March 31, 2025 By Carol Britton Meyer
Welcome to “Five Minutes With” – Anchor’s new feature to help us get to know our neighbors. Everyone has a unique story to tell, so let’s get to know each other a bit more! Have someone you’d love to spend five minutes getting to know? Email us at info@hinghamanchor.com.
Carol Britton Meyer recently connected with potter Ellen Hanson, a member of the Artisans in the Square in downtown Hingham (@elle_hanson_pottery). You can learn more about Ellen below — the process involved in what she creates, her favorite local spot, and what she enjoys doing in her spare time!
What Artisans in the Square is all about: Artisans in the Square is a member-owned, member-run co-op that has been in downtown Hingham for 15 years and promotes creativity and supports artist livelihoods. Our mission is to connect local artists with the community, offering one-of-a-kind pieces that tell a story.
What do you offer for sale at the shop? Currently we have 12 artisans. Every artisan works and is involved in decision making for the store. Each one has their own specialty — currently, we have painting, photography, weaving, jewelry making, paper making, needle felting and soap making as well as pottery.
Is there a special process involved in what you create? Pottery usually requires a number of years of training. I mainly do wheel-throwing, with some hand-building. This requires a pottery wheel, lots of clay, multiple pottery tools, glazes, and a large kiln to fire the pieces — among many other things. You need to have a sense of humor to be a potter as well –things can often go wrong during the many steps, and you just have to laugh and move on.
What makes your and other artisans’ work special and unique: Everyone has a special talent and loves what they do — we are all here because we love to be part of the community and work together to share our art.
Your favorite part of being a member of the Artisans: I think that being in a 12-person co-op requires a certain kind of person — we need to make many decisions as a group and come to a consensus. All of the members are very caring, considerate, and easy to work with. There is also always someone to bounce an idea off of, to help fill in for your workday if needed (we each work 2-3 days per month) and to give feedback. It’s really a wonderful, supportive, and very talented group.
Do you have any pet(s) and a little about them? We currently have two dogs, a crazy cat, two dragon lizards, and a fish. We love them all!
What makes Hingham unique? I love how Hingham supports local artisans. We would not have made it 15 years without all of our regular and new patrons. Of course, we are also so lucky to have so many outdoor places to enjoy — parks, the ocean, and downtown.
What do you enjoy most doing in your spare time? I am pretty active. I love to travel, run, ski, go boating, throw pottery, and hang out with family and friends. I also am very involved with the Jett Foundation for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
Favorite Hingham restaurant and meal: It depends on the meal and the day . . . but the Bloomy Rind never disappoints and the cucumber martini at the Square Cafe (with vodka, not gin!) is my favorite special occasion drink.
Favorite Hingham spot: my house (preferably in my studio!), and the Artisans in the Square, of course.
Favorite vacation destination: We travel a lot so hard to pick, but my son and I just got back from a few weeks in Bhutan, which was just amazing.
Do you have a hidden talent? I am a really good slalom water skier . . . (don’t get to pull that one out too much!)
Interesting fact about yourself that others may not know about: When I retire, I am planning on doing a lot more pottery!
