Matthew Krousey - Host Potter
I use stoneware to create pots decorated with abstract landscapes, flora, and fauna of Minnesota. The pieces are fired in a salt kiln resulting in durable objects, imbued with great variation and depth. The finished pottery is natural and mysterious like the landscape they are inspired by.
Conceptually, I look to the regionalist artists of the early 20th century who documented the rural landscapes of America. I see myself as a modern day Regionalist working with clay. Aesthetically, I am constantly looking to the folk pottery from around the world and aim for a minimalist approach to convey meaning when decorating. Fewer lines give my compositions power and movement.
My hope is that the daily use of my pots will be a gentle reminder to the public of the vanishing natural world around us.
2785 Stark Rd, Harris, MN 55032
Showroom is always open
mkrouseyceramics@gmail.com
www.mkrouseyceramics.com
Visit Matthew's webshop
Dan Finnegan, Fredericksburg, VA
My work stands at the intersection of traditional and contemporary pottery. I have a particular interest in medieval European salt glaze and 17th century English slipware but my earliest work in clay was sculptural and those very disparate bodies of work continue to inform the pots that I make today.
Making pottery is a lifestyle choice as much as it is a career choice…it is an integrated way of living, where work and play and everyday life all dissolve into each other and that suits me. It also allows for a great deal of variety: not only do I make pots, but I teach workshops, exhibit and promote a show.
I enjoy the aesthetic challenges of making pots as well as the physical labor that being a potter and firing with wood entails. It is important to me that my work be finely crafted and made to a very high standard. I love the architectural qualities of clay, the permanence of stoneware, and the sweet magic that occurs when good pots, good food and good people come together!
danfinneganpottery@cox.net
danfinneganpottery.com
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Adam Gruetzmacher, Harris, MN
I make utilitarian pottery for everyday use. I am most influenced by craft objects that reflect the routines, values, and character of the makers and cultures in which they were made. I try to reference forms that are distilled and visually objective, aspiring to place the work closer to its root as a functioning tool. I embellish the surface of my work minimally with the goal of emphasizing the object’s architecture, facilitating an unobtrusive relationship with the space around it. This work represents my personal concepts and questions having to do with utility, our cultural values, and our relationships to the things we choose to surround ourselves with every day.
Matthew Metz, Alfred Station, NY
I make functional porcelain pottery, that is salt glazed. The pots are decorated with images that, hopefully, enliven the forms and the user’s experience.
I am inspired by the history of pottery. The best work, to me, builds on this recognizable history, but in an individual voice. Both the recognition of what you know (old pots), and what you don’t (an individual’s new approach) can combine to provide a deep and rewarding experience.
metzpottery@gmail.com
www.matthewmetzceramics.com
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Catie Miller, West Fargo, ND
Catie Miller’s work is recognized by the bright colors, playful patterning, and unexpected approach to traditional tableware. She brings vibrancy to routines and creates casual comfort in objects we choose to surround ourselves with. Graphic, simplified depictions of realism with symbolic patterning from the obscure to the obvious create charming and cluttered compositions. Looking at the work, one will see re-contextualized florals of her great-grandma’s bedsheets, her little boys searching for worms after the rain, her grandpa's pocket knife, and family pheasant hunting trips among many other ideas. She finds satisfaction knowing the stories she has integrated into her work will overlap, grow, and evolve as shared human experiences in someone else's home.
Hironobu "Nishi" Nishitateno, Loves Park, IL
My passion for making pottery springs from a desire to bring beauty and nature into daily life. I find inspiration everywhere I go, traveling with notebook in hand, sketching designs and shapes that can be incorporated into new works. My style is based on the simplicity and functionality of Japanese pottery, using natural materials and colors typical in nature. It is my belief that pottery should not be the center of attention on the dinner table; it should be simple and attractive, while discreetly adding to the delicious appearance of the food. I strive to create pottery that resonates with me and brings out my inner peace. It is my hope that the natural simplicity of my pottery can bring the same peace to others.
The entire process of creating a work of art excites me. My favorite tools are my hands. I love feeling the subtleties of the clay, in which slight changes bring out the wonders and beauty of the material and make a great impact on the final piece. I strive to incorporate the characteristics of the clay, such as flecks of iron, so that they are not hidden but honored. The potter’s wheel inspires me to add textures like spirals where glaze can naturally pool during firing. The kiln brings about a surprise ending, as the fire is variant by nature and can lend unexpected character to the final piece. My most exciting challenge in pottery is the precision required at every step to achieve an aura in the finished piece. I feel satisfaction when the character of the clay bursts forth with momentum while expressing my intention for the work, conveying a powerful emotion to onlookers.
info@nantenpottery.com
www.nantenpottery.com
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Kip O' Krongly, Northfield, MN
Through my ceramic work I enjoy the process of visually wrestling with contemporary issues on beautiful daily-use objects–creating functional art that by its very nature compels repeated scrutiny. I work with earthenware clay, slips, underglazes, and image transfers to create colorful pieces that offer a space for joyful daily reflection. I hope with regular rotation of these pots through everyday moments, users will peel back the layers of my pots, open dialog with those who share their tables and explore how the present can influence our collective future.
Hitomi Shibata, Seagrove, NC
I create ceramic art using locally sourced wild clays from North Carolina, capturing the rich palette of natural colors. My artistic process avoids the use of machine-made elements, relying instead on my hands, simple tools, natural materials, and wood firing techniques. This approach not only preserves the unique qualities of nature but also contributes to sustainability. Drawing inspiration from the rich traditions of Japanese pottery and American ceramics, I harmoniously blend these influences to reflect my personal experiences and interests. This artistic journey is a lifelong experiment, where I merge the essence of Japanese and American cultures.
hitomishibata@gmail.com
www.studiotouya.com
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Takuro Shibata, Seagrove, NC
Nature is vast, captivating, and at times, intimidating, reminding us of our inability to control it completely. I find solace in embracing the harmonious coexistence with nature. As a Japanese ceramicist, it is only natural to harness the essence of local clay, an abundant source of inspiration rooted in the unique qualities of the material.
My artistic journey revolves around the use of wild clay, untouched and unrefined, drawn straight from the earth. In tandem, I consciously opt for a wood-firing process, thoughtfully utilizing reclaimed wood from local sawmills and branches and dead trees from our land to fuel our wood kiln. This method is inherently unpredictable, mirroring the capriciousness of nature itself. I wholeheartedly embrace this unpredictability as an integral facet of the natural world I seek to capture, and I find immense joy in it.
My work aims to forge a profound connection between viewers and the intrinsic beauty and unpredictability of nature. Through tactile experiences with ever-changing elements, whether embodied in functional ceramic pieces or sculptural works, I aspire to elevate the mundane into the extraordinary. My goal is to not only accentuate the beauty of food and flowers with my work but also enrich the lives of those who use them, fostering a deeper connection to the surrounding natural world.
Jason Trebs, Schroeder, MN
Pottery continues to provide me with an outlet for curiosity and a way to generate enthusiasm. It is relaxing and engaging at the same time. I find happiness through self motivation and an insatiable need to make and understand things. I express my ideas through straightforward, simple shapes and understated glazing. I make use of the qualities inherent in clay. I want the making of each piece take its own direction while still relating to the ones that were made before and after it. I often find that the best pots have veered off path and are more of a result of gut reactions and things outside of my intentions.