From the Earth to the Fire

While working on my undergraduate degree in sculpture and as a Art Department Assistant at Monmouth College, we built a pottery studio and kiln as an additional course of study for the Art Department. After taking my first course from instructor Greg Piper (now living in Fish Creek Wisconsin Door County) I was hooked. That was 1975-77. I've been lucky enough throughout my career on college campuses to have access to pottery studios so I could continue learning and evolving. About a year before Ken Bichell moved to Dubuque, I wanted to open a studio here. Since he did it first, I just joined Mississippi Mud. Luckily, as Ken wished to return to school I was able through my business relationship with Tom Kane at Fountain Park to purcahse Mississippi Mud and moved the studio to a rennovated space on the Fountain Park Campus, where we are now located. The new studio area is about a third bigger than the Bluff street location so I have had my hands busy with rennovation, electrical and plumbing instead of clay. But it is a small price to pay to keep the studio going and "in the family."
 
Since I already operated Mississippi Mud Clay Supplies serving area potters, local school districts and others, it was easy to also add this element to the new studio operation.

 (click any image to enlarge for slide show)