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Sylvia’s Ashes Nashville Public Media Article

Sylvia’s Ashes Nashville Public Media Article

Artist Leaves Plans For Her Remains As Meticulous As Her Sculptures Tom Turnbull went to Hyman’s memorial expecting nothing more than to pay his respects to an old friend. After the service, he was surprised when Hyman’s son approached with the news that Turnbull had been mentioned in her will. Minutes later, Turnbull took possession of a portion of Hyman’s remains.Turnbull became friends with Sylvia Hyman about thirty years ago. At the time, he owned a ceramics supply business and she was one of his customers. He built a studio of his own in the late ‘90s and became a Read more »

A Hamada story

A Hamada story

Hamada was one of the truly great potters of the last century.  He was touring in England one time and a student asked him to relate a story from Japan.  Hamada told the story of the three generals.   A wise man asked three generals the same question.  ” You have a song bird and it will not sing.  What would you do?” The first general said immediately that he would kill it.  This general was eventually assassinated  by one of his followers. The second general said that he would investigate and find out why the bird did not sing. Read more »

One of my hero stories

One of my hero stories

I’m 66 years old and there are only two stories in my life where I’m the hero.  The first of these, I was about 11 years old and my cousin and I were camping with some friends.  This one boy, David Early’s younger brother Angelo (Angel), had found an old kerosene  lantern laying around and had gotten it working.  The lantern eventually ran out of kerosene.  Like a real dumb kid, he took a cup filled with kerosene and began to pour it on the hot lantern.  The kerosene ignited, exploded and Angel was on fire, running.  Thank God he Read more »

They’re all good when you win

They’re all good when you win

I spent a few years in my youth working with race horses.  This one night I was taking one of my trotters out to race.  A friend of mine had just won the previous race and I said to him, ” Hey Bob, nice drive.”  He replied, “yeah, they’re all good when you win.  I’ve driven twice that good, come in second, and nobody ever said a word.”  I’ve found that to be the truth in life.  They’re all good when you win.   $250. 16″ x 10″ sold All of my porcelain paintings, can be hung indoor or outdoor. Read more »

gift for my niece

email:  Tom, my niece is graduating from college in CA.  I’d like to send her a gift of a set of your bowls.  Can you help me?   Me:     Absolutely.  I’ll text you images of some glaze options.  Bowls are 63. ea.  I sell a set of four for 248.  I do not charge for   shipping.  This is great.  She will treasure these and you, for her lifetime.  Email me her address,  I’ll call you for credit card info.  It’s that easy.

Heisenberg

Heisenberg

I received an email. J—–:   “My name is J—–.  I saw you at a craft show a few years ago and bought a porcelain painting from you.  My husband loves your work.  His birthday is coming up.  Do you think you could do something for him?” I emailed back. Me:  “Sure.  Tell me a little bit about him.  What does he read?  What’s he interested in? What does he watch,  movies/television?” J—–:  “He loves Bryan Cranston and Breaking Bad” If you are a Breaking Bad fan, you will get this.  If you aren’t, maybe pass this on to someone Read more »

The K—– Family

I received an email. There was going to be a total solar eclipse,  and it’s path was coming directly over Nashville, where I live. The email was from a woman in Washington DC.  “I’m a medical writer and I’ve seen and admired your exhibit at the CDC in Atlanta for years.  My family is gathering in Nashville to see the eclipse.  Would it be possible for me to visit your studio?”  ” Yes.  Of course.  Bring your family.” They are a very close, very loving family, but they all live in different places.  The son is a student at Princeton, Read more »

Haley

A friend called.  His granddaughter was turning eight.  He wanted to purchase two bowls.  “Sure.  Come on over.”  He told me that he planed to give one bowl to Haley and keep one for himself and he planned to say when he gave it to her, “Haley, when you have your cereal in the morning, I want you to put your finger and your thumb here, and you think about me.  And when I have my cereal in the morning, I’m going to put my finger and my thumb here, and I’m going to think about you.”  Being a potter, Read more »

Hubert de Givenchy

Hubert de Givenchy

Hubert de Givenchy in his apartment in Paris being presented a platter of mine by American Friends of Chantilly.   The image on the platter is the front staircase at the castle at Chantilly, where  Funny Face was filmed. De Givenchy is founder of the The House of Givenchy and designed iconic wardrobes for people like Jackie Kennedy, Ingrid Bergman, the Dutchess of Winsdor, Jayne Wrightsman, Greta Garbo, and famously for Audrey Hepburn in the movie Funny Face. A recent article in the New York Times highlights the relationship between Hepburn and Givenchy: Givenchy and Hepburn: The Original Brand Ambassadors. Read more »

International Center for Science Selects Nashville Artist

International Center for Science Selects Nashville Artist

PRESS RELEASE President Bush Scheduled for Ribbon Cutting Thirty-six large porcelain vessels, hand-thrown by Nashville artist Tom Turnbull, have been selected for permanent display at the Center for Disease Control national headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. When President George W. Bush cuts the ribbon to open the new center, Turnbull’s pottery will be one of the first things the President and other dignitaries see as they enter the lobby. It may be the only art that they see, because Turnbull will be the featured artist at the grand opening. “This honor is well deserved,” stated Greg Decker, a nationally recognized artist Read more »