Collaboration is integral to the work we do at Heath. Few things are more gratifying to us—as designers, makers, and sellers of goods that people love—than meeting and working with others who share our principles and expand our perspective on craft and creativity. We’ve been lucky enough to forge many such partnerships over the years, whether we’re co-developing new products with folks like Alice Waters and Natalie Chanin, sharing inspiration with our Partners in Craft for a seasonal collection, or hosting likeminded makers, vendors, and curators for gatherings and events. We’ve been admiring the work happening at Salmon Creek for years, and we knew the best way to support their cause was through what we know best: our craft. Needless to say, the results are something special.
You might describe Salmon Creek as an “arts education non-profit,” but that sounds a little dry—and hardly begins to explain what the organization is all about. First established as a counterculture commune back in 1971, the property—33 acres of pristine redwood forest on the Mendocino coast—has transformed into a living art project (or, as they describe it, a “sort of queered commune-farm-homestead-school”) under the leadership of renowned artist Fritz Haeg. Fritz purchased the disused property in 2014, and began revitalizing the land and lodgings to host artist retreats, workshops, and classes with an emphasis on living and creating communally and reconnecting with nature.
The Salmon Creek Sharing Set.
Each piece of the Sharing Set is stamped with Salmon Creek insignia.
The cabin trims are painted in bright pops of color.
The cabin trims are painted in bright pops of color.
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Much of Fritz’s work is driven by an intense interest in ecology: edible gardens, “rewilding” projects, and architectural efforts to support wildlife in cities. For Fritz, Salmon Creek was both a new beginning (he’d been based in LA before the big move) and a continuation of his life’s work: “Salmon Creek is the culmination of everything I’ve been doing... I was eager to be settled in a rural location, and I specifically chose this property because it had a history that I could pick up and share with others.” As it turns out, that fascination with rootedness was what brought Salmon Creek and Heath together.
Several years ago, Fritz and his team were fixing up a concrete grill (a gift from Alice Waters, coincidentally), when some friends dropped by with a car full of overstock tile from Heath to help. Those friends—Jay Ezra Nayssan and Max Goldstein—later enlisted Fritz’s help in renovating their home: Gardenseal Ranch, which is another stunning example of what happens when creative people get their hands on overstock Heath tile. Fritz did some digging into the history of Heath, and took an interest in the clay pit that Edith found back in the forties (still in use today): “I just found it so compelling, the connection between a piece of land and an art practice. That’s what Salmon Creek is all about.”
“The artists who come to us are responding directly to the land. They’re not just anywhere; they’re having a specific experience in a specific place.”
Master Glazer Winnie Crittenden developed the technique to mimic the texture of the redwoods that surround the property.
Each piece in the Sharing Set was glazed by Winnie.
Salmon Creek Farm is surrounded by iconic California redwood trees.
The exterior texture mimics the bark of a California redwood.
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Soon, we began brainstorming a collaboration. After a visit to the showroom, Fritz and Chef Gerardo Gonzales—who runs Salmon Creek’s food program—came up with the idea for the Sharing Set. “We always serve food family-style with big platters at Salmon Creek. Every night, no matter what’s going on, we have a communal meal, so these specific shapes made sense.” To honor the land and the history of the place, they worked with Heath’s Master Glazer, Winnie Crittenden, to develop the Sharing Set’s unique look. The glossy interiors pay tribute to the colorful trims of the cabins that were built back in the ‘70s, while the exteriors—the result of significant experimentation—emulate the look and feel of the surrounding redwoods.
As Fritz puts it, “redwood bark is so particular... Those rich umbers—it almost feels like it glows from within. Somehow, Winnie was able to capture that.” Each of the nine sets (plus a limited number of Mini Bowls, available separately) were hand-glazed by Winnie and feature “Salmon Creek Farm” stamps that feature handwriting taken from commune meeting minutes dating back decades.
We’re so thrilled to share these pieces with you—and to support the amazing work that Salmon Creek is doing. The organization formally registered as a non-profit last year, and just finished the very first session of their school program (Schools of Salmon Creek), which offers two-month sessions to artists looking to develop their practice in an idyllic, communal setting. Their second session will run from September and October, and—in case you’re interested in a first-hand look at what Salmon Creek is all about—they’ll be announcing their full schedule of workshops, school programs, and retreat rentals toward the end of this year.
A portion of the proceeds from this collaborative collection (including the nine Sharing Sets, plus a small number of Mini Bowls in a limited glaze) will go toward helping Fritz and his team continue their environmental and educational stewardship. If you’re as inspired by the Salmon Creek project as we are, now’s your chance to support their work—and add something truly unique to your Heath collection.
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