File:El Taller - The Studio, Caracas, 1963.jpg

This photo shows part of the ceramics studio at the rear of our house in Caracas, Venezuela.

My mother had a roof built over a large patio, and under it she and Jorge, a Hungarian émigré, established a studio. Jorge's Cocker Spaniel is looking at me expectantly in this photo. I had completely forgotten about the dog until I saw this slide.

Jorge produced a line of retail cermamics, including reproductions of Venezuelan precolumbian pieces that were sold in hotel gift shops. His wife, Eva, was a sculptress who made fine art pieces. Eva might have had a separate studio somewhere else, because I do not have any memories of seeing her at work, though I do remember her pieces.

My mother threw pots and built vessels from slabs of clay. She made her own slips and glazes from the ashes of various tropical woods. Mother entered her pieces in shows in Caracas and won several awards.

Alas, Jorge wasn't particularly fond of kids in his studio. While I did make several pieces from Jorge's molds with his approval, he disapproved of me messing around with clay. I can remember him tossing one of my projects into the slip bucket, leaving me in tears. Well, it wasn't the end of the world.

I was always fascinated by the containers of glaze powder on the shelves in the background; I loved their spicy (and possibly toxic!) scent. This is not to say I would open the jars. I had more sense than that.

This photo was taken in 1963, not long after the studio was built.