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Dean L. Schwarz, Dean Schwarz

Biography to Display: 

 

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

Public Collections to Display: 

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

Bibliography to Display: 

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

 

Typical Marks

1964-1988 signature, Schwarz, inscribed  on bottom of pot.

1989-onward, signed on the side as a painter might. 

1999
Century Farm Vase
Date: 1989
Method: Thrown
Surface Technique: Glaze, Incised
The Forrest L. Merrill Collection, Dane Cloutier Archives
The Forrest L. Merrill Collection, Dane Cloutier Archives
Vase
Materials: Stoneware
Method: Thrown
Dimensions: 15" x 12"
Surface Technique: Glaze
Brunnier Art Museum, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, gift of Rae Reilly, um2019.55.09.2022.jb
Photo: ISU
Brunnier Art Museum, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, gift of Rae Reilly, um2019.55.09.2022.jb
Photo: ISU
Bowl
Date: 1999
Materials: Stoneware
Method: Thrown
Surface Technique: Glaze
Brunnier Art Museum, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, gift of Nancy Polster, um2015.47.09.2022.jb
Photo: ISU
Brunnier Art Museum, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, gift of Nancy Polster, um2015.47.09.2022.jb
Photo: ISU
Photo: ISU

Citation: Clark, Donald. "The Marks Project." Last modified August 25, 2023. http://www.themarksproject.org/marks/schwarz