Alive and Well
Tucked in the rolling hills of southern Indiana (down the street from John Mellencamp's old house) lives an artisan native to Cincinnati who is proving every day that the ethos of the Arts & Crafts movement are alive and well. For over 30 years Cheri Glaser (yes, Glaser!) has plied her craft, infusing her functional and art pottery with her commitment to superior craftsmanship, artistic integrity and attention to detail. Vases, bowls, teapots, platters and mugs are lovingly wrought individually by hand, with lids that fit tight, feet that don't wobble and spouts that pour in graceful arcs.

As any artist knows, the process is as important as the product and Glaser's journey as a craftsman has taught her to keep learning, changing and experimenting. For years she was a devotee of wood firing. The wood ash mingling in the super-heated air of the kiln, fusing with the glazes to produce work of astonishingly ancient patina. Now she has moved on to firing with gas and using salt in the kiln to produce the soft sheen of her whimsical, organic pieces.

"The element of surprise when I open the kiln door is what keeps me going. Sometimes I'm disappointed in the results, but the pleasant surprises are worth it. The predictability of electric kilns takes the fun out of it for me," Cheri says.

She demurs when asked if she considers herself to be an "art potter." "I'm not sure if I fit the bill for an art potter, though. I seem to have put myself on the fence between art potter and functional potter; being affordable and making one-of-a-kind work. I do them both."

Sometimes her devoted fans don't understand why she is compelled to move on, through and beyond the distinct phases of her work. "I still get requests for both the blue glazes of my early days and the black glazes from a mournful time in my life," she laughs, "but I don't do the black glazes anymore...I'm happier now!"

Glaser's studio is a massive structure, large enough to host workshops with up to 30 people. Situated outside of Bloomington (home to Indiana University), she is in a great spot to collaborate with other potters and share techniques and knowledge. Her love of collaboration (and travel) is taking her to Japan this summer for six weeks to attend the prestigious International Workshop of Ceramic Art in Tokoname (IWCAT), at which only two Americans a year are chosen to attend.

Glaser's work is sold in Bloomington at Elements, a local furnishings boutique, as well as Acorn Cottage in Nashville, Ind. Like most other potters, she also does the craft fair circuit and hosts spring and holiday sales of her wares. She continues onward; growing, exploring and trying new things. Next on the agenda: one-of-a-kind art tiles and gardenware. For more information about Cheri and her pottery, visit www.9starki.com/cheri.htm