ArtReach St. Croix: Tour de Force Exhibit Showcases Regional Pottery

For 20 years the Minnesota Potters of the Upper St. Croix River Valley have been opening their rural studios for a pottery tour, but they have never brought their works together in one exhibit.

That all changed this week with the opening of “Tour de Force,” a potters exhibit that is on display through Nov. 24 at the St. Croix Galleries at ArtReach St. Croix.

For the first time, Robert Briscoe, Linda Christianson, Guillermo Cuellar, Connee Mayeron, Jeff Oestreich, Will Swanson and Richard Vincent will gather their works in one place.

Over the past two decades, the seven potters have earned a national reputation for the quality and integrity of their combined work, and each year draw, thousands of visitors to the St. Croix Valley from across the country for their tour.

The Theme: Functional beauty – the ability to bring beauty and art into everyday life through hand-crafted pottery.

“We’ve been working together to host the tour for years, but we’ve never exhibited together,” Briscoe said. “The Tour de Force exhibit will showcase the diversity that can be found in our pottery in a way that may not be apparent by seeing the pottery in multiple locations.”

Each potter’s work has a distinct character while maintaining the durability needed for everyday use. The show will feature bowls, vases, platters – pieces both large and small – made of earthenware, stoneware and porcelain.

The St. Croix Galleries are open Wednesdays–Fridays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Saturdays, 12-4 p.m. The galleries will be closed Nov. 22-22.

Click here to find out about more about this event and other arts events in the valley.