St. Croix Valley Pottery Tour 2018

 'The Annual St Croix Valley Pottery Tour and Sale has welcomed visitors annually on Mothers’ Day weekend to seven pottery studios in Chisago County. Each studio is just a short drive from the others allowing some or all to be visited in a single visit.'

This springtime, self-guided tour is anticipated by all who enjoy handmade pottery. It is nationally recognized as a gathering of exceptional potters.  Always held on Mothers' Day weekend, "The Tour" is an opportunity to enjoy the hospitality of local potters in their rural studios. This year, you could have met 57 accomplished guest potters from around the nation. Each has been invited by their host potter especially for this weekend event.

At Richard Vincents's Studio

Having heard of this annual tour for many years of learning pottery in Minnesota, I was excited when my pottery teacher Vanessa Greene offered to take her interested students to the St. Croix Valley Pottery Tour.

What a great way to experience this event with your teacher and fellow potter Ellen!

Kyle Carpenter

The seven host pottery sites are~

Jeff Oestreich's early Minnesota farmstead remade into home and studio, 

Ani Kasten's pottery gallery-in-a-barn, 

Linda Christianson's unique studio and reclaimed log home nestled in a clearing in the woods, 

Richard Vincent's oak-shaded backyard studio, 

Janel Jacobson and Will Swanson's studio close by Wild River State Park, 

Guillermo Cuellar's hilltop home and studio overlooking the St. Croix River, and 

Matt Krousey's picturesque, woodland home and studio.

Nick Joerling

A relaxed atmosphere where visitors can look at the wide variety and styles of pots made by local Minnesotan potters as well as their guest potters.

Janel Jacobson and Will Swanson's Studio

Ikuzi Teraki & Jeanne Bisson

Mark Shapiro

I personally loved Mark Shapiro's work and bought this amazing soda fired cup, as a gift for myself:-)

At Matt Krousey's Studio

Matthew Metz

Robert Brisco

Kent McLaughlin

Jason Treb

Kent McLaughlin

Linda Christianson Studio

Ellen and me admiring mugs.

Bandana Pottery 

Ellen and Vanessa

I will let you feast your eyes on some of the amazing pottery that was on display at the various locations of the tour.

Linda Christianson

Randy Johnston

Jan McKeachie Johnston 

At Jeff Oestreich's Studio

Jeff Oestreich

Works of Ernest Miller, Andy Balmer & Pat Burns, Kat Wheeler - Leach Pottery and others are displayed here.

At Guillermo Cuellar's Studio

Micheal Kline

It was wonderful to interact with him, as I had followed his work online for a while.

Wayne Branum

S C Rolf

What a fabulous experience to see the work of so many talented potters and it was funny how I was gravitating towards a certain style of workmanship while Ellen towards a totally different one!

(Images by Arch, source: Minnesota Potters.com)