Tena Payne: FACES of Birmingham
Tena Payne discovered her passion for creating pottery in high school, and she successfully turned that passion into a thriving business known as Earthborn Pottery. Today, she's our FACES of Birmingham feature.
Birmingham native Tena Payne was inspired in high school to check outΒ the world of pottery. It was an instant match, and sheβs been doing it ever since. Today, many folks eat up her work β¦ or rather, eat off of her work, as her gorgeous settings are found in some of the cityβs best restaurants. Today, Tena shares with us the things that inspire her, how she enjoys spending her free time and the best piece of advice sheβs ever been given. Welcome todayβs FACE of Birmingham!
Where did you grow up and what brought you to Birmingham?
Birmingham is my home. My early years were spent in West End, then we moved to HomewoodΒ in the early β70s during my highΒ school years.
How did you get your start as an artist?
My high Βschool art teacher brought in Dr. Lowell VannΒ from Samford University, who demonstrated βthrowingβ on the wheel. I was forever hooked. IΒ worked nights and weekends from that point forward, even to today.
How do you describe Earthborn Pottery to someone who is unfamiliar with it?
I want it to lookΒ like a rock thatβs been dug up and polished. Rugged edges, semiprecious gemΒstone colors,Β total functionality.
Being asked by Chris Hastings to feature your pottery in his restaurant, Hot and Hot Fish Club, was a huge breakthrough. How did this happen?
My husband and I were growing Shiitake mushrooms as a hobby and were getting huge yields,Β so I went downtown and knocked on the back of restaurant doors β¦ he was one of many whoΒ bought, but he had some broken pottery, and I told him Iβm a potter, too, which began theΒ conversation and collaboration that developed into what the product is today. He had alreadyΒ experienced using pottery when he was in California, so he knew what could happen. I didnβt. :Β)
Why do you think so many notable restaurants are using Earthborn Pottery in their diningΒ rooms?
Itβs a beautiful presentation ΒΒreally, a WOW look when put in front of customers. ItβsΒ extremely durable, so it actually adds to the bottom line, because theyβre not replacing it as often.Β And it makes people talk, which is one of the chefsβ best forms of advertisement.
Whatβs the best piece of advice youβve ever been given?
Never price your product too low. I was told that by a megaΒ producer of ceramics worldΒwide.Β Actually, when my rep showed my work to the Bellagio, he added 30 percent to my prices, and theyΒ still bought it. So all my prices had to go up relationally. And if it hadnβt, I wouldnβt be here today.
What upcoming local event are you most looking forward to?
Well itβs not till December, but The Blue Light Special is a fantastic event on so many levels. The artists are encouraged to bring seconds, which could be anything from a style theyβre notΒ doing anymore, to a chipped frame, fissured pot or any number of flaws, and artists canβt takeΒ those items to a show except for this show, where the savings are heartily embraced by theΒ public. Thereβs also a fundraiser at this event we call Empty Bowls. Our chefs donate the soupΒ and bread, and we donate the bowls. One can enjoy a gourmet lunch, keep the $50 bowl, all forΒ $25, which we donate to First Light Womenβs Shelter.
Favorite thing to do on a Saturday night?
Sip whiskey on the porch with my husband
Whatβs your favorite local restaurant?
What else could I say? Hot and Hot!
What books are you currently reading?
Iβm reΒreading Diana Galbadonβs Outlander series, treat historical fiction, and also Haruki Murakami β¦ΒΒ very different, interestingΒ readsΒΒ.
How do you enjoy spending free time?
We have a pair of Tennessee Walking Horses that we love to ride on trailsΒΒ wherever theyΒ are β¦ we travel with the animals and get to see places that not many people get to see. AΒ beautiful walk in the woods without the walk. And I love to solo whitewater canoe. Itβs a great placeΒ to rest your mind βcause you canβt think of anything but the riverΒΒ or youβre in it! Again, the walkΒ in the woods without the walk. Both are challenging, both physically and mentally.
Name three things you canβt live without, excluding faith, family and friends.
1. Fresh airΒΒ. Gotta breathe. I hate conferences and trade shows because of the βcanned air.β WeΒ live as close to nature as possible.
2. The autonomy and freedom to make and enact my decisions. When I have an idea, I wanna seeΒ it happen.
3. The ability to transform materials β¦ creative outlets. Iβve always got something going, whether itβsΒ a watercolor painting, flameworking or any other βmake something from nothingβ-typeΒ endeavor, ΒΒwhich captures the garden, too. It keeps my mind fresh with different perspectives.
Thanks, Tena! See more of Tenaβs work and learn more about Earthborn Pottery at the Earthborn Pottery website. In addition to being able to purchase the potteryΒ at the studio,Β itβs also available at Brombergβs and The Cook Store.
And many thanks to Meg McKinney for todayβs beautiful photographs. See more of Megβs work on her website, megmckinneyphotos.com.
