Artist Spotlight Series – Nina Goodick

Spotlight on Nina Goodick.

Nina was born and raised in Gloucester and comes from a hardworking family of Sicilian Italian and Portugese Gloucester Fisherman. Her great grandfathers, grandfathers, father, uncles, and brother were all fisherman and she spent summers on the family fishing boat the “Linda B”. From them and the women of the family, she learned hard work, love of family, faith, and of course food. Nina says: “In an Italian family, food is love, and we feed everything.” Family has always, and will always be the most important thing in her life.

Relatively new to the pottery world, Nina has been taking classes for the past few years with Cynthia Curtis and has enjoyed the company of her new fellow potter friends. In 2012 Nina was nominated as a seArts emerging artist, and from there decided to emerge herself into learning more about pottery. Her husband Stephen, who constantly encourages her, built her a studio to work from in their home. Then came the kiln, and lots of clay and learning. Her dear friend Marty Morgan, encouraged her to explore glazes, throwing technique, and to embrace the opening of the kiln – something any potter will tell you is both exciting and terrifying.

Nina enjoys throwing functional pottery, bowls, mugs, platters, things you can use. In addition to these, she recently has been creating wall pieces – Codfish, Haddock and Redfish – which connect her to her family heritage. She has also been making wall crosses which she was inspired to create through her work with a medical mission group from the Holy Family Parish, helping the poor in the Dominican Republic. Most of her inspiration comes from her family, friends, faith, and her sister Theresa who is an artist. Nina has always looked up to her creativity and abilities to capture feelings in her artwork. Nina does not consider herself an artist, but just a person who like to make pots.

This past year Nina was a participant in the Cape Ann Ceramics Festival at Rocky neck, and the Pottery Trail. Having people visit her studio and home gallery was a great experience for her, which she truly enjoyed. She is a member of seArts, and the Rocky Neck Art Colony. Her work can be seen at the Rocky Neck Holiday Art & Fine Craft Festival weekends through December 29th, seArts Wearable Art & Home Décor Show, December 14th & 15th, and Flatrocks Gallery Feast Exhibit through December 28th.

If you’ve finished shoveling out and want to have some fun, come by the Center for Happy Hour from 3-5:00 today and see some of Nina’s work, which is being exhibited alongside some of her sister, Theresa’s work.

E.J. Lefavour