Artist Bio
Historically, pottery has played a significant, yet often overlooked functional role in the lives of countless generations around the world. Traditional American pottery was often not fancy, nor pretty; it was functional and served a very specific purpose whether it be as a cooking vessel, drinking vessel, or storage vessel. Use of this pottery was often centered around the communal acts of cooking, eating, or sharing a drink.
Having been aesthetically drawn to early American pottery, I immediately identified with its simplicity. It has heft and substance to it. It was meant to be used on a daily basis by the common man. On a personal level, I identify with the craftsmen who labored hard digging, cleaning, throwing and firing the clay….often working alone, having been taught by their families; skills often passed on for generations. These early potters did not make art; they made wares. They made rudimentary things for daily use prior to refrigeration and mass-produced glassware. They made simple, functional and durable goods.
It was from this perspective that I created my first growler. The growler being a half-gallon beer jug whose purpose is to transport beer from the brewery to your home. The sense of community, friendship and camaraderie that can be formed and shared over such a communal vessel is paramount to the thought behind the creation of the ceramic growler. It is my intention that the growler play a role during that special time; a subtle, understated, and overlooked role…but an important role none-the-less as it contains not only the fruits of my labor, passion and hard work but also that of the brewer.
Like many of the potters before me, I am making simple, functional pots that can be used on a daily basis. It is my intention that they will be used and enjoyed by their owners, and not just put on a shelf. Through use, they will become part of those everyday interactions. They are quite simply Handmade Growlers for Handmade Beer.
Working within my own studio, nestled at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, I find that inspiration and innovation often come at times of intense concentration and during heavy production cycles. However, I also find solace and rejuvenation when I step out of the studio and into the clear skies of the mountains, while dipping my feet into an icy cold river or enjoying the slow pace of nature under the banner of the ever changing Big Sky.
I received my BA in Art Education from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, am currently a state licensed K – 12 Art Teacher and served proudly in the U.S. Army for a number of years.