Spain / Balearic
Unannounced Pleasure

Creative people aren't always very accessible. They don't want to be. Busy with their artistic pursuits, discovering them takes some perseverance & luck. These artists weren't easy to find, so we took a taxi. It left us off at the end of a long country drive, seemingly in the middle of nowhere, outside the town of Arta, Mallorca. \The invasion of privacy we were about to commit didn't set in until Miguel answered the door. With almost no English to communicate, he led us inside. It was more than a little awkward, showing up unannounced, barely able to converse. This was the home of Maria Antonio & Miguel Carrio. Maria creates pottery that is simple yet profound. Also a good way to described the artist, herself. Her huge bowls and platters, most in shades of white, have an organic appeal. They're both modern & primitive at the same time. Miguel is less reserved. He "wears his heart on his sleeve," once he warms up to you. An artist too, Miguel paints, "pots" & gardens with his wife, but he is the cook. Though unexpected, we were made to feel like guests. They dropped everything when we showed up at their doorstep. They gave us a tour of their home, their gardens & studio. Then we were invited to dine with them after a trip to their favorite secluded beach, Cala Mitjana, on the northeast coast of the island. It would have been nice to include more photos here, but as guests, the camera was put away in respect for their privacy. Meeting Maria & Miguel was more than a discovery of their exquisite pottery. It was also the discovery of an islandstyle according to 2 very charming Mallorcan residents. An unannounced pleasure indeed. For a peek inside their home & to learn more about the couple, see Barbara & Rene Stoeltie's book, "Country Houses of Majorca" published by Taschen books To find the artists on Mallorca, stop by the Café Parisien in the center of Arta & ask Jolanda for help getting there. If you want to purchase a piece of pottery, be prepared to pay cash & carry it on the plane with you. It is too fragile to ship.