THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 3, 1996 TAG: 9610310183
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 17 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: CREATIVE LICENSE
SOURCE: Mary Ellen Riddle
LENGTH: 78 lines
Bonnie and Bob Morrill have a great thing going at Wanchese Pottery. Located on Fernando Street in downtown Manteo, just a stone's throw from the Roanoke Sound, the quaint pottery shop is a bright spot in this historic town. The cheery yellow sunflowers that flank the front door are a fitting sign of the atmosphere inside.
Bonnie, a former third grade teacher, started making pottery 22 years ago. She was turned on to the craft in an adult education class. She later went on to study the clay art at Haywood Technical Community College in Clyde, N.C., graduating in 1981 with an associate's degree in pottery.
The Morrills opened Wanchese Pottery in 1982. Bob retired in June from his job as a counselor with the Dare County Schools to work full time with her.
``This has been a lifelong dream for Bob to come into pottery,'' said Bonnie.
While working the business full time is new to Bob, he's put his time in over the years firing, trimming, sanding and glazing. He is proficient at throwing pots. In June, he attended John Cambell Folk School in Murphy, N.C., to practice throwing without worrying about family and business concerns.
The Morrills have been married 23 years. Before coming together at Wanchese Pottery, they've had plenty of opportunity to hone their working relationship. The pair has run a home for abused children in Texas, done a two-year Peace Corp stint in Tonga and a joint-volunteer job working for Vista in parole and probation.
After speaking with them, it seemed obvious that the only rough spots they work on these days are of the clay variety. And it seems that they have those worked out, too.
Enter the cozy and fragrant shop and you'll find hand-thrown clay bowls, casserole dishes, mugs, platters, oil lamps, hummingbird feeders and herb dryers. The Morrills use four or five standard glazes that they've perfected over the years. The glazes - all lead free - are clean, light and earthy.
I was really taken by the Williamsburg Blue glaze. The popular color is always open to interpretation. I've seen some really gray versions. Theirs had a gorgeous, pale, cobalt blue cast to it. The Atlantic Ocean glaze is definitely a keepsake color for those leaving the Outer Banks. Their signature glaze is a delicate Outer Banks pattern with tiny, hand-painted flying birds and sea oats.
It takes time and lots of experimentation to come up with fine glazes. Bob explained the tedious process of adding and subtracting chemicals and oxides. The glaze must be compatible with the clay body. If it's not, shrinkage and cracking will occur. And any variation in materials affects the color.
The Morrills offer dinnerware sets that can be added to over the years. You can always come back and find your color in stock. They have a lot of repeat business as a result. And just so folks can continue to find them, when they moved their shop from Wanchese to Manteo, they kept the original name.
On average, the Morrills use 100 pounds of clay a day to create enough stock to satisfy the demand. They have a potter's wheel on site in addition to the one at home. All firing is done at their Wanchese home. Touring school children or curious folk are welcome to watch as the Morrills bring a clay blob to life at the Fernando Street studio.
Hands immersed in clay, Bob is starting to feel comfortable in his new role throwing pots. He misses the school children but is happy with his new role.
``I never had a chance to express my creative side before and I really like it,'' he said. Bonnie gets a kick out of guessing her visitor's occupations by the questions they ask such as: How many RPMs does the wheel spin? Is your back affected?
Wanchese Pottery also gives homegrown dried herbs to its customers. With the front door wide open most days, soft music and light incense seduces passersby. The pottery inside is utterly beautiful. No surprise coming from the hands of Bonnie and Bob Morrill.
Wanchese Pottery is located at 107 Fernando St. in Manteo. MEMO: Mary Ellen Riddle covers Outer Banks arts for The Carolina Coast.
Send comments and questions to her at P.O. Box 10, Nags Head, N.C.
27959. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by MARY ELLEN RIDDLE
Bob Morrill, right, throws a pot while his wife Bonnie puts a handle
on a mug. by CNB