An Obamaware item “in action.” Photo from the American Craft Magazine article.

There’s a nice essay by Sarah Archer in the current issue of American Craft Magazine (the publication of the American Craft Council) about the Obamaware project we featured last fall. It’s very exciting to see a mention of OCP in the article, and even more exciting to read that Ayumi Pottery is maintaining an online photo gallery of the Obamaware pots in action. There’s something very special about seeing these items being used in people homes, rather than simply sitting on a shelf, as well as seeing these items–and many other Obama-related crafts–live on as a part of people’s daily lives after the election.

Lynae made the faces of this magnet set by hand, cutting out the star, stamping the lettering, firing, glazing and firing them again. Everything except the magnet itself was handmade. She’s donating all the profits to the Obama campaign. Check them out in her Etsy shop.

This mug was made by another ceramicist, LaPellaPottery, who writes,

With this mug, you’re not just rockin’, you’re Barackin’!

Who could argue with that? Get yours over here. While you’re at it, check out the “Yes we can!” version. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Obama campaign.

Yes We Can!

We received this press release today and are so excited about the Obamaware fundraiser!

On October 19th, 27 top ceramic artists will present “Obamaware,” a limited edition group of Obama/Biden-specific ceramics in an effort to raise money in for the Obama campaign. New York-based Studio potter Ayumi Horie organized the effort and will host the sale on her website, https://www.ayumihorie.com/obamaware.html.  The pots are by turns funny, hopeful, imaginative, witty, inspiring – and practical, including John Byrd’s commemorative Sarah Palin beer steins to Diana Fayt’s Victorian-style silhouettes of Obama accompanied by symbolic olive branches.  As participating sculptor Jeffry Mitchell remarked, making pieces for this project (“Elephants for Obama”) makes him feel he is doing what he knows how to do best in an effort to support an election we can’t afford to lose.  Potters have a long history of putting messages on objects people use every day – this is a literal example of politics around the “kitchen table” that politicians mention so often.  We can think of it as optimistic White House china: buy one, and our wish might come true.

Preview link:
http://www.ayumihorie.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=36

Auction starts on Ebay, Sunday, Oct 19th 8pm EST and lasts 3 days:
http://stores.ebay.com/Obamaware

You should also read The Kitchen Table’s excellent essay about the Obamaware project. It’s one of the best reads of the campaign, which really describes the intersection of craft and politics.

Yes We Can!