Many years later, I enrolled in the art program at Bemidji State University. While a student there I took many advanced ceramic classes, which ranged from; Techers Assistant, Raku pottery, Soda / Salt fired pottery, Cone 10 reduction stoneware, Crystal glazes, low fire luster's, pit fireing, and Porcline.
During college, I personaly designed & built a SUPER SIZED Raku kiln, was the driveing force in the instlation of a advanced ceramics class 9/11 scuplture, recieved a Regional 2 Art Council grant (funded by the State Legistlature) to buy my own potter's wheel, worked in the studio as the Teacher's Assistant and also as the studio's work study technician.
I also, was the Founding President of the Bemidji State University Ceramics Club. As president I lead two class trips to the NCECA (National Concil for the Education of the Ceramic Arts) pottery confrence and several other trips to the American Pottery Festival, help organize several national guest artists and held student ceramic fairs in the student union.
The ceramics club helped several non-profit organizations, like the Cass Lake Family Center, The Food Shelf and The Campus Habitat For Hummanity, rasie over 20 thosand dollars through diffrent empty bowl fund rasiers.
While a student I also worked very hard at prefecting my craft. I would throw ever hour I could, spend many late nights at the studio fireing the gas and electric kilns. Those countless fireings gave me emnouse knowledge, the most valueable in my opinion is how the glazes react to the atmosphere, in which they are fired. And helped move Squeaky Wheel Pottery from decrotive pottery, like my father use to pit fire, to a much more functional product.
Currently, Squeaky Wheel Pottery foucuses on dishwasher and food safe pottery. I still keep with the old tradion of doing some sculptural ceramic forms. And love how the face jugs I throw and hand build connect both paths the studio is on. (The face jugs are also food safe).