|
| |
The North Dakota Pottery Collectors Society holds its
annual convention the second weekend in June.
Following are excerpts of articles printed in the 2008 NDPCS Newsletter:
|
|
Convention
Report
by Will Bachmeier
The 2008 North Dakota Pottery Collectors Society annual convention
officially completed on June 8, 2008 in Minot, ND. With the presiding by BJ
Kadrmas, I am glad to report that it was a success as far as I can tell. By
Joyce and Cliff’s count there were 103 people that registered of which 97
attended. We served 97 at the banquet. Six people entered the first timer’s
contest. The winner Deanna Reynolds received a Rosemeade Bell Pepper shaker
set, a souvenir of Red Lodge, MT.
There
were remarks such as “the camaraderie this year was great” and “I really
enjoyed this year’s whole convention”. The setting for the convention this
year was at the Grand International Inn in Minot. Conventioneers liked the
reasonable rates of this motel and also appreciated the willingness to help
people with special requests. The auction was a pleasant and successful
event thanks to Ron Schimke and helpers, to the auctioneer, Dean Moos and
his people who were most accommodating. The open house event went well and
was enjoyed by the visitors. Thanks to Ron and Pat Schimke!! Pat was in
charge of the Show and Sale on Sunday which had many interesting items.
Special thanks
go to Pat Grantier who shared a rare and personal inside story of Charles
Grantier and his wife Minnie. Pat showed an at home video of the Charles
Grantier house in Mandan. She displayed a variety of art items made by
Charles Grantier. To all the other volunteers who helped out but are not
mentioned here, THANK YOU. We applaud everyone who came and helped.
|
|
Banquet Speaker Pat
Grantier
by
Arley Olson
| Charles G. Grantier,
his family, his life, his work, and his hobbies were the topics of the
banquet speaker. Pat Mann Grantier was the guest speaker and well suited
for the job as Charles was her brother-in-law. Pat started with the
early history of the Grantier’s coming to the U.S. and North Dakota.
Charles’ father, Jay Grantier ranched north of Watford City, N.D. where
Charles spent his summers. In the winter the family moved to Williston,
N.D. so the children could go to school with Jay staying at the ranch to
keep things going. After high school Charles attended UND at Grand
Forks, N.D. where he received a Bachelor of Science degree with a major
in art. After his graduation in 1932 he taught school in western North
Dakota, and in 1935 by accepting a position with the Dickinson Clay
branching |
 |
|
out into art pottery (DickotaPottery)
and Grantier joined as a designer. In the fall of 1937 the plant closed
and Charles went back to teaching. In 1939 Charles was appointed State
Supervisor of the WPA Ceramic Project for North Dakota to replace Laura
Taylor and held that position until 1942 when WPA Ceramics shut down. In
1941 Charles was at Rushmore Pottery in Keystone, South Dakota for a
month sharing information and helping out. After WPA, Charles was
caretaker at Fort Lincoln State Park and then manager of a youth center.
Charles finished his career teaching. In 1953 Charles received the
Citation Award, which added his name to the Honor Roll of the American
Artists Professional League.
Some of Charles’ other artistic
works were weaving, watercolors, oil paintings, pencil and charcoal
sketches, chalk and crayon drawings, linoleum block prints, hooked rugs,
wax sculptures and metal hammering & etching. Charles continued to work
with pottery throughout his life and in the early 1960’s went to Las
Vegas, New Mexico to learn the southwestern method of pottery making.
Pat had a video showing the
interior of the Grantier house along with Charles and Minnie with their
extensive collection of furniture and antiques. There were various
pieces of Charles’ art work on display that Pat brought.
Bob Barr commented on the
pottery Indian earth lodges that Charles had made using a tea cup for a
mold. Arley Olson showed several slides of Charles’ pottery work
beginning at UND and continuing through the 70’s.
|
|
|
For information on the 2008 NDPCS Auction, click here
AUCTION
|
|
2008 Convention Photos
|
 |
 |
 |
| Charles and Betty Hemmer are this year's
proud recipients of the Honorary Lifetime Membership Award |
Bill and Linda Bakken received the Cliff
and Mayvis Olson Founders Award |
The 2008 NDPCS Commemorative
For more information on
Commemoratives, click here. |
|
|
To read about the NDPCS Roadshow
presented at the 2008 Convention, click here
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Click here for more information on the
Dickota Pottery Seminar
presented at the 2008 NDPCS Convention.
PAST SEMINARS
|
|
North Dakota Pottery Contest
by Gail Yuly
“Build
It and They Will Come”,
This analogy has probably been overused many times in the past, but it is
true.
The second annual NDPCS Pottery Contest has been held and it was a
resounding success. There was no charge to the potter for entering this
contest and each contestant was allowed up to 3 pieces for the competition.
The pottery was displayed Saturday morning from 9 a. m. through 11 a. m..
Each NDPCS member attending the convention received 1 ballot and voted
Saturday morning. The winners were announced at 2:00 p. m. Saturday
afternoon.
The first place winning $100.00 were
Nedra and Ted Hoberg
of
Frog Point Pottery of Grand Forks, North Dakota. Second place winning
$75.00 was awarded to
Tama Smith,
Prairie Fire Pottery from Beach, North Dakota. Third place of $50.00 was
awarded to
Brother Llewellyn Kouba,
Assumption Abbey Pottery from Richardton, North Dakota. The three winners
had the option of having their pieces auctioned off at the NDPCS Banquet and
retaining 90% of the selling price. The top three winners also would
receive a free one year membership with the NDPCS.
There were a total of 35 pieces entered for this contest. The
contestants included the following students:
Jayme Allen,
MSU Student of Minot, North Dakota;
Jim Bailey
of Grand Forks, North Dakota;
Kevin Chaimberlan
of
Grand Forks, North Dakota;
Brian Fricke
of
Grand Forks, North Dakota;
Jennifer Bowles,
MSU
Student, Minot, North Dakota;
Christina Martinez,
MSN Student, Minot, North Dakota;
Andre’ Champieux-Miller,
MSU Student of Minot, North Dakota;
Camryn Pedersen
(9
years old) Minot, North Dakota;
Wes Smith
of Grand Forks, North Dakota
Other entrants were as follows:
Susan Davy
- Davy Pottery, Inc. of Burlington, North Dakota;
Nedra & Ted Hoberg
- Frog Point Pottery of Grand Forks, North Dakota;
Brother Llewellyn Kouba
-
Assumption Abbey Pottery of Richardton, North Dakota;
Don Miller
of Grand Forks,
Tama Smith
- Prairie Fire Pottery of Beach, North Dakota; and
Thomas K. Willis
-
Dragon Fire Pottery of Minot, North Dakota.
 |
 |
 |
|
First Place Entry
by Nedra and Ted Hoberg
Frog Point Pottery |
Second Place Entry
by Tama Smith
Prairie Fire Pottery |
Third Place Entry
by Brother Llewellyn Kouba
Assumption Abbey Pottery |
|
Future Convention Dates
Plan ahead and volunteer to help when the Convention is in your area.
2009 - June 12-13-14
Wahpeton, ND
2010 - June 11-12-13
Grand Forks, ND
|
