Clay
Wheel-thrown, one-of-a-kind stoneware pottery.
South Bear Pottery
2248 South Bear Road
Decorah, IA 52101
(563) 382-5221
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When I (Dean) came to Iowa State Teachers College in 1956, I chose physical education as my major. Athletics were my favorite subject in high school, and I wanted to be a coach.
Like all students at ISTC, I had to take the art class called “Man and Materials.” (Years later I learned that it was based on the Bauhaus model in which all students studied drawing, painting, print making, sculpture and ceramics.) My teacher was John Page, and he certainly turned a page in my life. I discovered more classes in the art department, and eventually added an art major to my physical education major.
My teachers and heroes became Cliff Herrold, Paul Smith, David Delafield, Clayton Fowler, Ralph Haskel, John Page, Ken Gogel, Ted Kurahara, Harry Guillaume and especially Don Finegan who started me on my life with clay.
Our sons and daughters all learned to make pots, starting at age 12. They each contributed to the work in this book. Many of the later pieces were thrown by Gunnar and Lane, and I drew decorations to fit them.