 A wall of welcome. That's what greets you when you walk into Ruth Caitland's "Silverton Artworks" gallery. The charming little building on Blair Street, which dates to the turn of the century, wraps you in feelings of peace and relaxation. Once a bottleworks, the little house is now Ruth's home, shop and studio. Inside, gentle music andbouquets of dried flowers add to the serene atmosphere.
In the center of the shop area, Ruth's "Cadillac of looms" waits for her nimble fingers. She is its fourth owner. Originally from Sweden, it started its American sojourn in Cranberry Island, Maine, and has been working its way west ever since.
Behind the shop, which is a showcase for Ruth's delightful pots and whimsical baskets - their handles are made form locally collected, water-worn driftwood - is Ruth's studio. Doubling as her "living room," the studio houses her kiln and work area in onecorner, and ceiling-high bookshelves in another. Floor to ceiling windows look out toward the magnificent mountains.
"It's hard to leave sometimes," says Ruth, who's worked and lived here for 16 years. "I just like to do what I do, and I love living here."
San Juan Silver Stage; July 1, 1997
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