RADAR | THE LOCALER
Behind the Wheel at Freba Pottery
Potter Marea Olafson is making real connections… out of clay. By Will Scott
Marea Olafson always stands behind — and sometimes beside — her work; Freba’s cups runneth over; expressing the joy of pottery; Olafson at the wheel. | PHOTOS: COURTESY OF MAREA OLAFSON
Trust strangers with free access to a pottery shop on the side of a Saskatchewan highway, and you’d be forgiven for thinking things might get out of control. But Marea Olafson expected connection — and she was right.
Olafson was confident enough in human nature to make a self-serve shop the key feature of her business, Freba Pottery, located in Wynyard, about 175 kilometres north of Regina.
Build it, and they will pull over, so to speak.`
“No experience needed. One of my superpowers as a teacher is to be able to make people successful.”
In peak summer, 30 vehicles might visit over a long weekend, and that includes 18-wheelers and motorcycles. It warms her heart when a motorcyclist buys one of her pieces, knowing how little room they have for extras. “If they choose to buy one of my mugs to put in their motorbike,” she says, “it means something.”
Ever the entrepreneur, Olafson has coined a new term to go with her most recent venture. Enter the “claycation” — a two-day retreat for pottery newbies. Guests arrive Friday for charcuterie and some social time, spend Saturday hand-building and throwing on the wheel and leave Sunday with a piece or two in hand.
“No experience needed,” she says. “One of my superpowers as a teacher is to be able to make people successful.”
Do you know someone who goes above and beyond? We’d love to hear about them. Email us your nominations, and they could be our featured Localer in an upcoming issue.
RADAR | PLAYLIST
What Songs Do You Road-Trip to, Megan Nash?
By Kim Hughes
Moose Jaw-based singer-songwriter Megan Nash. | PHOTO: COURTESY OF DARNELL STEWART
What inspires widely fêted folk-pop songwriter and vocalist extraordinaire Megan Nash as she works on new material? Music of all genres — but linked by provenance. “I want to share some tunes made by folks who live on Treaty 4 and Treaty 6 Territory in Saskatchewan,” says the Moose Jaw-based Nash, who still prefers spinning CDs in the car. “This playlist provides dreamy daytime driving vibes from Regina’s Wishbook and Wolf Willow and shakes you awake with songs from Saskatoon’s dead ex girlfriends and Grimelda,” says Nash. “For lovers of straight-ahead rock ’n’ roll, we’ve got Moose Jaw’s own Johnny 2 Fingers & the Deformities, featuring the late, great poet Frank Felt. Hopefully, this playlist helps you discover a new favourite artist from the land I’m grateful to call home.”
We are providing a preview of the artist’s playlist. The full playlist can be experienced directly on Spotify with a free account. Songs may not be appropriate for everyone. Listener discretion is advised.
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Marea Olafson always stands behind — and sometimes beside — her work; Freba's cups runneth over; expressing the joy of pottery; Olafson at the wheel. | PHOTOS: COURTESY OF MAREA OLAFSON
Trust strangers with free access to a pottery shop on the side of a Saskatchewan highway, and you’d be forgiven for thinking things might get out of control. But Marea Olafson expected connection — and she was right.
Olafson was confident enough in human nature to make a self-serve shop the key feature of her business, Freba Pottery, located in Wynyard, about 175 kilometres north of Regina.
Build it, and they will pull over, so to speak.
“No experience needed. One of my superpowers as a teacher is to be able to make people successful.”
In peak summer, 30 vehicles might visit over a long weekend, and that includes 18-wheelers and motorcycles. It warms her heart when a motorcyclist buys one of her pieces, knowing how little room they have for extras. “If they choose to buy one of my mugs to put in their motorbike,” she says, “it means something.”
Ever the entrepreneur, Olafson has coined a new term to go with her most recent venture. Enter the “claycation” — a two-day retreat for pottery newbies. Guests arrive Friday for charcuterie and some social time, spend Saturday hand-building and throwing on the wheel and leave Sunday with a piece or two in hand.
“No experience needed,” she says. “One of my superpowers as a teacher is to be able to make people successful.”
Do you know someone who goes above and beyond? We’d love to hear about them. Email us your nominations and they could be our featured Localer in an upcoming issue.