Left: Charlie Parker “throwing” a bowl on the pottery wheel. Right: Charlie Parker Pottery is located at 2724 Sixth Ave S. Photos by Kristina Holman.
Shop LOCAL at Charlie Parker Pottery By Suzanne Driscoll There are many pottery artists to choose from in the world-class arts destination of St. Pete, and Charlie Parker Pottery stands out from the crowd. With a long career in creating beautiful ceramics, Parker is also an expert teacher who offers personalized classes for all levels of experience. Parker began his career in pottery as far back as 1967. At age 14, he joined the Minnesota Clay Company as a part-time clay mixer. He later studied with Warren Westerberg at Westerberg Pottery in Minneapolis, where he focused on form and expression. While working with Westerberg, Parker refined his techniques in glaze application and firing. In 1996, Parker teamed up with Russ Gustafson-Hilton and Stan
Cowen, two of the best pottery artists in Florida, to establish St. Petersburg Clay Company. “We were the first private group to set up a gas kiln in the area, and the city had no idea how to issue a permit for it,” Parker recalls. St. Pete Clay eventually moved to the historic Seaboard Coastline train station at the corner of 22nd Street S and Fourth Avenue. Now known as the Morean Center for Clay, it has 32,000 square feet of space and is one of the largest pottery studios in the Southeast. In November 2010 Parker fulfilled his lifelong dream of owning his own studio.
A Unique Talent “Coming from Minnesota where there were different forms of firing and more functional work, I bring a unique perspective to creating pottery,” Parker says. “I utilize different forms of soda and gas kiln firing that not many artists use, and I make all my own glazes.” Parker is known for his beautiful large bowls created in brilliant colors. If a customer is concerned about having room to store a large piece, he suggests that it be displayed on a wall as a work of art, then taken down when to be used. Space is also rented out to other pottery artists, and all are welcome to add their names to the waiting list. A gallery at the studio showcases Parker’s one-of-a-kind ceramics as well as the work of the resident artists, including bowls, vases, jewelry and sculptures. You can even shop virtually from the website, CharlieParkerPottery.com, and there is currently free delivery for any purchase within St. Pete.
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GREENBENCHMONTHLY.COM / NOVEMBER 2021
