©1999-2015
Wisconsin Pottery Association
P.O. Box 705
Madison WI 53701-0705
The following article appeared in WPA Press, Vol. 2, September 1999
Featured WPA Member — Barbara Budig
Editor’s Note: Each edition of the WPA Press will feature one club member. The goal of these brief interviews is to help us learn more about each other and our particular collecting interests. Barbara agreed to submit to an email “interview” :
When did you join the Wisconsin Pottery Association?
I became aware of the WPA in 1994 when I saw a notice for a lecture on "Red Wing Art Pottery" to be presented by Ray Reiss. I attended the meeting and first discovered the Red Wing "Nokomis" glaze, with which I fell in love. Ray's book had not yet been published and so I was able to purchase several pieces of Red Wing art pottery at "prepublication" prices (at antique malls in the next several months) before his price guide hit the streets. At the meeting I was also impressed by the atmosphere of sharing amongst the membership. People were so willing to pass on what they knew about pottery and there was so much for me to learn! I joined the association, feeling lucky to have found such an organization.
When did you start collecting? What was your "first love" in collecting?
The first pottery I collected was American majolica. I loved the fanciful designs and whimsical shapes. I was also drawn to matte greenglazed pots, many of which sat unidentified on my mantelpiece until I began attending WPA meetings.
Has your collecting changed and if so how? Do you enjoy collecting as much as when you started? More? Why?
With education comes appreciation. Several years ago the WPA staged an exhibit of Wisconsin Art Pottery. My involvement in that exhibit gave me the opportunity to handle and view "up close and personal" many wonderful pieces of Pauline and Norse pottery. My small collection from these potteries is what I now cherish the most and hope to expand in the future. The role these potteries played in our region's cultural history adds to their aesthetic appeal.
How did you first get involved with the annual Art Pottery Show and Sale?
My membership on the WPA "Education Committee" (now known as the Program Development Committee) led to my involvement with the annual educational exhibits that are part of the show and sale. This year's Roseville exhibit, which I co-chaired with Chris Swart, marked the my third year of involvement, working mainly on the physical layout, setup and graphic elements of the exhibits – with a bit of advertising and promotional activities on the side. One year Nicol Knappen and I, as WPA officers, were invited to promote the exhibit & sale on the local television program "Live at Five." We waited for the interview in the studio with the other invited guest – a champion watermelon speed-eater (not to be confused with a seed-spitter). A live sporting event that preceded the show was running overtime and it looked as if there would be time for only one guest. We had a sinking feeling we were not going to be chosen to appear. As it turned out, the entire show was preempted! But we knew that our public educational outreach efforts would need to be stepped up in order to compete with speed-eaters in the future.
You have been integral to the annual fundraising effort, the Show and Sale. What do you feel are the Show's strong points?
Our focus on education sets us apart. But the real strength of the show & sale and the educational exhibit is the dedication and many hours of hard work given by those WPA members who have taken on the responsibility of ensuring a high level of quality. This year's event set a new standard that will take the involvement of many more WPA members to sustain in future years. Even though our membership has grown steadily over the years, the overall number of active members has remained about the same.
What areas of the annual Show and Sale need more WPA member support?
The August Show & Sale is the WPA's major fundraising activity. It supports the educational programming for its members and the general public. The preliminary planning for the August show and sale begins in September, with work beginning in earnest in January or February. There are many tasks throughout the year that provide opportunities for WPA members to become involved — mailings, promotional activities, press releases, advertising solicitation, graphic design, data entry, flyer distribution, loaning pottery for exhibit – as well as volunteer duties during the August show. Many of these tasks require only a small commitment of time. And there are rewards; being involved with the exhibit can be a tremendous educational experience. For example, how often can one see 448 pieces of Roseville pottery, including 'experimentals' and 'trail glazes' in one room?
Anything final words for the WPA membership at large?
I continue to be amazed at what our group can accomplish as a volunteer organization. Our organization has a committee structure that allows and encourages participation by all members at whatever level of commitment fits their schedules and interests. Our monthly meetings are a great resource for learning about pottery in general and guidance for personal collecting. Best of all, I've made some wonderful friends and shared a lot of fun times.