A Glaze, A Place, A Vessel

When bringing back Utah as our first seasonal glaze of 2022, we thought a lot about how we could reintroduce this brand favorite. An idea landed on the table: What if we sent Utah pots into Utah? How would our humble pots—peachy and warm—navigate the majesty of their namesake? Who would tell those stories?

We found three rising photographers who call Utah home and asked them to take our pots on a journey. Marcus Catlett, Niki Chan Wylie, and Maya Fraser come from very different backgrounds with original perspectives. We offered no instructions. No rules. Just a blank canvas and an invitation. Receive the pots, take them on a journey, and tell us what you find.

The results are three different yet equally beautiful views of the glaze and of the state itself. Much like the tagged section of Instagram, our “Utah photo project” as it is affectionately called here in the office, is a reminder of just how big a vessel our pottery can be. Sure, the pots can hold your favorite coffee or your mother's pasta recipe. But they can also hold memories and every once in a while, an opportunity.

Here’s to Utah: a glaze, a place, a vessel.

Maya Fraser

With photography, I always aim to create work that makes you feel and draws your interest.  When I think of Utah I think of the warm hues of the red rocks. These rocks often make the perfect backdrop for any photo. I wanted to focus on those hues only. Keeping the rest of the image neutral and really let the rocks, and the pottery speak for itself. – Maya

Marcus Catlett

My approach to photography has always been to use a background that complements my subject. For this project I wanted to show the vast alien-like landscapes that surround Utah. We are ants in this desert and I try to portray that by keeping my subjects small. In doing this, it shows that we are not superior over nature, but rather guests in its home. We are blessed to live on this planet, the least we can do is be respectful visitors. –Marcus

Niki Chan Wylie

My work is an exploration of what it means to be human and the connections we share with each other. In Utah, many of us share a deep connection to Nature. When visiting, I love taking my guitar, notebooks and camera and letting my creative wilderness meld with natural wilderness.

I photographed East Fork’s lovely bowls at our city’s namesake body of water—the Great Salt Lake. I’ve visited the lake many times over the years and it was hard to not notice the strikingly low water levels of the lake, as our state is in a major drought. My photos pay homage to the lovelier things in life, such as Nature, art, pottery, music and photographs, in hopes that people can see the important non-financial value these offer us and work to keep them around. –Niki