Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Piepenburg.
Hi Robert, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
As young people we all have scattered visions, full of promise and possibilities, of what we’d like to do with our lives and, hopefully, who we might personally evolve into being. My vision in High School and the first years ay Community College, was to become a mechanical engineer. But, like visions that lack the depth of commitment to blossom, mine faltered and transformed when I took my first art course – just to full fill an elective requirement at Henry Ford Community College. It was a Drawing class and it was taught by Don Krinner. He was the first person, the first teacher, to influence the forming of the realities of my future. I wanted to be like him and I wanted to do what he did: be a caring human being, a teacher and make art.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The transitions from my initial links to mechanical engineering to new directions that embraced a personal vision of a life that presented new realities for my future was not easily advanced. First off, I had acquired large numbers of college credits in engineering. Fortunately, with additional course work at Eastern Michigan University, I was able to transfer them towards a degree in Industrial Arts Education. After graduation, I taught High School Woodworking classes for three years while at the same time taking art classes at Eastern. One of those classes was in Ceramics and, almost instantaniously, I was transported to the center of my own uniqueness and what I wanted wanted to do artistically.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As I took more college level classes in Ceramics I developed a substantial portfolio of work that became a conscious manifestation of knowing who I was as an intentionally creative person. The creative strength of my expressions in /with clay also became a display worthy of professional respect and, after three years of High School teaching, provided me the opportunity to teach ceramic classes full-time at Oakland Community College . . . and enjoy a wonderful career that lasted over thirty years.
I have three degrees from Eastern Michigan University and my last degree was an MFA (Master of Fine Arts) in Sculpture. I chose this two-year graduate degree because the personal dynamics of my work in clay became less functional and more design related – more spiritual. And, also, because I’d be able to study with an extraordinary man: John Pappas.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Before choosing to do my MFA at Eastern, I was set to do a graduate MFA in Ceramics at Cranbrook with Richard Devore but, at the last moment, decided to attend Eastern.
By this time, I’d had a number of art teachers and Mr. pappas was one of those instructors who, to me, best understood the magical personal forces of creative visions, intentions and desires. Also, by this time. I had discovered that our Spirit is the true source of our creative selves. In my efforts to be a more successful art instructor I realized the importance of making the student the subject of teaching and not just the techniques of my medium.
Ultimately, our Spirits are our life’s energies and animates our authenticity – integrating our awarness with our behavior. I still remember that memorable day, while giving a lecture and saying to my students: ”It’s your Spirit that shapes your clay not your hands”.
Until that day publishers had approached me about writing a text book but I never thought I had anything really new or important to add to the subject until then. Now, however, within a week I had the title for a college textbook: “the Spirit of Clay”. Within the next year the 444 page book was finished.
In the chapter on Wheel Throwing (p.161) I quote a student: Stuart Shulman when he said: “A pot made without soul is just some clay around a hole”. Like life, on the potter’s wheel clay finds it’s center and soulfully, or not, grows into its’ form.
I have written two books since then and both have the word “Spirit” in their titles: “Treasures of the Creative Spirit” and “The Spirit of Ceramic Design”. Between the two of them they have won five book awards.
Is there any pricing info you’d like to share?
My ceramic work is currently only available for sale in the studio I share with my wife, Gail, next to our home in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
The works generally sell between $500 – $800 — with some that are less and others that are more.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://piepenburgstudios.com
