History:

Tom has worked as a potter since 1992, following a career in marketing and advertising. Betsy had worked as a restaurant manager and management recruiter and joined in the pottery work in 1993. Work focuses on pieces for everyday use; casseroles, vases, tableware, oil lamps, mugs, bowls, etc. All work is highfire stoneware, and is dishwasher, microwave and oven safe. “We’re a production pottery, says Wirt, “and as such don’t look at our work as ‘art’, but as part of everyday life, much in the tradition of Yanagi’s ‘Unknown Craftsman’, applied to contemporary American culture and lifestyles.”He started doing shows in 1992, and went to full time as a potter in 1993. Past shows have included, Prairie Center for the Arts, Schaumburg, IL; Beverly Art Center, Beverly, IL; Evanston (IL) Lakefront Art Show, Northfield (IL) Chamber Art Show; Stillwater (MN) Chamber Spring and Fall Shows; Celebrate on State Street (Chicago, IL), The Edina (MN) Art Show and many others.

In throwing, Tom avoids use of tools, preferring to form pots solely with his hands. He feels this increases the potter-user communication in a way that use of ribs and other tools cannot. Betsy began assisting him in 1993 in the hand-finishing, firing and glazing of the pottery.

In 1994 it became obvious that a full studio was needed and we set one up on a farm just north of Hutchinson, Minnesota. The current studio is a 1500 sq. ft. facility specifically designed for production pottery. We have two 10 cu. ft., and one 7 cu. ft., electric kilns and a 60 cu ft. gas kiln. This gives us a capacity of about 100 pots per week.. Tom does all throwing, trimming and finishing. Betsy does all glazing and firing.