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Rick
and Susan Bisgyer each fell in
love with ceramics in 1973, thirty years before they were to meet and
begin Ridgetop Pottery in Kingwood,
West Virginia
. Rick studied at the
Glen
Echo
Community
Arts
Center
in
Washington
,
D.C.
, being so enthusiastic about clay that he started a ceramics program at
his high school. He shared his love of ceramics with his fellow
students by building the school’s first wheel and teaching his
classmates all he learned. His education continued during college
at
Georgia
State
University
, where he received his Bachelor of Science in Education. Susan
also started her ceramics education at a community arts center, though
in
Akron
,
Ohio
, progressing to classes at the
University
of
Akron
, and culminating in a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Studio Ceramics
from The Ohio State University. Among the artists with whom she
studied are Michael Chipperfield, John Glick, Ken Ferguson, and Richard
Zakin.
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Susan and Rick Bisgyer
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Artistically
inspired by the colors and textures of the
Appalachian Mountains
and its whitewater rivers, Susan follows her love of art in everyday
life, designing and creating pieces to look and feel wonderful.
For many years she and Rick, together with her son and daughter, have
enjoyed the daily use of hand-made ceramics. She hopes that people
will eat, drink and serve from her porcelain, finding delight not only
in the visual and tactile beauty of the pieces she creates, but also in
the connection to the artist/neighbor, who makes them.
Rick
grew up in his parents’
Washington
,
D.C.
, home, surrounded by a collection of works by those who would become
well-known in the ceramic arts, such as Otto and Vivika Heino, Ralph
Bacerra and Henry Gernhardt. Viewing and handling these pieces of
art instilled in him his strong sense of form; yet his color pallet is
not of that period, but rather from his love of nature and his deep ties
to the sea as a life-long sailor. Rick’s hope is that, through
the harmony and fluidity of his vessels, others will find beauty and
pleasure in their use.
Ridgetop
Pottery is devoted to the creation of handmade functional and decorative
porcelain for your home, vacation home or office. Rick and Susan
invite you to contact them at 304-329-1883 or
Susan-Rick@RidgetopPottery.com to see more of their work in their
studio, galleries and shows. Visit Rick and Susan's website at RidgetopPottery.com.
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