Baitpond Pottery is in the small town of Eatonton, Georgia deep in the Heart of the Deep South near the homes of B'rer Rabbit, B'rer Fox, B'rer B'ar and others of the old Uncle Remus tales. All were from around here, along with Joel Chandler Harris, the newspaperman who first put them to print. Come to think of it, we're not that far from the Okefenokee Swamp either. Pogo, Albert, Churchy and even Deacon Mushrat figured prominently in my early years. Maybe somehow all of this ties together...

During the 1950's, the story goes, there was a bait farm here. It supplied red wigglers and crickets, using water from its quiet little pond to keep beds of the ill fated creatures moist and comfortable. The bait farmer sold his wares, according to the lore, via mail order to fishing tackle and bait shops around the Old South.

Today, the bait farm is gone. Neat new houses with manicured lawns and shiny SUV's in driveways overlook the pond. The streets are paved. Not many know the past role of this contemporary neighborhood -- including many who live here. But thankfully, the pond and many of its natural inhabitants remain -- distant relatives of B'rer Rabbit and Pogo I imagine. For most of my own life I have derived an inner peace from places like this. Sometimes I have to try and look past the many "improved" parts (as land developers like to put it) of the changing World. The pond is still a wonderful place, worthy in my opinion of bearing the name of the venue of my pottery making, which is also very dear to me.

My name is Fred Parker. I am the potter of Baitpond Pottery. Making objects from clay came to me after a lifetime spent in various manifestations of the Arts. I began in Architecture where I spent most of my career. Later I taught metal sculpture as a sideline. Photography and music have also been in the mix, although it is three-dimensional art that attracts the greatest. I think it has something to do with curved surfaces. The truth is, I never expected to become a potter. It "just happened," as they say. Frankly, I am very glad it did.

Sometimes, life turns out to be a surprisingly strange adventure...