We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Melissa Bridgman a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Melissa, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?
Professionally, the kindest thing I’ve ever experienced was in the early 2000s, when Lee and Pup McCarty, legendary Mississippi potters, came to my booth at a farmers market and complimented my (very early, very amateurish) work. I became a potter because I loved their work so much, and to have them tell me to keep going was amazing. Later, I worked in art education at a local museum and they followed along on a tour I gave to schoolchildren. They told me that they learned so much and I was just over the moon. I have learned to be lavish with my praise because their kindness meant so much to me.
Melissa, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am a potter in Memphis, TN. In college, I was pre-law, then switched to humanities when I learned about the University of Mississippi’s Center for the Study of Southern Culture MA program. In grad school, I studied folk art traditions, art history, and fieldwork. I loved ceramics and found myself at loose ends (and in a tight job market) after I married. I took a pottery class at a community center, and shortly thereafter bought a kiln and a wheel. For a long time I supplemented ceramics sales with art education- teaching children at community centers, in museum settings, and in school-based short term residencies.
I began a full-time studio practice in 2016, selling online and at local events, relying on social media, particularly Instagram, for publicity. Though I loved teaching, I asked myself what I wanted my life to look like in five years, and what was stopping me from pursuing that vision now. The answer was not much! After a few years woking solo, I hired an assistant who held a degree from an art college. I have learned a lot from her, particularly about mold making! During the pandemic, I tried to close the studio, but had my oyster plate design picked up by Garden and Gun for their holiday gift guide. I was fortunate to grow by 50% a year during the pandemic years and have shifted to more wholesale work than in-person events.
I have always worked out of my home, making do with the space I have and trying to grow and upgrade slowly and without incurring debt. My family lives in a 100 year old bungalow in Midtown Memphis, TN, where I work in our converted attic space. My kilns are in the garage, and I glaze in the basement. I’m looking forward to building a studio on site in the near future. I have studio labs (an elderly chocolate and young silver) and gardens in front and back to provide flowers for my work. Every week for the last five years I’ve shared an arrangement from my garden on Instagram and Facebook. Since 2021, the arrangements have been in my own work, and since 2022, they’ve been offered for sale. Floral vessels are one of my favorite things to make.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
I am not a particularly good employee. I am driven to do my best, but my goals aren’t necessarily aligned with the mainstream. I am much better working for myself than for a large organization. Working for myself gave me the flexibility to be an active parent, which was both a privilege and a challenge.
In terms of the work I create, I want to foster a deeper contentment and enjoyment of everyday life.
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
I wish I had invested in quality equipment from the outset rather than buying used pieces that required constant repair!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bridgmanpottery.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/bridgmanpottery
Image Credits
melissa bridgman