SJCGA
San Joaquin Clay and Glass Association
Founded in 1981 by a small group of local potters, the San Joaquin Clay and Glass Association has grown to become a group whose purpose is to foster aesthetic growth in its members’ work, and elevate awareness of our art form to the public.
SJCGA.comSJCGA.blogspot.com
Craig Easter
Born in Bakersfield, CA in 1953, Craig’s childhood was spent in the Santa Cruz mountains of California and Costa Rica and Honduras in Central America.
At 14 he moved to North Fork, CA and lived with another family while he attended Sierra High School. It was the stability and nurturing of that school and primarily the influence of Robert Ogata and Calvin Bohner that inspired and challenged Craig to begin the life of a working potter.
For the past 40 years Craig has made pots. All kinds. He has been an exhibitor with the American Craft Council since 1978, an emeritus member of the Association of California Clay and Glass Artists. Recently he completed three years as president of the San Joaquin Clay and Glass Assoc.
“My concern is to produce work that is genuinely symbolic of the hand and spirit. The resulting work is an expression of the colors, textures and shapes of where I live. The rugged Sierra and giant San Joaquin Valley.”
Rita Watkins
“I love to provide every household the beauty of functional art. After starting out painting on canvas, I stumbled upon clay and immediately fell in love with the media. Using layers of underglazes, I am able to achieve the look of watercolor in bright primary colors.”
Mary Camin
“My current work is about the joy of exploring plant forms, and hopefully conveying the mystery of plant growth and the changing forms that take place as they complete a cycle. I love playing with the details to define the piece and give it personality. The possibilities in the medium of clay keep me engaged and always intrigued.”
Lisa Anderson
Besides operating, with husband Martin Shapiro, Yosemite Springs Pottery and Glass, in Coursegold, CA, Lisa is also a glass instructor at CSU Fresno.
Cory Ballis
“My journey in glass blowing began in the spring of 2005 at CSU Fresno. Since 2009 I have been creating my art and working as assistant glass blower at Kliszewski Glass, Fresno, CA.”
Barrie Burnham
“I took my first ceramic class at the University of Redlands in 1974, with Leon Moburg, and haven’t looked back. I am currently teaching high school ceramics in the Fresno area. Hand building is my favorite way to express a fascination with surfaces and textures. I work equally with sculptural and utilitarian form. “
Steven Ehlers
Steven holds a BA in Fine Arts from CSU Fresno. He has done further studies with Amy Morgan and Craig Easter, at Clay Mix, and Diana Fayt at Sierra Nevada College, Northstar, NV.
Piet Eppinga
For Pete creating pottery is a magical experience that brings him spiritually in touch with clay workers from a time when humans first used clay to create. “My pottery is about the shape of the pot… I don’t want to cover it with glaze”. Pete has studied with Richard Flores at COS and with Craig Easter at Clay Mix, Fresno.
Fox Garney and Lois Garney
Fox and Lois Garney, (FoxLo Pottery) are a husband and wife team who have been collaborating on ceramic pieces since 1972. They both hold BA degrees from San Jose State University where they meet in the ceramics department. Their pieces are all individually hand carved porcelain, which Fox turns on the Potter’s wheel and Lois carves with designs mostly inspired from nature. They opened their first studio in Fresno but now reside in Cambria, CA.
Lynn Golden
“Over thirty years ago I took a stained glass class… just for fun …and I’ve been involved with glass ever since. What began as a hobby turned into a vocation, working several years at Scarab Glass Works. I have since learned more about “warm” glass; that is, fusing glass in a kiln. What I love about glass is that there’s always something new; it is not a static art.”Bob Kliss
Bob is a self-taught Artist. He first worked in stained glass, then in slumping and fusing glass. Since 1980 he has maintained his independent glass studio, Kliszewski Glass. He creates bold, contemporary sculpture and sculptural vessels that are distinguished by a playful use of color, form and shape.
Richard Markle
Richard was introduced to ceramics at Fresno City College about fifteen years ago. This US Army retiree produces a well crafted body of work that reflects an ongoing experimentation with different forms, sizes, and hand-building techniques.
Hazel Olsen
Hazel established Fresno’s Potters Studio in 1970. The studio’s original focus was teaching and supplying materials and equipment to local artists. After a number of years the focus was shifted to the development of a line of Hazel’s many clay creations. The popularity for the work form the Potters Studio has grown beyond California to include international clients.
Randy Olsen
Randy joined his mother in the “family business” a few years ago. He is an established artist who has developed many pieces for the line of ceramics products sold through Potters Studio. The Potters Studio line has become a mark of quality among gallery, home, and garden buyers.
Annie Compton-Schmidt
“I began working in clay many years ago as a hobby and five years ago found my way into glass fusing. I find it an exciting medium as I never know how the fused glass pieces will turn out.”
Martin Shapiro
Besides operating a private pottery and glass studio with wife Lisa Anderson at Coursegold, CA, Martin also teaches ceramics at CSU Fresno.
Stephen Veach
Ceramics is a varied experience providing many challenges for Steven. His pottery is not defined by any parameters. Firing techniques include Gas Oxidation, Raku, Saggar and Pit. Glazed and non-glazed pieces share equal time and value.
