Enchanted Circle Pottery (#3)

Kevin DeKeuster was born in Racine, Wisconsin. He attended Milton College on football scholarship. It was there that he received a B.F.A. in ceramics. He later earned a Masters degree in ceramics at Northern Arizona University, located in Flagstaff Arizona. Course work at NAU included travel and study in Japan.

Kevin’s work is greatly influenced by the wood-fired kilns located in Flagstaff and Japan. He enjoys creating functional, utilitarian pieces. His functional work includes a full line of service and tableware. Although he makes mugs, pitchers and bowls, as every potter does, he believes it is important that even functional work has a distinctive style. Part of that style is the fact that they are made to be fired with wood.

He is also known for his creative sculptural vessels. Starting his sculptural pieces on the potter’s wheel, he then manipulates the form to allow the blushing of the flames and the ash to accentuate the finished piece.

Kevin taught at Eastern Arizona College for over twenty years, developing a strong ceramics program. He also worked at Northern Arizona University as a wood kiln assistant and instructor. His work has been exhibited throughout the United States in a variety of juried and invitational shows. Kevin’s work appears in the book titled“500 Pitchers”.

JoAnne DeKeuster grew up near the small town of Waumandee, Wisconsin. She received a B.A. in Art Education from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Studying at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff she received a Masters degree in ceramics. Coursework there included travel and study in Japan. After completion of her masters degree at Northern AZ University, Jo and her husband continued to spend summers in Flagstaff. She began working for the University as a kiln assistant and eventually taught the summer Wood-Fire class. Her work appears in the books “500 Plates and Platters” and “Wood-fired Ceramics-100Contemporary Artists.” In 2016 she fulfilled a life long dream by writing and illustrating her first children’s book. Jo now has four books available. Her book, “The Boy Who Flies” recently won the Indie Book Award for Best Children’s Educational Picture Book