Milwaukee potter Beth Eaton and 12 predominantly local artists will collaborate throughout 2021 and release a different astrological sign mug starting with Pisces.

Eaton makes the mugs and it is up to each artist to design the zodiac sign however they desire.

"It could be anything: funny or gross or serious, whatever the artist wanted," says Eaton. "Then I make their design into a stamp and imprint them on mugs."

The first mug, Pisces, was created by Eleanor Hazard aka Peach Beast. Her depiction of the water sign features a freckled figure with a third eye and with a playful psychedelic look and feel. (I dig it!)

Upcoming artists involved in the project include David Arnevik, Renee Luna Bebeau, Rachel Duggan, dwellephant, Yessica Jimenez, Lauren Marvell, Amy O'Neill, Kristopher Pollock, Gabriela Riveros, Tom Stack and Amanda Tollefson.

The mugs cost $36 and will be available starting Friday, Feb. 19, which is the first day of the Pisces season (it runs through March 20). People can pre-order them on Instagram or Facebook. As of the 19th, they will also be for sale at Eaton's pottery studio in Bay View where she enforces limited customers at one time and mandatory mask wearing.

Eaton hopes to include some of the designers in the glazing process, depending on the state of the pandemic. Originally, the plan was to have a monthly party in her studio space to release each new zodiac mug, but is now considering an end-of-the-year celebration when all of the mugs are finished and, hopefully, public health will be in a better place. 

"It’s fun to work with other people. I'm always working in my studio by myself and so one of my goals is to figure out ways to work with other artists," says Eaton, who, by the way, is a Virgo. "And I really like getting to know more artsy people."