The Dictionary of American Ceramics, 1945 onward
Dictionary of American Ceramics, 1945 onward
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Dean L. Schwarz, Dean Schwarz
EDUCATION
1960 BA Iowa State Teachers College (now University of Northern Iowa), Cedar Falls, Iowa
1961 MA Iowa State Teachers College (now University of Northern Iowa,) Cedar Falls, Iowa
1964 Pond Farm, Guerneville, California
1968 Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Deer Isle, Maine
APPRENTICESHIPS & RESIDENCIES
1971, Fulbright-Hays Research Fellowship, South Korea
PRIMARY WORK EXPERIENCE
Early 1960s US Navy
1964-1986 Faculty, Art Department, Luther College, Decorah, Iowa
1970 Founded South Bear School, Highlandville, Iowa
BIOGRAPHY
Dean Schwarz is best known for thrown stoneware traditional forms that are finished with carved and slip glazed surfaces. He also worked in porcelain.
Schwarz spent three summers with Marguerite Wildenhain at Pond Farm; during the third season, he was her assistant. This time lead to their friendship and respect for each other’s work that continued until her death. He also studied with William Daley at Haystack.
In 1979 Schwarz founded South Bear Press with his wife Geraldine and published a number of books in the pottery field including two definitive Wildenhain/Pond Farm volumes.
Beginning in 2007, Schwarz's sons, Gunnar and Lane, took over throwing the pots that their father then decorated when leather hard. The pieces created in this way range from large often 40” tall to mini's under 5”.1
Schwarz built and fired over 100 kilns.
1 Parker, Melody. “Schwarz & Sons: Family, clay complete ‘joy of life’ for Dean Schwarz.” The Courier, January 28, 2017.
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Brunnier Art Musuem, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
Burg Giebichenstein, Halle, Germany
Charles H. MacNider Art Museum, Mason City, Iowa
Luther College Fine Arts Collection, Decorah, Iowa
Museum of Art and Culture, Wuhan, Hubei, China
Pottery Museum, Mikawachi, Japan
University of Nottingham, Nottingham, England
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Jepsen, Kristine Kopperud. “’Red Barns and White Clouds Are Not Always Stereotypes’.” Inspire Driftless Magazine, Positive News from the Driftless Region,http://iloveinspired.com/people/red-barns-white-clouds-always-stereotypes, Posted October 20, 2014.
Parker, Melody. “Schwarz & Sons: Family, clay complete ‘joy of life’ for Dean Schwarz.” The Courier, January 28, 2017.
Schwarz, Dean and Geraldine. Centering Bauhaus Clay: A Potter’s Perspective. Decorah, IA: South Bear Press, 2009.
Schwarz, Dean and Geraldine. Marguerite Wildenhain and the Bauhaus. Decorah, IA: South Bear Press, 2007.
Zug, John. “Dean Schwarz: The Summertime Potter of South Bear Creek School.” Bond (June 1973).
Artist's Studio: South Bear Pottery
1964-1988 signature, Schwarz, inscribed on bottom of pot.
1989-onward, signed on the side as a painter might.
Citation: Clark, Donald. "The Marks Project." Last modified August 25, 2023. http://www.themarksproject.org:443/marks/schwarz
