At this point in life I feel I’ve come full circle.  My degree from university of Iowa was Art with major emphasis in ceramics…my first studio in 1973 was at the family farm in Kansas as my dad had just purchased it from my grandmother.  My first studio was in the chicken house with a kick wheel that was given to me by a fellow student.  I dug clay from the farm and mixed with my feet.  Built a salt glaze kiln from salvage brick from Pittsburg salvage yard..lived off the land.  The true “hippie life” minus the drugs.   Later after marriage and moving to a smaller farm near Fort Scott —and giving birth to the amazing Billie Jean -I found a small rental property in fort Scott and opened “Bourbon County Pottery”.  Interesting to begin a business with a 17month old child!  She was actually a great assistant.

 

Too many hats so decided to start a wholesale business where I would just make sales trips to gourmet cooking/ gift type shops.  Then return to the studio to produce the orders.

 

Tulsa home/studio had a great start and I displayed at a booth in Mayfest—-met an artist who saw one of my pieces and asked if I like to work large scale??  Of course, I said “yes” and called the contact, an Acme brick regional manager and architect. The rest is history.  My first project in 1981 ended up being the largest:  an 84’ by 10’ stylized carved brick “Landscape”.  After being offered a scholarship to work on my Masters Degree in ceramics, I moved to Denton Texas …never finished the Masters program as I was too busy creating bas reliefs in brick.  From 1981/2 through 2022 I created well over 200 bas reliefs in brick and 3 bronze projects.  I purchased a Piper Comanche to travel to job sites, meetings and to carve in plants in other states. Also became an instrument rated pilot.

 

In 2018, My mother passed away and I paid my brother for the family farm West of Hiattville, Kansas.   I have turned my Grandparents chicken house into a my clay studio (and wood workshop).  Returning not only to the land that was originally purchased by my great grandparents in 1869, but returning to the potters wheel and continue to “play with clay”.   My love of nature and immersion in the wonder of our earth continue to inspire my hands.

 

So thankful for AFG!