"I love being a part of people's art," Jason Winokur exclaimed as he walked me through the production warehouse of Stone Mountain Clay & Glaze Company. While we strolled past rubber tubs of pigment, pallets of clay making materials and employees working diligently to fill orders, Winokur's passion for his profession was tangible. Megan, Winokur's wife, welcomed me into the storefront of their Tucker business, smiling, clearly eager and willing to divulge to me the details of her famly's clay and glaze production business.
The History
You may associate the Winokur name with Kickwheel Pottery Supply, Inc. "I've been in the business since I was 2," claims Mr. Winokur. His family owned and operated Kickwheel until they were forced to close the doors in May, 2010. Don't think, however, that this setback meant the end of clay and glaze production, nor pottery classes, in Tucker, Georgia.
Mr. and Mrs. Winokur took control of the research and manufacturing aspect, while his mother, Christine Winokur, along with her business partner, Martie Seay, focused on pottery classes – they now own and operate Tucker's Zen and Now Clay Studio.
Today, Mr. Winokur, Mrs. Winokur, her father – the incredibly friendly, former submarine engineer turned master glaze creator, George Klein – and their 9-year-old son work together to produce high quality clay bodies, slips and glazes in their workshop / gallery off North Royal Atlanta Drive.
The Philosophy
The intimacy with which the Winokurs know their products was the dominant theme throughout our conversation. "What we sell, we make," Mrs. Winokur said affirmatively. The Winokur's business model is based on eliminating every possible unpredictability before their products are shipped. With every glaze, they test, re-test and test again. On smooth surfaces, ridged parcels, on coffee mugs, in dishwashers – when a product leaves Stone Mountain Clay & Glaze, the Winokurs know not only its exact composition, but also how it interacts with a multitude of variables. "An educated customer is a better customer," Mrs. Winokur confirmed. They adhere to a strict code of quality control, guaranteeing artists consistent, high-grade products.
The Extras
More was learned about clays, glazes and their production in my hour visit than could possibly be packed into a single article. Here are some of the more interesting tidbits and stories that emerged from our conversation.
Stone Mountain Clay & Glaze Company is a forerunner in its industry. They produce and ship Black Raven Stoneware, "the country's only jet-black stoneware," cites Ms. Winokur. In addition to selling to distributors, school systems, summer camps and galleries, they create clay bodies and glazes to meet the specifications of singular artists. "An artist who has been working for 30 years can come to Jason with an image in mind, and he can make a clay body to match," beamed Mrs. Winokur. She was not stingy with praise when speaking about her husband's mastery of his trade.
Glazes can take anywhere from six to ten weeks to create. However, Klein worked for two and a half years to perfect ruby slippers, a deep, red, sparkling glaze. "We make glazes that do stuff," Klein said. He proceeded to show me several pieces on which a single glaze was applied. The complex glaze would break in places, pool in others and morph from one hue to another.
Perfecting a clay body can take much longer, and trial batches as big as 2,500 pounds are required for sufficient testing.
The family traveled to their first festival – as a business – in November, 2010. Their enthusiasm was contagious as they recounted picking up pieces of pottery and flipping them over, trying to spot clay bodies that came from their studio.
Stone Mountain Clay & Glaze Company is a welcoming, warm place, and the people behind its success are truly refining a craft. Mrs. Winokur is eager to assist artists with any problems they encounter during the production of their work, and since she's newer to the craft, she still remembers the frustrations that accompany learning such a skill. "My goal is to leave each customer less frustrated than when they found me," she smiled.
Thanks to Amy Klein for the fantastic photographs, and to learn more about Tucker's Stone Mountain Clay & Glaze Company, visit their website stonemountainclay.com.
