Have you seen stray pottery on the streets of SF recently? Here's why.

Potter Reese Kolar has been "dropping" his pottery creations around San Francisco. Potter Reese Kolar has been "dropping" his pottery creations around San Francisco. Photo: Courtesy Reese Kolar/@reesekolar Photo: Courtesy Reese Kolar/@reesekolar Image 1 of / 17 Caption Close Have you seen stray pottery on the streets of SF recently? Here's why. 1 / 17 Back to Gallery

Most San Franciscans are wary of unexpected, shall we say, treasures on the city's sidewalks. But tread carefully if you're strolling around the Richmond District.

Reese Kolar, a 29-year-old potter and teaching assistant at Sharon Art Studio, has been leaving his inspired mugs, vases and other handmade creations around his neighborhood for unsuspecting flaneurs to find.

"I simply had too much pottery to carry and nowhere to put it," said Kolar, a longtime San Francisco resident. "Most of them are older pieces that I didn't really want to sell to anyone and just wanted someone to appreciate simply for what they were and not for who made them or how much they paid."

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The project began as a practical one. Kolar is moving from his current residence and studio on 16th Avenue to a new spot on 23rd.

Since he started his pottery "drops" a few weeks ago, Kolar estimates he scattered about 20 works, mostly on the corners around Balboa and 16th, but "it still doesn't feel like I've even made a dent in my collection."

So he plans to persist in his altruistic project.

"I hope to keep leaving them around as long as I'm still making pottery... and I hope to be making pottery for the rest of my life," he said.

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Kolar, who posts about his pottery drops on his Instagram, has yet to hear from someone who unwittingly found his art on the sidewalk. He hopes to keep it that way.

"For me, [leaving the pottery] is a release. All these pieces remind me of something I did wrong, or a glaze that didn't quite work for me." A stranger will likely look at them differently, without the discerning eyes of their creator.

"Obviously it's romantic to think it will end up somewhere with someone who will love it," Kolar continued, "but at the end of the day, if it ends up broken or hidden in someone's pile of junk for years, that's fine by me too."

When asked to leave a hint for those seeking out his pottery, Kolar said one could likely find it on a street corner. You can also find it, for sale, at Foggy Notion (124 Clement St.) or by contacting Kolar through his Instagram (@kolarceramics) or website (kolarceramics.com). Pieces range in price from $60 to $120.

Read Michelle Robertson's latest stories and send her news tips at mrobertson@sfchronicle.com.

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