Open Studios & Fundraising Update

| Esther

Arts & Industry Open Studios, Nov 8 & 9, 10am–5pm
Pivot Pottery #334, 221 Pine Street, Florence MA

I’m looking forward to sharing my pottery practice & my fundraising at Open Studios again this year. New mugs, menorahs and candle holders, mythical heroes and monsters. PLUS a selection of last year’s pots and glaze tests at bargain prices. This is my last year at Pivot Pottery before I move into my own studio. (Help me clear out old work and setup my new studio!)

100% of sales of menorahs & candle holders will go to direct community aid providing meals, water, cash, shelter, and clothing to displaced families in Gaza. More info below.

Where to find my work this season:

  • Arts & Industry Open Studios November 8 & 9, 10-5pm Pivot Pottery #334, 221 Pine Street, Florence MA
  • Tiny Pop Up @ City Space Saturday December 6, 4-7pm Old Town Hall 43 Main Street, Easthampton, MA
  • Pushcart Judaica Hanukkah Market Sunday, December 7, 12-5pm 33 Hawley St, Northampton, MA
  • Waterway Arts 102 Avenue A, Great Falls, MA
  • SIP 413 90 Maple Street, Florence, MA
  • MRKT at AFTS Gallery in Springfield, MA through January 2026
  • Webshop: After Open Studios, I will post remaining menorahs and candle holders. Chanukah begins December 14, 2025; I’ll be shipping to the USA and Canada.

More about my recent fundraising:

My 2025 🍉 fundraising started in the spring, when I made a line of seder plates. We’ve already raised $1000. The aid network that I send funds to is run by an old friend of mine. (For more information about the aid network, go to Stephanie H. Shih’s instagram account and click on the “aid” highlight.) Last year, I was able to send $9125 to the same aid network providing meals, water, cash, shelter, and clothing to displaced families in central Gaza; all raised via in-person craft sales, the Waterway Arts gallery, and my webshop.

This year I also raised $2950 selling candle holders to benefit  Trans Relocation Support Western Massachusetts, helping *trans families and individuals fleeing states with anti-trans legislation. Trans Relocation Support is a mutual aid network providing temporary housing, financial support, and a welcoming community to folks relocating to Western Massachusetts.

At Pioneer Valley Zine Fest in April 2025, I ran a mini fundraiser selling my zine Everything I Thought I Knew About Gender Was Wrong to benefit Translate Gender, a trans-led nonprofit supporting trans, nonbinary, and gender expansive community members in Western Massachusetts. We raised over $100 for the local *trans community.

I am immensely gratified to be able to leverage my art practice to aid families seeking safety. Thank you for your support!

How can you help?

🍉 Plates for Gaza

| Esther

Hand-built, one-of-a-kind stoneware plates with black and white sgraffito eye motifs. Decorated on both sides. Underside carved with a message of solidarity: Nobody’s Free Until Everybody’s Free. Plates are 12-13″ diameter with a hefty rim, easy to pick up, lightweight for their size. Can be used on your table for a seder, any special occasion (aka everyday), or displayed on the wall. Food-, dishwasher-, and microwave-safe finish. These platters are made to be enjoyed!

100% of all all profits from sales of 🍉 plates will go to direct community aid providing meals, water, cash, shelter, and clothing to displaced families in central Gaza. I have been selling my work to raise money for causes I care about for about ten years. I am donating all profits to the aid network. The network is run by an old friend of mine. For more information, go to Stephanie H. Shih’s instagram account and click on the “aid” highlight. You can find more about this fundraiser and my past fundraisers on my instagram account, where I post about my process.

Thank you for your support!

WHY EYES? For the past few years, I’ve used mythology and heroic poetry in my work. In Ancient Greek Mythology, Argus is a giant with 100 eyes, known as “all-seeing,” “The Watcher,” “All-Eyes.” In the story of Io, Argus is jealous Hera’s henchman, his job to watch over Io so that she doesn’t escape. In my own imagination, Argus is a witness. Argus sees everything that we may be tempted to look away from. 

Trans Relocation Support Fundraiser

| Esther

Candlesticks to benefit Trans Relocation Support Western Massachusetts! Available at Waterway Arts in Great Falls, MA. Hand built in porcelain and stoneware, multiple designs at different price points, starting at $60 for a pair. 

We raised over $2k as of March 8, 2025. Thank you for your support! I’ve closed the online shop – the remaining candlesticks are available at Waterway Arts.

100% goes to Trans Relocation Support Western Massachusetts, helping *trans families and individuals fleeing states with anti- trans legislation.

Trans Relocation Support is a mutual aid network providing temporary housing, financial support, and a welcoming community to folks relocating to Western Massachusetts.

I am immensely gratified to be able to leverage my art practice to welcome families moving to Western Massachusetts seeking safety and community. Thank you for your support!