After 5: Pottery Life

Interpreted as coffee, mud is his revenue source via the Mudhouse. Interpreted as potter’s clay, mud is his escape.

The aptly named Mudhouse is a double entendre by King and co-owner Rob Weislocher. When the duo opened the South Avenue coffeehouse in 1999, King created pottery in a back room.

After taking a yearlong hiatus partly due to the demands of new businesses Gailey’s and MudLounge, King is back in his element, breathing life into globs of clay.

King recently jumped at a chance to rent studio space in the Garage Door Gallery inside Randy Bacon’s Monarch Art Factory, 600 W. College St.

“There was something missing,” he recalls. “This just kind of helps to keep things in balance.”

King retreats in the afternoons and evenings to a quiet studio he shares with two other artists. One is budding painter Corey Donnell, whose work is on display at the Monarch Art Factory through January.

This space is King’s haven.

“It’s really important to have an outlet,” King says. “I’m solving problems with clay, and it’s freeing up my mind for business. I’m more energetic, too.”

He hates to use the words “hobby” or “artist.” “I’m something in-between,” King says, describing his style as “traditional, with a certain twang to it.” Artist Donnell says the caffeine is King’s twang.

On this January afternoon, Garage Door Gallery owner Cassie Dennis peeks her head into the studio to say “hi” to her tenants; there are now 12 artists who lease the $200-a-month space.

“Hi. You’re here all the time, now,” Dennis says to King with a smile, noticing a work in progress. “That is so cool, Brian. I love that.”

“Well, thanks, Cassie,” King responds.

Inspiration is everywhere, King says, including the small businesses that he co-owns.

The coffeehouse has influenced his utilitarian designs of coffee jars, mugs, teakettles, plates and bowls, many of which are in use at Mudhouse.

He also applies time management and planning tools used in business.

“Things that have to be assembled,” he says as he manipulates clay spinning on the wheel, “they all have to be done at perfect times, so they don’t get too dry. A lot of it is about time management, and you learn that through the businesses.”

Want to Try?

Brian King recommends Springfield Pottery, 416 S. Campbell Ave.

Five eight-week sessions are offered each year in a variety of topics, including functional pottery, hand-building, workshops and camps for adults and children. Costs range from roughly $5 an hour for an open studio to $175 for a camp session.

For more information, call (417) 864-4677 or visit www.springfieldpottery.com.

Did You Know?

Brian King and Rob Weislocher have added Rick Andrews as a third Mudhouse owner. The co-owners are looking to add to Andrews’ responsibilities so that King can focus more on pottery.

King for a Day

An average day in the life of Mudhouse co-owner Brian King:

8 a.m.

• Wakes up with a cup of mud from – where else? – Mudhouse. His favorite coffee blend right now: Guatemalan Huehuetenango.

• Tends to his six pug dogs. King is a pug-lover and volunteers for Midwest Pug Rescue, helping to find homes for pugs. Several of his pugs have special needs caused by epilepsy and deafness.

9 a.m.

• Heads out of his Phelps Grove home to Mudhouse. Runs staff meetings, does paperwork and helps out on orders if short on staff.

2 or 3 p.m.

• Works out at YMCA (three days a week) or rides an Ozarks Greenways trail (during warm weather).

• Checks on things at MudLounge.

4 p.m.

• Arrives at Garage Door Gallery to “throw for a little bit.”

• Solves problems that pop up periodically at Mudhouse and MudLounge.

9 p.m.

• Calls it a day, knowing that he has 24-hour access to the studio should he “wake up at 3 o’clock in the morning with some creative energy and ideas.”[[In-content Ad]]