About Mike

From Mike

I took my first ceramics class at Albion College in the fall of 1969. Richard Leach was the professor, and he has had a lasting influence on me and my work. While a student at United Theological Seminary in Ohio I also attended the Dayton Art Institute and later Southern Illinois University.

I was able to spend the better part of three years in Korea, primarily working and teaching at Ewha Woman’s University. This was another very influential time in my development. 

I completed my Master of Fine Arts degree in 1985 at Michigan State University. 

After we moved to Arizona my ministry as a United Methodist pastor absorbed most of my time. However, I was able to continue working a bit each week.

In 2014 I was able to devote more time to ceramics, and now that I am fully retired I have been able to spend several afternoons a week doing pottery. 

I hope that beauty, usefulness and honesty will be the hallmarks of my work. I am interested in pottery that is joyous—beautiful objects with meaning that weave into our daily lives through use. I find functional pottery the best method to express my ideas.