Tim Langholz - Burr Oak, Iowa
We are very sad to report that Tim passed away in October of 2008. Tim could easily have been a nationally famous ceramist, with his exceptional craftsmanship, vision and attention to detail. Instead, he worked modestly out of his studio in Decorah. The pots that we once carried by Tim have long since sold, but we continue to honor his name, his family and his body of work. What follows is the bio we used when he was with us.
Working in a century old schoolhouse, north of Decorah Iowa, in the village of Burr Oak, Tim creates one-of-kind, wheel thrown, decorative and functional, stoneware pottery. His forms are tight and strong, with decorations that are dynamic, clean, meticulous, highly geometric, and often with anthropomorphic elements.
“Traditionally, I am considered a studio potter. Working mostly alone, I produce unique items, in small quantities, executing all stages of production. I have worked hard to provide myself with the best classical training possible, from a wide range of mentors.”
“I was taught to coax that small ball of mud into the first shape; the dog dish. The flower pot and mug followed. I shaped hundreds of thousands of those mugs for the factory. I've traveled the Midwest United States, working for, and learning from, the older regional Studio Art Potters. Beautiful, curvy, lady vases. Some with big heads. Dark angels and black Marys. Swimsuit models. Navigational aids. Bowls, Bowls. Bowls. Big bottles, and little bottles, and all the bottles in between. More mugs. Plates and platters. Vases and jars, and even more mugs. I work mostly on my own pots now.”
“I throw crisp, traditional, functional forms. My decoration is applied when the pots are leather hard, by hand carving lines and textures, and painting with slip clay, tinted with metal oxides. The pots are bisque fired, glazed, and fired a second time to stoneware temperature.”
“I enjoy the message of the decoration most. On a small cup or bowl, the message must be short and to the point. A simple band, or some little squares. A large vase might require the story of creation. With a strong math background, many of my decorations tend to be very geometric. I feel the human image to be the most interesting and satisfying to use as the basis for my compositions. These images help to continue to ask, ‘who are we?’
tim langholz
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