Ocean Beach area is often congested with curious pedestrians moseying down sidewalks, looking to buy an original gift at a reasonable price. This is not a foreign strategy since the community is known for its hole-in-the-wall shops with one-of-a-kind goods and antiques. These days, however, Los Angeles clothing lines and upscale jewelry stores are cramming “” no longer creeping “” their way onto Newport Avenue. And while traveling to faraway lands in search of unique gifts is not a feasible alternative to mass-marketed fare, that singular item you’ve been searching for is not as distant as you may have thought.
Dan Forster and his wife, Barbara, have brought Poland’s unique pottery to Ocean Beach. They sell the imported goods at Rock Paper Scissors, a sort of collective for independent artisans.
Forster, a native Point Loman, has spent plenty of time globetrotting. For many years Forster knew he wanted to eventually work abroad and bring his family with him.
In 1998, he began an 18-month assignment in Poland under the sponsorship of the U.S. Embassy. His job was to supervise and assess local government municipalities in 12 cities around Poland. It was a big project, but Forster was thrilled to be a part of it. During that time, his children experienced the culture while attending an American school.
Prohibited from working without a permit, Barbara Forster volunteered at the Warsaw University American Studies Library, where Forster said locals were thrilled to have a “real American librarian.”
Forster said that the lifestyle of unemployed spouses included volunteer work and social outings as well as shopping for affordable goods, which is how the Forsters happened upon the country’s traditional pottery.
Pottery, a cherished Polish folk-art, has been rooted in tradition for centuries. The particular stoneware that Forster imports comes from the western town of Boleslawiec, where this artistic endeavor began nearly 300 years ago.
“They have a very special type of clay, which is actually mined there in a small village,” Forster said. That fact alone bestows higher value in the actual process of making stoneware and its overall authenticity.
When Dan’s time at the embassy ended, the Forsters bought as much pottery as shipping would allow, not knowing what a stir the blue-and-white bakeware would make back home.
“Everyone we had to our home saw the pottery and fell in love with the shapes, patterns and quality,” Forster said. “It wasn’t in stores, and we gasped at the prices found in just one catalog.”
Three years ago, Forster decided to see if he could make a business out of it. The couple now live in Point Loma and while both work day jobs, interest in the Polish goods continues to flourish. For some time, they were strictly selling the pottery at craft fairs, street markets and home shows. But they grew tired of the tedious task of wrapping and unwrapping hundreds of pieces each day. Then they stumbled upon Ocean Beach’s Rock Paper Scissors International Galleria, located at 4976 Newport Ave.
The stoneware on display includes dinner plates, serving platters, candle holders, ladles, gravy bowls, cookie jars and, of course, casserole dishes. The blue-dot pattern is unique to the western region of Poland, where the pottery is created, and is inspired by the eye of the peacock feather, said Forster.
“It was the only pattern practiced and passed down through generations until only 10 or 15 years ago. That’s when the Polish pottery makers began to explore more variety in designs,” he added.
The assortment of distinctive patterns has undoubtedly become the object of many observers’ fascination and adoration. It is lead-free and suits every cooking style since it can be placed in the oven, microwave and dishwasher.
It seems that the Polish have successfully merged the cooking pan, the hotpad and the vibrant centerpiece into one brilliantly designed concept. And because of the Forsters, peninsula residents can share in the international treasure.
To view sample pieces of Polish pottery or learn more about Point Loma Importers, visit www.members.cox.net/plmporters/.