Meet Trailblazer Sarah Piper

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Piper.

Sarah, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My journey starts on a playground, under a tire swing, digging in the ground. I was reaching for that lovely mess of Georgia red clay. At this time, I was probably five or six and all I wanted to do was make things! My passion for art overflowed with spilled glitter and mountains of drawing and sewing projects filling my parent’s basement.

There’s a quote by Pablo Picasso that says, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” There was a time when I put aside arts and crafts, feeling like that wasn’t a real path that I could follow. Like it was something kids do, or something adults that worked “real jobs” had as a hobby. Sure I liked art but how could I make a living just making things. What would I even make? I tried to look for another path, but everything else just felt wrong. So I ended up at Florida State pursuing my bachelor’s in fine arts. I was planning on going to the art education route, so I started taking a bunch of random studio classes.

That’s when I met Erica Passage in a basement studio teaching my beginning wheel throwing class. She inspired me and showed me how with ceramics, you can create art that lives in the everyday. Art didn’t have to be a bystander just watching from a distance, it could become an active participant! I started paying more attention to the objects in my life, to the mug I drank my morning coffee out of, and the plate I had sitting in the kitchen sink from last night’s dinner. The factory made things just had no life, they didn’t contribute. When I started using handmade objects, even my first terrible pieces from that class, they had so much more to add. They told a story. They are individuals.

This is when I decided to become a potter. I knew it would be a lot of work, and that clay can be tricky and temperamental. But I wanted to have art in the world that was my own, that told my story and brought something vibrant to the table.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Well that clay taught me a thing or two. It took me close to two years of constant practice to finally make things that I felt like began to tell my story, and looking back those pieces were still far off the mark. So while I developed my skills, I taught art classes and searched for where people would actually buy my work because people weren’t really buying much of anything in Tallahassee.

Doing what you are passionate about does not always pay the bills. When I decided to move back to Georgia I found MudFire and they have given me the space and time to create the work that I want to be making. The amazing folks there have shown me that what I want to do is possible! I can be a full time working artist, and in fact they are helping me transition out of my steady paycheck teaching job and into making and selling pottery full time THIS YEAR! I am excited and terrified all at once, but I am really thankful that I have the support system of these other amazing artists and businesswomen to help me through all the bumps along the road.

For any other women out there trying to start their own business, or trying to see where art can take you. Don’t forget that you are strong and that when women and artists support each other there is nothing we can’t do. Hold on to your spark, that thing that makes you different, because your story is important and worth hearing.

We’d love to hear more about your work.
I finally felt like I had re-discovered my spark when I started drawing plants on my pots. I feel that in this day and age, we are too disconnected from nature. We can go days without seeing anything other than manicured lawns with leaves swept into piles and left on the corner to be picked up and taken away. I feel a call back to nature back to touching the ground and listening to what it has to say. The most calm I feel is when I am walking in nature with leaves rustling in the breeze and the smell of flowers wafting around me.

This is what I aim to create with my ceramics. I want to give people a sense of calm and joy when they use my work. There is enough stress in the world and I truly believe that plants carry the answers. That is why I have started to incorporate healing plants into my designs, along with my original floral pattern.

We’re interested to hear your thoughts on female leadership – in particular, what do you feel are the biggest barriers or obstacles?
When it comes to barriers to women in art, ceramics, and business, you don’t have to look far. Whether you think of representation in galleries or business meetings, women are still fighting to have their voices heard. I make my work to share my voice to scream it from your kitchen table. We need nature and the earth to keep us whole and strong. We need to raise each other up so that together we can show the world just how strong we are. My name is Sarah Piper. I am and artist, a potter, a teacher, and a businesswoman.

Contact Info:

• Address: 175 Laredo Dr, Decatur, GA 30030
• Website: www.piperstudios.org
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @sepiper_studios

Suggest a story: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.