Hands in the Clay, Roots in Eugene

PhaseClay Pottery is the home studio of clay artist Faye Cates, where she hand-builds pottery and does some occasional throwing. The work is deliberate and physical, built around the satisfaction of making something by hand.

For Cates, pottery has always been more than craft. She came to it during a stretch of life that included full-time work, a long commute, and raising her daughter part-time, and the studio became a reliable mental break.

Cates is direct about her affection for where she lives. She acknowledges that some people find fault with the weather, but she isn't one of them. She says she felt at home here right away.