Clarkdale resident and celebrated ceramicist Don Reitz actually never had a solo show in his hometown. But that will all change starting on Sept. 30 with the opening of his solo show, “Follow Your Bliss” at Yavapai College. Kelley E. Foy, artist, designer, chef and the gallery manager at Yavapai College, has been working with Don’s children, Brent and Donna Reitz, on curating this show. “With this particular show, we wanted to really highlight his connection to the Verde Valley. Because Don Reitz really saw this as his home, and he exhibited all over the world,” says Kelley. “This is a perfect opportunity to show off the Reitz collection.”
In case you’re not familiar with Don and his work, it’s not an exaggeration to say that he was an important artist. After he died on March 19, 2014, his obituary was printed in The New York Times. His work can be found in the Smithsonian Institution. He’s credited with popularizing salt glazing in the United States. The technique involves throwing salt into the kiln when firing. This technique “creates a glaze-like surface without using a glaze,” Kelley says. He was also known for wood-kiln firing.
“He was driven to push barriers, and at a time when functional pottery was this rigid doctrine,” says Kelley. “He was known for standing on his pottery wheel and pulling up these really large vessels and then distorting them. They’re just absolutely beautiful. They really just truly have his own style to them.” His work is undeniably influential. “A lot of that imagery you see out there are the influences of his work, and I don’t think even people are aware of where they get those images. There’s also a lot of work that hasn’t been seen. And he just has such a vast collection of different styles. But, I mean, ultimately, you can see his personal aesthetic through everything. But we really wanted to make it more accessible,” says Kelley. If you attend this show, expect the unexpected. “There’s just a lot to learn from his work because it’s probably unlike anything they’ve seen or really associate with ceramic artwork,” says Kelley. “It’s painterly. It’s just personal aesthetic. It’s so different than what you see out there.” − Teresa K. Traverse
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