20834 Townsend Road
Gapland, MD 21779
P: 301-401-8380
Website |
Days Open: Sunday, Monday, Thursday-Saturday
Hours: 10am-5pm
A working pottery and contemporary craft gallery in a restored barn atop South Mountain. Located at the west entrance to Gathland State Park near Burkittsville, MD. An eclectic collection of handmade stoneware pottery, fine jewelry, wooden wares, glass and more...
Bill van Gilder, a professional potter for more than 50 years, began his clay work at age 15, as a studio apprentice to the late Byron Temple. During the following years, he apprenticed in Ireland and England, and graduated from Harrow School of Art, Studio Potters, London, UK. He then established and managed two large production potteries in Southern Africa (Lesotho & Swaziland) under the auspices of The World Bank. Bill returned to the U.S. in 1979 and lived and made pottery in the Poconos for 6 years before moving back home to Maryland. In 1985 he established a studio and gallery atop South Mountain in Central Maryland, which he continues to operate today.
van Gilder has served on the faculty of The Art League, Alexandria, VA, and was founder/director of The Frederick Pottery School, Frederick, MD. Bill wrote a regular column on teaching techniques for Clay Times magazine for many years, and is the creator, writer and host of Throwing Clay, a DIY Network Television series about making pottery.
He currently leads workshops nationally and internationally, on pottery forming, decorating, and firing techniques. He has designed a line of professional potter’s tools (van Gilder ClayTools), available on his website and through retailers nationwide. His clay work is exhibited and held in collections worldwide.