Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Baldwin and Paul Echart.
Robert and Paul, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Our interest in pottery really started while we were living in Asia. Places like Kyoto, Japan have very long traditions in pottery. We met a lot of potters and of course, began collecting pottery. Robert has always felt that there is something special about using his hands to create art and quickly fell in love with the idea of that creation being pottery.
When we returned to Dallas, Robert began taking classes at the Creative Arts Center of Dallas with Nathan Portnoy and Ryan Vaughn. As he progressed, he started looking for a way to have time at the wheel without being constrained by classes and lab times.
In addition to looking for a place for Robert to work, we saw a need for a supplier of clay and glazes east of downtown Dallas. When we realized we would have room to stock supplies as well as have six wheels, equipment, workspaces and shelves, the idea of the shared studio space was born.
Now we can offer other artists a space to create their own work without having to build out an individual studio.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Paul has had experience building out businesses in large corporations and comes from an entrepreneurial family. In fact, his mother had a ceramics studio for slip mold work in East Texas when he was young, and she has been able to provide some guidance to us. In addition to that, Robert’s teachers and other potters, like Lynn Amstrong and Don Brimberry, have been very generous with their time and ideas.
Working with the team at Trinity Ceramics (Conor and Kay) has also been great. It is wonderful to see local businesses helping each other to grow!
Probably the most difficult aspect of getting the studio going was finding the right location. East Dallas seems to be booming right now! Once we saw the location (suite 106) at 10120 Cayuga Dr, we knew we found the right home for the studio. The owner of the building, Richard Wincorn, is a woodworker and artist himself, and there is also a ballet studio in the building. It is a nice environment to have the pottery studio.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about White Rock Pottery – what should we know?
We offer studio memberships for experienced potters. We sell clays and glazes to the pottery community, and of course, we sell finished functional and decorative pottery pieces.
As far as we know, we are the only place in Dallas that offers studio space and supplies.
Next, we hope to start participating in art shows as a studio, highlighting the work of artists who are members in the studio.
Our main objective is to bring a diverse group of people together who are passionate about their creative work. If we have developed an environment where ceramic artists can produce, be creative and learn from each other, then we feel like we have given back to the community in at least our small way.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
We have had great support from Conor and Kay at Trinity Ceramics, Lynn Armstrong, Don Brimberry, Ryan Vaughn and Nathan Portnoy. Additionally, we would like to thank the inaugural studio members who immediately said, “yes, sign me up!”.
Pricing:
- Our studio memberships start at $120 per month, and includes 24×7 access to the studio, use of equipment and discounts on clay.
- Pricing for a wide selection of clay and glazes can be found on the website.
Contact Info:
- Address: 10120 Cayuga Dr, Suite 106
Dallas, TX 75228 - Website: www.whiterockpottery.com
- Phone: 646.279.6254
- Email: info@whiterockpottery.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whiterockpottery/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whiterockpottery/
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
