M4 Studios, Where the Pottery Trail Began

Pottery TrailPotteryWashington CountySouth Mountain ArtistStudio Tour

Mar 8

M4 Studios, run by artist and potter Kirke Martin, is located in scenic Keedysville, Maryland, a few minutes’ drive from Antietam National Battlefield and John Brown’s House. M4 Studios is also the birthplace of the Washington County Pottery Trail.

Kirke conceived the idea of connecting potters to each other and increasing their visibility. He reached out to Visit Hagerstown and to the professional potters in his area. Within a month, the pottery trail was created. Kirke Martin of M4 Studios is one of 10 featured pottery artists along the Washington County Pottery Trail.

The name “M4 Studios” is an intentional name layered with meaning. The name like Kirke’s orientation, has family at its core. He is Kirke Martin IV, and he is one of four siblings. His maker’s mark is fittingly “IV”.

One of Kirke’s greatest joys as an artist is hearing his customer’s stories. They share how his pottery plays an integral part in their daily lives, and he builds intimate connections with them through these conversations.

Kirke makes pottery using two types of kilns: electric kilns inside his studio, where he fires the clay in a controlled, more predictable environment, and a wood-fired tube kiln, built outdoors in the style of the early American kilns that were used in this region.

By maintaining and using the tube kiln Kirke is continuing an age-old tradition. It requires a month of planning and effort to fire pottery in the tube kiln — crafting 600 individual pieces from clay and rounding up enough firewood to keep the kiln’s internal temperature at 1400 degrees Fahrenheit. The tube kiln is how Kirke explores the outer realms of his artistic vision and pushes the limits of how clay and fire coalesce as stoneware or decorative art. The resulting pottery of each kiln is distinctive, and like a well-tuned musician, Kirke carries his flair into each piece he creates.

M4’s Roadside Gallery presents an organized collection of pottery in a an open market style. Visitors will will find a wide array of Kirke’s pottery from functional wares like cups, bowls, and plates to unique decor and collectible pieces such as vases and decorative clay sculptures .

Going inside the M4 Studios Gallery, one experiences a zen-like aesthetic. Tranquility and a sophisticated practice of minimalism creates a soothing atmosphere. The arrangement of the works arouses curiosity, inviting the eye to go deeper and experience each piece as it is presented. The gallery houses a larger collection of functional as well as artistic expressionistic pottery.

The works of four artists are arranged in the M4 Studio Gallery. In addition to Kirke’s pottery the gallery features the work of his partner and artist Kesra Hoffman. Kesra’s nature-based watercolor paintings add dimension warmth to the space. Alan Clingan is the woodworker of the group, and his shelves, cabinets, and serving boards are exhibited as functional displays. Noticeably featured in the gallery are ceramics and handmade brooms by Joy Bridy. Adjoining the gallery is Kirke’s working studio.

Kirke states that he has always had a vision of a gallery that ran on the honor system, where customers would exchange payment for the items based on an inherent trust. The challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic crated an opportunity. Kirke conferred with his fellow gallery artists and created a contactless shopping experience where customers pay using the honor system. The Roadside Gallery and M4 Studios Gallery continue to operate daily on this approach. Kirke is often available in his studio for questions or to meet his customers.

Kirke Martin outlining the pottery trail on a map

M4 Studios is one of 10 pottery studios in the Appalachian foothills that make up the south western corridor of South Mountain. Touring the studios along the Washington County Pottery Trail is a delightful way to meet and enjoy 10 different artists and 10 different approaches to pottery. “When an artist creates in collaboration with the spirit of their location, it becomes a treasure of a lifetime,” says Betsy De Vore, Director of Marketing for Visit Hagerstown and Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

For More Information

M4 Studios and artist Kirke Martin

The Roadside Gallery and M4 Studios Gallery are open daily from dawn until dusk. Contactless payments are made through Venmo and via credit card by phone.

Phone: (410) 739-9016

Instagram: @m4studios

Studio Location: 4803 Mt Briar Rd, Keedysville, MD 21756