Made in Talent: Potter’s Unexpected College Ceramics Class Leads to Entrepreneurship

Editor’s Note: Made in Tarrant is an occasional small business Q&A series started in Tarrant County.submit your business here.

Garrett Pendergrass Pottery

Who? Garrett Pendergrass is the founder of Garrett Pendergrass Pottery.

when? Garret Pendergrass Pottery started in 2013. Keith Thomson of Firehouse Pottery allowed him to rent a space behind the building to operate.

Where? 1307 Hurley Ave. Fort Worth, Texas 76008.

what? We offer small group courses, private lessons, open studios for individual work, and fired pottery for home studio potters without a kiln.

contact:

817.705.4685 – Deanna, Scheduling Assistant.

info@garretpendergrasspottery.com

www.garretpendergrasspottery.com

IG: @garretpendergrasspottery

FB: garretpendergrasspottery

Garrett Pendergrass is the founder of Garrett Pendergrass Pottery. He shared his business story with Fort Worth Reports’ Sandra Sadek.

Sadek: How did you get into this field?

pendergrass: My college adviser told me that I have one more art elective to graduate. I really wanted to take a sculpture class, but the course was canceled and all I was left with was pottery. I didn’t want to take the class because I thought it was for old ladies who draw flowers on teapots. To say the least, I was hooked! I bought a wheel immediately after graduating, and luckily my professor allowed me to audit three more semesters of advanced courses. Since I wasn’t officially enrolled in the pottery program, he gave me space in the janitor’s closet to learn and hone my skills. I have been in clay ever since!

Sadek: What was the hardest part of starting your own business?

pendergrass: Overcoming fear and what-ifs was definitely the biggest hurdle. When I started doing it, more and more people asked me, “What is your real job?” It certainly was a blow to the ego. Except for my wife, no one thought that being a potter or instructor outside of academia would be a success.

Sadek: Please give some advice to people who are thinking of starting a business.

pendergrass: Being prepared and learning about your industry is important, but not everything. The most important advice for starting your own business is to be stubborn to succeed and give yourself grace when you fail. I noticed Rather than beat myself up, I used the moment to evolve my business practices.

Sadek: Is there anything else you would like to share?

Pendergrass: My instructor and I love teaching a variety of pottery techniques to all levels.If you want to learn a new skill or find a way to balance your mind, see you in my studio. We offer small group courses, private lessons, open studios for independent work, and fired pottery for home studio potters without a kiln. We also have very exciting news. In 2023, we will introduce Raku ware to students and the general public in Fort Worth! Raku is a fun, fast, and creative way to fire pottery that produces outstanding and unique surface effects.

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