The Spotlight May 15, 2009

For today’s Spotlight I decided to feature myself,  Jeff Guin.  This was basically done out of neccessity. I have been too busy with work and preparing for an upcoming show to search out a new local area artist, so it is me for this week.  But, before I start talking about me and my pottery I’d like to post some other notes from my notebook.

Tonight at The Pump House there is a reception for the La Crosse Public High School Exhibit.  This is in the Kader Gallery from 5:00pm to 7:00pm.  The exhibit runs through May 30th. For more information contact The Pump House.  There is also a School District Staff Art Show being held at the Heider Center in West Salem from May 17th through June 9th.  Call 608-786-1220, ext. 4, for more information.

Tomorrow ceramic artist Kelly Jean Ohl will be having her opening reception for her exhibit titled “Sticks and Stones.”  This is at Cornucopia Art Center in Lanesboro, MN.  Kelly Jean was in “The Spotlight” last April 24th. For more information contact the art center.  The reception is from 6-8pm tomorrow, Saturday May 16th.  There will be live music, good food, and good drink.  “Sticks and Stones” runs through July 12th.

One last thing before I start yacking about myself and my pottery.  VIVA Art Gallery in Viroqua, WI. notified me that they have studio space available.  I don’t know anymore than that.  If you’re interested or would like additional information call Angie Feltes at 608-606-0679.

I started working with clay while attending college at Bemidji State University back in 1988.  I was hooked on clay from the very first day of my intro class and for the next two years I took every class they had to offer. I produced a lot of pots and some pretty nice pieces, one of which was purchased by the college and added to their permanent collection.  It is the slab built, hand-carved, salt fired bottle.  Unfortuneately when I left college and joined the workforce in the real world, the fun stopped and I didn’t touch clay again until 2004.  Thats when I enrolled at Viterbo University here in La Crosse.

I took ceramics classes there until 2008. Thats when I decided to find some studio space of my own. I love the process of firing kilns and my favorite type is Raku firing.  I’ve gone through several phases in the past few years and have made everything from big bowls and platters to personalized dog bowls–basically anything that people ask me to make for them.  I work with stoneware, porcelain and terra cotta.  This summer I will be concentrating on raku fired sculptural pieces and hand-carved tea bowls.  I build my own kilns, some wood fired and some fired with propane. To see a photo of one of my favorite tea bowls, click on the “Local Area Artists” box below.  Ok. Thats enough about me, and I can now say that I’ve been in “The Spotlight.”