Julie Clark has resided and maintained a private studio on the Bear’s Mill property for 27 years.  The historical and natural setting inspires her.  Julie has created her own retail market for her pottery, which is sold in Bear’s Mill.  She also is the VP, buyer and retail leader for the non-profit organization ‘The Friends of Bear’s Mill’, that now operates the Mill.  Clay, however, is in the forefront of her interests.     

 “Clay offers endless possibilities. My main interest is in the aesthetics of shape and form.  It is my desire to continue to learn, grow and change in pursuit of these aesthetics. A fascination with wood firing follows this aesthetic I think, in that it offers a natural finish that enhances forms.  And, there is an element of chance with wood firing that can be very exciting. My oxidation glazes are natural and uncomplicated as well.  

 Clay is soft, pliable, and spontaneous. I want to create pieces that somehow show that message in their finished state.  My livelihood in clay is an exciting and challenging experience.”

Loretta Wray resides near Laura, Ohio and maintains a studio beside her home.

I was fortunate enough to attend a high school with a diverse art program that included wheel-throwing.  It was then that I discovered a life-long passion for playing in the mud. Starting a family curtailed the amount of time I have been able to devote to this passion but now in the midst of Empty-Nest Syndrome, I find that I can make more time to pursue this interest. While I’ve only taken a few college courses in ceramics, I’ve become particularly interested in the aspects of atmospheric firings and am trying to educate myself in this area by reading as much as I can, attending workshops and taking classes whenever possible.  Our recent trip to North Carolina to participate in firing a wood kiln was extremely educational and enjoyable!!

I enjoy producing pieces that are functional and can be used on a daily basis. I think that our society has moved away from the connection with nature that our ancestors had. I feel that drinking from a hand-made mug or baking in a clay casserole helps me to appreciate the beauty that’s all around me that we tend to take for granted. I hope that when someone takes a piece of my pottery home, they will use it and enjoy it, and not just set it on a shelf to collect dust.  It may sound corny, but using hand-made pottery makes me feel a connection with people and nature that a plastic cup just can’t evoke. I also enjoy sharing my love of creating in clay with others. I have taught kid’s classes at Hayner Cultural Center in Troy and I hope to continue leading workshops and classes so that others can discover their own creativity.

Click below for samples of Loretta’s work

Pamela Ridenour resides in Tipp City and maintains a studio in Troy, Ohio.
After working 30 years outside the home, I had the feeling that there was something more. So, I decided not to work for one year and during that time find a completely different job/career. Taking up pottery was an attempt to also find a hobby. Little did I know that it would become so important in my life.
Because of my 15 years in the graphic arts business, I have seen professional artwork in volume on a daily basis. I feel that those images are still with me and come out in various ways as I work. I love the "creating" part of making my pottery. For me, this is the part where you slice off a chunk of clay and then turn it into a three dimensional object. Using the wheel to do so, is soothing, mesmerizing and magical.
My goal is to continue learning about and making pottery both on the wheel and by hand building. Repetition is not my desire, so although some pieces may look similar, it is only by accident or an attempt to improve on something I have made in the past.

Rita Wiley resides in Indianapolis, IN where she maintains a private studio.

In her pottery, Rita Wiley endeavors to embody the Japanese aesthetic principle, wabi-sabi, which could be described as a longing for the unpretentious, the earthy, the natural and austere.
On a more physical level, she appreciates the tactile aspects of pottery-making: the slippery spin of wheel-thrown clay and the toughness of the leather-hard clay used in hand-building. Her motives are simple: "I want to transform a lump of clay into something pleasing and lasting."

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