Rachel Jaffe is a "coastal craftswoman based in Virginia Beach. She specializes in ceramic arts, education and is a business owner. Her clay work, including her now infamous miniature mug jewelry recently made it's debut at Arrowmont's Showcase Gallery and Supply Store in Gatlinburg, TN. Rachel grew up in Northern Virginia and her family has deep roots here, in the early 1940s, her great grandfather, Solomon Jaffe opened a meat processing plant called the Suffolk Packing Company, which her grandfather Gerald helmed for another 40 years. In her own words:
"I craft functional and whimsical artwork to encourage play and conversation. My creations are intended to evoke a warm sense of home and meant to be touched, shared and cherished by all... My love for ceramics began in 2016, when my older sister, Julia, introduced me to this medium. She has always encouraged me to explore my artistic side and embrace the 3D world. As we explored and mucked around in our high school ceramics studio together, I became fascinated by the ability to shape earthen materials into lively creations. Thus began my clay journey. Much of my clay knowledge comes from, well, other clay people! I have learned so much through collaborating with other artists by sharing tools, techniques, and inspiration. I believe that art is meant to be shared and that the process of teaching and learning from others is an essential part of the creative process.Rather than pursuing a traditional academic path, I chose community studios as my learning environment. Before committing myself to ceramics, I briefly attended university in Pittsburgh, PA. Most of my time was not spent in the lecture halls. Instead, I ventured off-campus to a local community pottery studio, the Union Project, to satisfy my clay cravings. Later, I returned home to my job at Clay Cafe Studios in Falls Church, VA, where I shared my love of ceramics with elementary students. While teaching these young minds the wonders of clay, I also discovered new techniques and honed my skills as an artist. This experience served as a mutually beneficial opportunity for both myself and the children I taught.While I was accepted into art school, I ultimately decided not to attend. I chose to continue my education through more hands-on experiences. I adored teaching youth and continued my work at a local art center called River Tree Arts in Kennebunkport, ME. I had the wonderful opportunity to teach after school classes, connect with other artists, further develop my skills, and hone my personal style."
Find Rachel at a local market using the link below:
https://www.23beans.com/markets
Upcoming Markets 2023
July 22 // Christmas In July
5:00 - 9:00 PM@ Reaver Beach Brewing Co.3800 Colley Ave.Norfolk, VA 23508
Additional Resources:
https://www.arrowmont.org/store/
https://www.isjl.org/virginia-suffolk-encyclopedia.html
