artist Association, Exeter, NH.
Lyndsay Lang is local artist and mom of two. As a child she wanted to become either an art teacher or a nurse. Initially majoring in Nursing, she ended up switching to Visual Communications and graduated with a BA from Endicott College. Years later she received her certification in Phlebotomy, working for various hospitals for 15 years, while also painting custom signs, murals, and various other commissioned pieces. Currently, Lyndsay enjoys sharing her love of art and teaching others the joy of painting!
Larry and Jessica Lubowsky are the owners of Fire Pond Pottery in Kingston, NH. Named after their original location in Fremont, NH, (part of the property included a "fire pond," which acted as a hydrant if a fire started nearby) Larry and Jess never thought they would move until a once in a life time opportunity came up. After years of kayaking on Powwow Pond in nearby Kingston, NH, a home became available right on the water, the pair jumped at the chance to have a new studio overlooking the water and have never looked back! Creating their functional, one of a kind, stoneware pieces in their home studio, their goal is to make well-designed pieces that enhance the experience for the user. Larry and Jessica's work has been featured in various fairs around the state, they are also members of the New Hampshire Potters Guild.
Bill Mitchell received his BA from the State University College at Oneonta NY and later studied at the Boston Museum School. A former high school art teacher, Bill also received a Master’s in Education from UNH. Bill is a juried printmaker in the League of NH Craftsmen where he not only features his work but also his teaching talents, offering silkscreen workshops throughout the year.
Libby loves to work with natural materials, such as wool, horsehair for whiskers, grapevines and feathers for nests, and beautiful prints in cotton quilted fabrics for her fabric collages. Many of the needle felted birds and animals she creates are in view from her studio window in Durham, NH, where they keep her entertained and inspired. Love of design has been a common theme throughout her life. Most of her career has been in Graphic Design and Marketing after studying art and botany at Duke University. Following a move to New Hampshire, Libby decided to delve deeper into creative life. Her small needle felted animal sculptures have wire armatures to make them pose-able. She uses beeswax for the feet and fingers, using accessories that add a touch of whimsy and personality to each creature. Libby’s fabric collage fits well with her interest in color and texture, using thread painting and free motion quilting in each composition.
Peggy Thrasher’s baskets are a celebration of the beauty of mathematics in the physical world. Patterns promote peace and a grounded-ness because they are predictable. Yet complex patterns are also surprising, causing the viewer to question their assumptions and begin to see things in new ways. Peggy’s baskets experiment with various color combinations, producing different designs depending on the placement of the colors. She combines different combinations of the weave and corner mechanism to produce different shaped baskets. Peggy has been making baskets since 2013. A juried member of the League of NH Craftsmen, in addition to teaching, you can also find Peggy’s beautiful baskets in galleries and shows around the state.
Gerry works in a variety of different mediums including mixed media acrylic paintings, cold copper forming and felted art. Using the elements of design and composition, as well as shape relationships to create a cohesive story in her pieces, Gerry's work is as pleasing to the eye as it is to wear! Gerry's work has been featured in multiple group and juried exhibitions throughout the country and across "the pond" in England.
