Lot # : 106 - Talking Earth pot by Steve Smith

This sale will open on Tuesday, March 9th at 7 am This sale will start to close on Tuesday, March 16th at 8 pm Pickup for this sale will be on Sunday, March 21st from 11 am until 2 pm or by appointment

Timewell Auctions are once again honoured to be presenting a special benefit auction of First Nations art pottery including 79 Talking Earth pieces and several by Steve Smith before Talking Earth Potttery . The following is a letter of introduction by the Dr. Pickett family and an answering letter from the Smith family ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Please help us help Steve Smith We never really “own” art, but can only be stewards of it for a time. Art has its own life and integrity that transcends time and continues to communicate, enrich, teach and give. Dr. Charles Pickett, who died in August, understood this. He, his wife Dorothy and their six children have particularly treasured Talking Earth Pottery, whose very name conveys the same understanding and wisdom. Dr. and Mrs. Pickett would use the art of Steve Smith and family to honour the most important occasions, like the birth of children, graduations, weddings, retirements and other life milestones or accomplishments. Part of that is certainly the way Talking Earth art conveys universal things, like humanity’s integral connections to the created order, ancient wisdom, culture and community. Those things bless the way Talking Earth Pottery has come to represent joy, honour, respect and gratitude to us. And so, in gratitude for that, our family invites you to take part as we seek to give back to Steve Smith. Steve and Leigh and Santee have given us beautiful art. Talking Earth has also offered a vital gift in fostering the renewal of ancient traditions and teachings that are of timeless value to everyone. Steve Smith’s pottery and Leigh and Santee’s artwork celebrate not only the land and its creatures and flora with great skill and beauty, the stories of each symbol invite people into a timeless wealth of understanding. As the community knows, Steve Smith has been cruelly struck by a debilitating case of West Nile Virus and is in need of your help. The Pickett family is gifting a portion of Dr. and Mrs. Pickett’s collection to thank the Smiths. We are placing a large selection of these Talking Earth and other pieces in the care of Timewell Auctions. The Pickett family will not accept a dime of the proceeds – they will all be donated to the benefit of Steve’s care. It is with humility and gratitude that we are able to do this to honour Steve, as well as our father and mother, Charles and Dorothy. We have been the custodians of these pieces and now is the time for them to be entrusted to a new home where they can continue to give, so we can give back. Will you help us? All you have to do to help is show up and bid to purchase a beautiful piece of original and contemporary Kahnyen’kehàka (Mohawk) pottery. In doing so you are supporting a family of renowned Canadian artists, while becoming the caretaker of the gift that art can convey. Finally, please know that our family is also inviting the Smiths to identifying some of the donated pieces to become part of the permanent collection at the Woodlands Cultural Centre to benefit the work of the centre and the broader community. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Message from Steve T. Smith and family: Steve Smith and family are thankful to have known Dr. Charles Pickett as friend, pottery collector and generous human. His Talking Earth Pottery visits were cherished moments as they were filled with uplifting and fun loving conversation and appreciation of the pottery designs and the meaningful stories they depicted. Our visits with Dr. Pickett were meaningful and always made our day brighter. Currently at the Hamilton General Hospital inpatient rehabilitation my father was speaking to an attending nurse about Dr. Pickett, he said: “When Dr Pickett came to the pottery shop he would always go into the backroom and hardly, not too many people would do that, enter the workshop. But when he came he’d say, ‘let me see what you got in the making’. One time, I was doing pottery for the Chamber of Commerce in Brantford every year for their business Excellence Award and I said I’m working on these pieces for the Chamber of Commerce and Dr. Pickett said, ‘Oh you're making chamber pots, eh?’ He had a real sense of humor.” And he laughed while sharing the memory. Good-humoured comradery demonstrated their mutual respect and admiration for each other. My mother Leigh Smith spoke about how much Dr. Pickett supported our family over the years, she shared, “we would think, how are we going to pay our hydro this month and then we would see Dr. Pickett drive in, he really helped us survive as artists.” The generous donation of the proceeds from the Timewell Auctions by the Pickett family is an unexpected and welcomed gift. In the time of need for Steve and Leigh it is fitting this offering comes from the heart and collection of Dr. Charles Pickett. It’s a giving back and a giving forward. Nia:wen kowa / thank you very much to the Pickett family for honouring two amazing men and their legacies. Two men who are deeply respected and known for their caring and community work, for spreading light, love and modeling integrity. We are pleased some of the pottery pieces will become a part of the Woodland Cultural Centre’s permanent collection and the legacy of Kahnyen’kehàka pottery and Talking Earth Pottery will be available to the next generations. Nia:wen kowa / thank you very much to Mrs. Dorothy Pickett and her children for their caring spirits. In peace, unity and strength, The Smith Family