Goderich - Brahn Pottery
When Barb Rahn started her studio a decade ago, she was looking for something that tied it to her, but was gender neutral and landed on Brahn Pottery Studio.
The showroom is truly a hidden gem. Located just off the highway outside of Goderich, you may occasionally see a sail flag at the road calling to passersby. But even if the flag isn’t flying, Brahn Pottery keeps regular hours and has an open sign hanging beside the front door.
Barb wasn’t looking for a career as an artisan, but after a couple of classes and finding a used kiln and wheel, she eventually had more pieces than she could keep. She began selling at the Goderich Farmers’ Market and her business eventually grew to a full-time retail outlet in her house.
After she joined the potters guild in London, she learned different methods of throwing, but it was learning about glaze chemistry that piqued her interest. Her pieces are now known for their colour.
In addition to her regular inventory of mugs, chopstick bowls and fruit fly catchers, Barb enjoys working with her clients on commissioned projects. One of her favourite commissions has been working with Square Brew to create mugs for their mug club, a personalized clay tankard permanently mounted on the wall for clients to use in the taproom. For other commissions, like urns, she works with the family to make the perfect vessel.
According to Barb, the best part about pottery is that each piece is unique. No two pieces turn out exactly the same. She doesn’t get too attached to any piece, knowing that the medium is fragile and can break or spoil at any point in the process.
She enjoys sculpting with clay, and the more artistic and creative she can get, the happier she is. That creativity is evident throughout her showroom. The little fruit fly catchers, in addition to being an attractive solution to a pesky problem, are especially whimsical, some with little mushroom or cottage handles on the lid.
Her customers often return, seeking out new pieces for their collections each year. Barb has loved watching the millennial generation embrace pottery. She notes that they buy differently than older generations, eschewing “sets” of things in favour of collecting eclectic pieces that speak to them.
You can find her at her highway home-based studio and showroom, Tuesday through Friday from 10 am to 6 pm, or Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm. Of course, being a small business, Barb says if those hours don’t work for you, she does do appointments!
Follow her on Facebook and Instagram, especially around the holidays for extended hours. 36183 Huron Rd, Goderich