THE ART OF POTTERY, CERAMICS & GLASS

Mary Downham

Mary has “played” with clay for years. Her pottery is a combination of functional and decorative items and also includes raku and primitive fired pieces.

April Keilen

April’s pottery is hand-thrown, functional and decorative. She loves to create pods and leaves in her work. Nature is always an inspiration. Enjoy.

Rick Tresselt

For the past thirty years Rick’s interests have been varied in several creative fields from displays, theater sets, teaching and graphic design. Six years ago his daughter steered him towards exploring pottery through an adult community class. This helped him rekindle his interest in clay from his days at college. Now Rick explores the boundaries of clay bodies with unique and sometimes functional forms. He has yet to define a certain look realizing the art of pottery can be a journey full of creative paths. You might find similar shaped pieces done both in Raku and in stoneware. He does this to examine the aesthetics of his designs through the different glazes and processes. In the future he hopes to investigate using found objects and materials not common to pottery for more unusual designs.

Midori Marcum

Midori, hailing from Japan, uses her experiences to create unique, functional pieces that are intended for everyday use, not just for sitting on your shelf at home collecting dust. Each piece she creates has a special feeling for Midori and she hopes you will also feel that same connection to her pieces.

Pat Barnum

In Pat’s glass studio on Woman Lake, he creates a variety of traditional stained glass home accessories from sun catchers to lamp shades to custom window inserts. Over the last few years, Pat started working with a kiln to create fused glass pieces. When not fishing, he can be found in his studio creating new pieces or supervising his grandchildren’s stained glass work.

Colleen Moravec

Colleen Moravec’s interest in mosaic evolved out of residential tile projects in her home. She learned the basics of cutting, setting, and grouting tile in this environment. When she ran out of spaces to tile in her home, she turned to mosaic art as a creative outlet. She recently retired from the corporate world and considers herself an emerging mosaic artist in this community.

She has traveled to Massachusetts and Western Wisconsin to study with accomplished mosaic artists and learn new techniques, including the construction of 3D concrete structures as a base for her mosaic designs.

Her mosaics incorporate stained glass, vitreous glass tiles, jewelry, shells, rocks, broken dishes, and any durable “found” object that fits her theme. She especially enjoys designs that reflect the natural beauty of Northern Minnesota. The beauty of the birds, trees, flowers, water, and sky provide constant inspiration. Each new piece begins as a blank slate – a challenging puzzle to assemble – and then as the pieces come together, the picture emerges. Colleen finds it to be a fascinating and fulfilling process.

She also likes the durability of mosaic once it’s completed and this is reflected in the variety of items she produces – wall art (to place indoors or outdoors), garden art, and upcycled furniture. She also offers custom mosaic designs to be permanently installed as a kitchen or bathroom backsplash, a fireplace surround, in a shower, and so on.

Linda Holliday

Linda Holliday creates beautiful functional pots to be used throughout the home. They are designed to be filled with fine coffee, tea or wine; to serve a refreshing summer salad or a warm pot of winter soup; to prepare and serve a favorite casserole (or Hot Dish as we say here in Minnesota); to offer yarn to the knitter; or to display a fresh bouquet of flowers.

Her pots are wheel-thrown and altered using a variety of techniques. They are bisque fired, glazed and then fired again in an electric kiln to a temperature of over 2,200 degrees. They are all food, oven and microwave safe. If you break one, don’t fret. Just throw it away (or build a mosaic stepping stone for your garden) and get a new one!

According to Linda, “To see a beautiful pot is a wonder, to touch a beautiful pot is a gift, to use a beautiful pot is a blessing, and to make a beautiful pot is just a necessary lifetime pursuit.”