Todd Louis Piker, Cornwall Bridge Pottery

APPRENTICESHIPS AND RESIDENCIES

1970 Apprenticed with Michael Cardew

PRIMARY WORK EXPERIENCE

1972----Cornwall Bridge Pottery

BIOGRAPHY

Todd Piker apprenticed with Michael Cardew in 1970 where he also worked with Svend Bayer. In 1972 he established Cornwall Bridge Pottery where he and his assistants produce functional wood fired stoneware pots. Production includes bowls, platters, pitchers and mugs as well as flower pots, some of which can be very large. The influences on the work range from Cardew to Asian porcelain and French provincial stoneware.

The pots at Cornwall Bridge are made from a clay formulated there and often finished with glazes made from local materials. They are then fired in a 35 foot climbing kiln that is fired 6 times a year.

From the outset of his ceramic career Piker has embraced the apprenticeship model he learned under Michael Cardew. The apprentices produce much the work of Cornwall Bridge and stamp the pieces they make to identify the work as theirs. For Piker this is about more than getting the work done, over the years he has been a guide and teacher to numerous apprentices.  A number of whom have gone on to found their own potteries.  Former apprentices include Chris Giuliano (1977), Mark Hewitt (1979-1983), Mark Skudlarek (1983-1987), Nancy Barringer (1986-1988),  Matt Jones (1994-97), Gogi Milner (1995), Cary Hulin, and Hoyt Barringer.