J a s o n T r e b s , a y o u n g c e r a m is t w h o s h o w s
w o r k r e g u la r ly a t t h e G r a n d H a n d . “ I ’ m i n -
c r e d i b ly h a p p y b e in g a b le t o m a k e a liv in g
h e r e ju s t m a k in g fu n c t io n a l p o t s .”
T r e b s n e v e r p a r t ic ip a t e d in th e m c c o r
b e lo n g e d t o t h e N o r t h e r n C l a y C e n t e r , b u t
h e a c k n o w le d g e s t h e e f f o r t s h is p r e d e c e s -
s o r s m a d e to e s t a b lis h t h e lo c a l m a r k e t . H e
w a s e x t r e m e l y f l a t t e r e d w h e n W a r r e n
M a c K e n z i e , t h e g r e a t m a s t e r T r e b s h a s
a lw a y s a d m ir e d , c u r a te d h is w o r k in to th e
c o lle c t io n a t th e W e is m a n M u s e u m o f A r t .
M a c K e n z i e , f o r h is p a r t , c o n t in u e s
w o r k i n g a n d g r o w in g h is r e p u t a tio n n a t io n -
a lly a f t e r m a k in g p o t s f o r m o r e th a n d o
y e a r s a n d h e lp in g fo u n d s e v e r a l e n d u r in g
in s t it u t io n s . In 1 9 9 9 , h e r e c e iv e d a D is t in -
g u is h e d A r t i s t A w a r d f r o m t h e M c K n i g h t
F o u n d a t io n , r e c o g n iz in g h is lif e t im e b o d y
o f w o r k . E v e n w i t h s u c h h o n o r s , M a c K e n -
z i e is h u m b le a b o u t w h a t h e ’ s a c c o m p lis h e d
a n d a c k n o w le d g e s a ll t h a t t h e T w i n C i t i e s
h a v e o f f e r e d h im . “ I ’v e h a d a g r e a t t im e h e r e
in t h is c o m m u n it y . I ’v e b e e n a b le t o c o n -
v i n c e p e o p l e t h a t t h e t h in g s I ’ m d o in g a r e
w o r t h w h i l e a n d t h e y m ig h t e n j o y h a v in g
th e m in t h e ir h o m e .” +
Michael Fallon is a St. Paul-based writer.
Right: Sarah Peters,
a co-op member of the
Minnesota Center for
Book Arts, working
at a Vandcrcook press.
The center offers studios
to masters and novices
alike, while also holding
exhibitions and educa-
tion programs.
“I think we have it pretty good here, in terms o f both
the audience and the good community o f artists. ”
—Jason Trebs
Lett: St. Paul-based
potter Jason Trebs has
found an extremely
supportive community
for his ceramic pieces
such as this 12-inch
high
Vase.
Above: “The Spindle”
exhibition at the
Gallery of Wood Art
included the work of
Jim Keller, Charles
Farrar, Gorst duPtessis
and Jennifer Shirley.
aug/sep 09 american craft 07
