"End of an Era" Pottery Sale is May 4

Students at work in the ceramics studio.

This spring’s Pottery Sale will be the last to be held during the career of retiring Distinguished Teaching Professor Marvin Bjurlin. The sale will take place on Friday, May 4, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Rockefeller Arts Center Ceramics Studio, Room 242.  Professor Bjurlin said this spring’s sale will be unique because it will include many demonstration pieces he created for his classes as well as work left behind by graduating SUNY Fredonia ceramics majors.

The popular event on campus has been a tradition for nearly three decades. Originally, it occurred each fall in the shadow of the decorated Christmas tree in the Campus Center. As the event became more successful and more student ceramicists produced work, it was decided to move the sale to the Ceramics Studio in Rockefeller Arts Center, and hold it twice a year, at the end of both the spring and fall semesters.  

Professor Bjurlin, above, is wearing a head mask of himself that was sculpted in clay by Kevin Raymond, '03, BFA ceramics major. Kevin is now an art teacher (he completed his master's degree at R.I.T.)  and operates his own home ceramics studio. Kevin is also the artist who created the larger-than-life sculpture of President Dennis L. Hefner that stands in Reed Library.

"For Ceramics students creating pieces for the sale has been a voluntary extracurricular activity above and beyond assigned work done for critique," Professor Bjurlin said. "It's been an effective learning tool," he added. "They were able to experience some of the aspects of successful design, production and marketing of ceramics objects."

The preparation was ideal for students who wanted to establish their own businesses after graduation.

The enthusiasm from the buying public was another unexpected success of the project. The annual sales benefited the students individually, but also started a substantial endowment fund at the Fredonia College Foundation. "The interest yield from the Fredonia Potters Co-op Endowment Fund will be perpetually available," Professor Bjurlin said. The fund goes to qualified ceramics majors chosen to serve as studio technicians.

In addition, and as part of the global “Empty Bowls” fundraiser, the students participating in the Pottery Sale each fall have demonstrated their civic responsibility by making generous and much appreciated contributions to the Friendly Kitchen in Dunkirk. In 2005, Chautauqua Rural Ministry presented a Community Service Award to the Fredonia Potter’s Co-op in grateful recognition of dedicated service.