NBC Pottery holds its annual studio sale
By Kathleen Reynolds
NAPA VALLEY, Calif. — The owners of NBC Pottery in Angwin, Nikki Ballere and her husband, William Callnan, know the artistic connection between fine dining and pottery. Dish designs from their studio grace the tables at Meadowood, the French Laundry, the Four Seasons Resort and Residences in Calistoga, the renovated Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort and Mineral Springs and the Montage in Healdsburg, among others.
“Chefs have a vision of how they want food plated and presented,” Ballere said. “They want the dish to tell a story, and the look of the plate and food creates that story. It’s fun to work with the chefs refining what they want and watching it happen. I refer to our style as organic with a rustic flair.”
If visits to those luxury restaurants aren’t on your holiday agenda, you can still see and purchase these high-end culinary creations and many more items at the NBC Pottery Annual Studio Sale, Dec. 2 and 3, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at their studio, 410 Circle Drive, Angwin, and at their NBC Pottery & Friends Pop-Up Sale, which includes a dozen local artists in different mediums, on Dec. 17 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., also at their studio. The sale will include jewelry, vintage clothing and macramé. The gallery will also feature an all-media exhibit of artwork by Callnan. Both events will have live music and refreshments.
Ballere and Callnan didn’t imagine that one day they would make tableware for famous chefs and cookbook authors, Martha Stewart included.
A native of the Bay Area, Ballere began her ceramics training at Sierra Nevada College. In 1997, she and Callnan met there in a ceramics class. When Callnan moved east to pursue his fine arts degree at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University in Boston, she secured a position as a teaching assistant in the ceramics department there.
Thirteen years ago they returned to the Bay Area and discovered Angwin through an artist friend. They built a small studio at their home, and Ballere worked as an instructional assistant in the ceramics studio at Napa Valley College. She earned her MFA from San Jose State University.
About the same time another artist friend, Jamie Graff, was starting a nonprofit arts organization, Nimbus Arts, dedicated to making art accessible to all in the Napa Valley. Graff hired Ballere to be their first instructor. Both Ballere and Callnan currently lend their teaching expertise to Nimbus.
“Nikki was instrumental with our artistic vision,” said Graff, now the executive director. “She still teaches and continues with the creative development team for our annual fundraiser, Nimbash. I love what they’re doing and seeing their world develop, both as a family and as a major creative force in Napa Valley.”
NBC Pottery does little to no advertising, instead relying on word of mouth, Instagram and Facebook. Ballere was, therefore, surprised in 2011 to receive an email from Boris Portnoy, the Restaurant at Meadowood’s chief pastry chef at the time, asking to see samples of their tableware.
“The last piece I showed the chefs was what we call EarthWare, which has a smooth inner space with a raw, textured edge,” Ballere said. “They got excited and wanted that design.”
The couple’s low-key approach paid off, with word of mouth spreading from one fine-dining restaurant to others and soon adding resorts and wineries to their client list. Now they create their plates, vases, vessels, platters and trays out of a 1,500-square-foot studio close to their home.
Although Angwin may be off the beaten track for most visitors to Napa, Ballere and Callnan have found a way to make that an advantage. They host “Clay Experiences,” corporate team-building and group events that include hands-on clay work and demonstrations.
“It’s been great for us,” said Ballere. “People want experiences in Napa Valley that may not only involve wine-tasting. Guests have come from all over the world to share the beauty of Howell Mountain. We have the best views in the valley, but a lot of people don’t make it to Angwin. There are great hiking trails around here they can add to their art adventure. It’s unique, and they have a completed work at the end of the day.”
“We tell them it’s worth the drive and that we have a wide range of art,” said Callnan. “We have a wide budget, too. There are pieces in all price ranges, starting at under $30.”
Ballere and Callnan have two children, ages 8 and 11, who have been raised in and around art.
“Art is the children’s foundation,” Ballere said. “It’s like a second language. They see the process and all that goes into it as we explain and share it. They’ve grown up around other artists and chefs. My daughter and I stopped at the French Laundry the other day while the staff was eating, and Thomas Keller invited us to join them. They see the kitchens and meet the chefs. It lets them know what goes into it. The children experience making art on so many levels.”
Ballere says that life is good.
“We pinch ourselves,” she said. “We’re grateful that chefs are interested. They are artists, too, and, like us, always want to do something better the next time. We’re fortunate that we can make our work professionally.”
NBC Pottery Gallery & Studio is open by appointment. The owners can also schedule a virtual tour for those not in the area. To schedule an appointment, email info@nbcpottery.com or call 707-965-4622.
Kathleen Reynolds is a Napa Valley-based journalist.
Nikki & Will embody the sense of art on a high level, matched by their genuine zest for life and their sweet kindness. Success seems not their goal, creating and being true to their spirit is their mantra .. and I so love their precious children.
Thanks for the great feature on Will & Nikki! Love them and all they have contributed to enrich our community.
Can we have some more coverage of working artists in the Valley?