Newfield native opens pottery studio in town

Newfield native and longtime potter Michelle “Micki” Volpini has officially opened her own pottery studio on Cox Road in the hamlet where she grew up.

“I have been producing work and selling it on my Etsy site, Volpini Ceramics, as well as at farmers markets and various other locations,” Volpini said. “I worked at Eddydale farm stand for seven years. I also sold my pottery there. In 2017, I decided to quit, start selling my creations and just go for it.”

Volpini’s brother and father erected the hand-built studio, perched on the edge of her parents’ property in front of beautiful pastures with frolicking horses, for her to create her collection of art to sell.

“The kiln was already here,” Volpini said. “They built the studio from the ground up, and now, I have my throwing wheel as well as display and storage space for all that I create.”

In addition to starting her own business and erecting her own studio, Volpini also works at the Clay School of Ithaca on South Hill in Danby.

“I work at the Ithaca Clay School two days a week with the owner, Julia Dean,” Volpini said. “I do glazing and rolling of leaves and shell patterns and texture work there. I teach classes there as well.”

Volpini earned a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Cortland, where she majored in international studies and art. It was at college where Volpini fully recognized her love of pottery and a desire to do it for the rest of her life.

“I also played basketball for Cortland,” Volpini said. “I realized that I was always in the studio with any free time I had outside of that and my studies.”

Having a love of both basketball and mixed-media pottery, Volpini still makes time with her busy schedule to coach the girls varsity basketball team for Newfield Central School District.

“The last few years have been difficult for students because of the erratic schedule dictated by the pandemic,” Volpini said. “It’s nice to be back coaching in a more structured setting with a stabilized schedule and environment.”

Volpini gravitated toward pottery at a young age, demonstrating a talent and grace that presented itself as if she were born into it. She later learned that she indeed was, as her grandfather’s cousin is the world-renowned sculptor Aldo Volpini.

Hailing from San Marino — known as the Ancient Land of Liberty and the smallest republic in the world — Aldo is considered a master of the vanishing tradition of sculpture. San Marino’s original industry was stone-cutting, the craft of Saint Marinus, the republic’s namesake. Marinus was canonized as a saint and is often historically depicted as a bearded layman with a stonemason’s hammer.

Aldo carved the local limestone with tools used by two generations of sculptors before him. Stone is no longer cut from the terraced and densely populated mountaintop, as there is no room for further quarrying.

Aldo had no formal training in art, only a desire to create. A pietà — a statue of a sorrowful Mary with the body of Christ held in her arms — could be seen in his studio, representing the haunting and beautiful work and the creative drive for which he would become famous.

“I hold a second citizenship in the Republic of San Marino,” Micki said. “I have visited there and explored the republic and its sculptures. It has largely been known for its sculptures and pottery, but not so much anymore. I have seen, and have pictures of, my cousin’s work. Now, it’s primarily just tourism, although the beautiful work still remains.”

In addition to producing her own work, working at the Clay School of Ithaca and coaching basketball, Micki has generously shared her talents with the Ithaca Empty Bowls Project in the past. She’s made and donated 100 bowls to support the charity event, raising funds to provide food to people in need throughout Tompkins County.

“I do a lot of different pieces that I sell, but my favorite is custom work,” Micki said. “I love doing custom work for people and enjoy it when people bring their ideas to me.”

As her following grows and with the completion of her new studio, Micki is enjoying growing success with providing pottery and mixed-media art to Tompkins County and beyond through her Etsy site, local farmers markets, pop-up sales, custom designs and wholesale orders. Recently, Micki was commissioned by a local customer to make 30 of her signature Finger Lakes ornaments.

“I have a great love of pottery and sculpting, but I also love drawing and painting,” Micki said. “Now that I have the studio, I have an idea for a gallery and a lot of other projects. I have a lot of different ideas I’m working on now as I continue to create and sell my pieces.”

Micki’s work can be found on Instagram, @volpiniceramics, as well her in online Etsy shop at etsy.com/shop/VOLPINICERAMICS. Micki can be reached directly via email at mvceramics@earthlink.net.

Newfield Notes appears every Wednesday in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@VizellaMedia.com.