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DARIEN NEWS-REVIEW. Thursday. October 23. 2003
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Clay: Building More Than Just Pots

had envisioned.
In discussing the influence pottery can have on people, Mr. Bachar said, "pottery is a vehicle for some people to create a piece of art they never thought they could , and for others, to learn something about themselves they never knew … In so many ways it can be a microcosm of life.” Mr. Bachar opens his studio and offers his time and resources to a number of charitable situations, among those, Kids in Crisis, a Greenwich organization that cares for teens displaced from their homes.  One afternoon each week for three hours, the studio-its clay and instruction is provided free of charge.
The Greenwich based organization noted that for the first time since its inception, the teens at the house are diligent in making sure they have enough points (earned through responsible behavior in the group home, as well as in school) to attend the weekly workshop.
The kids look forward to their time at the studio where the have the freedom to create and to learn the boundaries of the clay "Everything bas limits," says Mr. Bachar, "and finding limits and accepting  the recyclable nature of the clay can be very beneficial to one's perspective." Mr. Bachar has recently purchased a truck that he uses to transport his portable electrified potter's-wheel to schools that cannot afford a ceramics studio. The portable studio have also allowed him to become involved in home-schooling. A Darien couple that home-schools their five children has recently incorporated ceramics into their curriculum. "These kids are so thirsty for knowledge. Through clay they learn physics, math, geography, history, and art. They are such a pleasure to work with. The pottery is secondary really, the activity helps the children get to know themselves," said Mr. Bachar.  He believes parents should remember that aesthetics are not the primary reason for working with clay. A great number of things are being learned, and if the aesthetics are the primary goal, failure is felt, fear develops and finally one is left feeling discouraged and unfulfilled with their work. "That is no way to learn," he stressed. "My approach to teaching is different than most. As an engineer, I was first  interested in the dynamics of the clay, its chemical breakdown, what happens when it is fired and how to achieve different glazing techniques based on chemistry and physics. I never thought of myself as an 'artist' because 1. was seeing it as technology."
The art for Mr. Bachar came very naturally after conceptualizing those dynamics. In looking at some of the first pieces he made, it was hard to imagine, as Mr. Hill had stated, "that he had not been working with clay his entire life."
In addition to children's workshops, Lakeside offers team building programs taught by Ruth Nelson who has a Master's degree in Arts from NYU. Interestingly, a number

Contributed photo
At Lakeside Pottery's summer camp 11 yeas old, Katherine Windels enjoys her week getting dirty, pot throwing & hand building.

of local companies send their employees to Lakeside's team building classes to build employee relations, to build individual confidence and to gain insight into colleague's behaviors.
Mr. Bachar emphasized, "Team building programs at Lakeside have been specifically designed to achieve goals that we find our clients seek and that our medium can provide. We have done a number of these workshops, and they are very successful".
Mr. Bachar's instructors are all accomplished potters: Roger Baumann has a MA aft degree from Columbia and a MFA sculpture degree from SUNY Purchase; Lily Schor is a ceramics teacher from New York and Greenwich; Linda MacKenzie is a member of Hudson River Potters; and Sarah Baehr is a photographer and teacher of art and clay. Mr. Bachar is affiliated with the Darien, Greenwich and Westport Continuing Education Departments, The Greenwich Arts Council, Stamford Recreation Department, Stamford Adult Education and the Executive Resource Center.

For more information on Lakeside Pottery call 323-2222 or e-mail mbachar@lakesidepottery.com.

BY MIA TANGREDI
mtangredi@bcnnew.com

If you thought pottery was just an art and craft for the kids, think again. The medium of clay has a lot more to offer than just an ashtray or a great set of sake cups.  Morty Bachar, proprietor of Lakeside Pottery, graduated from the New York Institute of Technology with a degree in electrical engineering and has worked for over 20 years in various corporate executive positions. In 2001 he left the corporate sect to pursue a lifestyle that offered more room for creativity. Lakeside Pottery studio offers a place for people to relax, create and get organic with their thoughts and their hands.

Contributed photo
Above, Morty Bachar softens the edges of a large bowl with a damp sponge while working at the potters wheel

In 2001, Mr. Bachar attended a pottery workshop with Steven Hill, a well-known American potter, and felt the confidence to continue experimenting with clay. During the workshop his thoughts were focused on discussing the practicalities of owning a studio.  “I initially attended the workshop for the sole purpose of networking, “he said.   During the workshop he was encouraged by Mr. Hill to continue working with clay on a professional level.  Mr. Hill was astonished that Mr. Bachar had only recently begun to work with clay and had not been working with clay all his life.  The encouragement was enough for Mr. Bachar to attend a second seminar in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he found group of seasoned potters and studio owner that offered great advice and support. He returned to the East Coast determined to create an environment that was approachable and nurturing; where people all ages could feel their creativity develop.  He opened an in-house studio, which he soon outgrew. His own work begun to be shown in local galleries and soon he was giving private lessons.  
In 2002 he opened his current studio at 543 Newfield Avenue in Stamford, where the atmosphere has evolved into precisely what he