Let me begin with a favorite quote from Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig:
“So the thing to do when working on a motorcycle, as in any other task, is to cultivate the peace of mind which does not separate one’s self from one’s surroundings. When that is done successfully, then everything else follows naturally. Peace of mind produces right values, right values produce right thoughts. Right thoughts produce right actions, and right actions produce work which will be a material reflection for others to see of the serenity at the center of it all.”
Entering the home of any potter—or even a dedicated collector—you will inevitably find shelves and cabinets filled with objects that document a journey. Each bowl, jar, or mug reflects a set of values, thoughts, and actions, captured in clay and made permanent through fire. Good pots do not happen easily, nor by accident. They are the result of a lifelong devotion to a path in clay.
My journey began in 1978 while attending Saint John’s University in central Minnesota. I was originally interested in painting, but after taking a ceramics class, I found myself drawn to clay. It simply felt right.
In 1981, I had the opportunity to travel to central France, where I worked in the historic pottery village of La Borne. There, I experienced wood-fired kilns for the first time and was immediately captivated by both the process and the results.
Returning home in 1983, I sought an apprenticeship with Todd Piker at Cornwall Bridge Pottery. In 1988, I moved to Wisconsin, where I established my first kiln on rented property. A decade later, in 1998, I relocated my operation to my home on Tranquil Lane, where I built a large, three-chambered, Japanese-inspired kiln that I have fired twice a year.
As I’ve grown older, I’ve come to recognize that I won’t be able to maintain the same level of production indefinitely. In 2025, I built a smaller, Asian-inspired “retirement kiln,” which will allow me to continue making wood-fired pots for years to come.
Mark Skudlarek
Potter
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