Meet Your Maker: Wondrous Crane

Credit - Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation

Emily Tani-Winegarden, the creator behind Wondrous Crane, forms functional, simple, joyful handmade clay vessels that infuse wonder into daily life. Striving to bring light and wonder through each piece of clay she throws, Emily brings thought and intention through everything she makes. If a piece gives a single spark of joy, then in her mind, it’s done its job.  We took a moment to chat with Emily about her pottery and what drives her as a creative. 

What do you do? What is your craft? 

I make hand thrown pottery. It is all made out of porcelain clay on an electric potter's wheel and fired in an electric kiln. I craft my own glazes to reflect bright and solid colors with little variation. Everything is functional, food-safe, microwavable, and dishwasher safe.

How did you get into your craft?

I started in 2008 at Eden Prairie High School, I always enjoyed working with clay in art class but had never thrown on a wheel until freshman year. It was love at first throw and from there I continued to take every possible pottery class in high school and college. Over the summers I even dabbled in courses at the Edina Art Center and traveled to the Anderson Ranch Craft School in Colorado because I couldn't get enough of clay during just the school year.

Can you give insight to the creative process? 

I usually do some sketches of items I want to make and then test throw prototypes to see which shape I like the best for functionality and feel. It's an extremely tactile medium to work with. It's not just your hands forming the clay into a cylinder, it's a whole body experience. Your foot controls the speed your wheel spins, your core must be firm to keep your hands steady, and your fingers are magnets to one another when you move the walls of clay up and down. With the rhythmic spin of the wheel it's honestly hypnotizing and easy to get into the flow of making. Reaching this flow state is my favorite part of making. Whenever I reach a point where I can look at the piece and see myself getting joy from using it is when I know it's finished.

“Whenever I reach a point where I can look at the piece and see myself getting joy from using it is when I know it's finished.”

Photo credit - Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation

Who inspires you?

Some potters I really love include but are not limited to: Kate Fisher, Ron Gallas, Steven Young Lee, Matt Long, Summer Carmack, Sunshine Cobb, Sam Chung, Martha Grover, and Adam Field.

What is at the heart of what you make?

Pottery crafted with care and made to hold wonder. I love functional items that are aesthetically beautiful because it's nice to be mindful of what you're consuming and with what vessel. Too often we coast through life without taking a moment to realize our surroundings. If my pottery provides one moment of thoughtful moment a day then Wondrous Crane has done it's job.

What is your favorite type of piece to craft?

I enjoy making basic cylinders and then carving finger grooves into the pieces, they are fun to make on the wheel and the item is easier to hold when using it.

What is your best piece of advice for pushing yourself in your craft?

It's okay to mess up. At this point in my making career, I feel like my skills should be perfect, but they aren't, I still mess up all the time. It can be discouraging as a maker when your hard work doesn't pan out. There's all this pressure to produce since you need product to sell to make a living. Just give yourself permission to mess up so that you can have the courage to move forward and continue to grow and improve your craft.

Credits - Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation and Darin Kamnetz

What is your favorite way to relax?

Either throwing clay on the wheel while listening to some tunes or watching the Timberwolves on the couch with a glass of wine.

And finally, got any good jokes to tell?

Did you hear about the magical gorilla taking ceramics class at Hogwarts?!

It's a Hairy Potter.

Come see Wondrous Crane Ceramics, along with a rotating roster of fantastic makers, at the Minneapolis Craft Market throughout the year. Find a little something for you and for those you love and experience the heart of the Minneapolis maker community.