While wandering down back alleys on my long neighborhood walks through Del Ray, I came upon an intriguing building at the back corner of one yard – separate from the main house. It had a long outside staircase up to a top floor, reminiscent of a tree house – perched there next to the gravel alley. Many times, I walked down that path and wondered what the building was used for and whose it was.  Years later, I met Steve Lally and his wife, Jennifer, and discovered it was Steve’s pottery studio.

 

Steve built his studio in 1998 and began making pots with an initial firing (bisque firing) in his own workshop.  He then took his pots to Pennsylvania or Maryland for a second 24-hour firing with a group of fellow potters. Two cords of scrap wood were burned to reach temperatures of 2,300 degrees Fahrenheit. The flames permanently etch their passage in red and brown tones on the bare clay, creating a unique record of the firing on each pot.

 

Since Steve’s early days in the neighborhood, he has been a member of Del Ray Artisans gallery and has joined the organization’s Board and helped manage their annual Holiday Art Market. He regularly participates in the gallery’s themed shows. A show titled “Faces” inspired what has become a major part of his work: face jugs. Also called ugly jugs, face jugs are a Southern tradition that reportedly originated with African American potters in the early 1800s and gained popularity as whisky jugs in the 1850s to scare children away from the contents.

 

Steve’s face jugs come in all sizes and forms, from the full-sized traditional jugs to mini incarnations. His youngest daughter regularly names the mini jugs, sometimes finding inspiration in mythology and literature. Over the years, the face jugs have morphed into sippers, mugs, and planters – and juried into regional and national shows. During Covid, the mugs took to wearing face masks, adding to their impish spirit. In addition to face jugs, Steve’s pottery includes a variety of functional forms, including mugs, bowls, plates, platters, teapots, olive oil bottles, garlic jails and honey jars.

 

You can see Steve and his pots at the monthly Del Ray Vintage Flea (2nd Saturday of the month), the annual Art on the Avenue, and the Scope Gallery at the Torpedo Factory.  Also, be sure to look for them at the Del Ray Artisans Holiday Art Market on December 6-8!