Pottery Tour Reflects Growing Art Culture
Marvin Bartel, Goshen, shows some of the pottery pieces he will have for sale at his home studio this weekend.
SAM HOUSEHOLDER | THE GOSHEN NEWS
By AMANDA GRAY
THE GOSHEN NEWS
Sep 28, 2012
GOSHEN — Locals and out-of-towners will visit the artistic spots of Goshen during the first Michiana Pottery Tour Saturday.
“There are several artists in the area working full-time,” Justin Rothshank, one of the tour’s organizers, said. “We’ve hit a critical mass of artists in the area where we support each others’ businesses and help with studio shows.” Rothshank said the pottery tour is following the lead of other tours in nearby areas, and the organizers hope to have enough success to make this an annual event.
“This area has a rich craft history,” Rothshank said. “Something like this is a good fit for the Goshen area.”
The tour will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, and it will go between Michigan and Indiana, with several stops in Goshen, according to Rothshank.
“This event will feature a range of ceramic work by a diverse and talented group of clay artists,” A press release about the tour states. “You will find a variety of functional and decorative ceramics available for purchase, including wood-fired ceramics, crystalline porcelain work, miniature pottery, functional earthenware, gas-fired stoneware and more. You will also see working studios, a wood kiln unloading and have the chance to talk with the artists.”
Goshen locations include the downtown Goshen Clay Artist Guild, Found Gallery and the Eric Strader Studio, as well as Goshen College, Marvin Bartel’s home and studio and Rothshank’s Ceramics, according to the release.
Two locations in Michigan are also included on the tour, according to the release. Bill Kremer’s home in Cassopolis and Mark Goertzen’s Studio and Kiln in Constantine will feature ceramics and demonstrations. Goertzen will have a kiln unloading on the day of the show from his wood kiln.
Artists for the first year came by word of mouth, according to Rothshank. Most of the artist participating either grew up in Goshen or came here to be a part of the art community. “We’re trying to showcase a broad range of ceramic work with the tour,” Rothshank said. “Many of these artists are well-known in the area.”
Bartel, a retired professor from Goshen College, said he will be showing art at his shop located at his home at 1708 Lincolnway East, Having been a member of the local art community for decades, Bartel said he has seen Goshen grow as a destination for arts and crafts.
“I have seen a number of things happening,” he said, citing the growth of such places as the Clay Artists Guild and the growth of local individual artists. Local schools also have wonderful art programs, which encourage further productivity in art, specifically ceramics, in Goshen.
“Goshen is already a destination for art, but I’m sure it’s growing in that regard,” Bartel said. “This is not only good for the artists, though — it’s good for everybody. People are going to stop in for the tour, coming from South Bend, or Kalamazoo, or Fort Wayne, and they’re going to need a place to get lunch or stop at another place they see. There are a lot of reasons it can be beneficial to the community — and I don’t really see any downsides at all.”
More information is available at www.michianapotterytour.com, including a map for the self-guided tour and information on several Friday evening preview sales at some of the locations. It can also be found on Facebook at facebook.com/michianapotterytour.