A master potter of the first order
A number of years ago while traveling around in Northeastern Iowa we ran across a potter with a connection to the rich traditions of the American studio pottery movement. We purchased a single example of his work and for nearly 10 years it has held a prominent place in our collection. We lost his contact information until recently. While bumming around the net for information I decided to do a search on Schwarz and there appeared his web site. After a few calls an appointment was made for me to visit the studio.

What a good time to get away from the hot dry Midwestern summer and after about 6 hours on the road the temperature is around 80 degrees with an off and on light rain falling. It had been a long time since I had seen a 6% grade warning sign and a truck runaway ramp at the bottom but there it is and in Iowa. I had no idea that Iowa had mountains. It is not like the Rockies but nearly like some of the Ozarks. I am following the directions to the studio which ended with 'at the end of Bear School Road' and I am beginning to wonder if I have made a mistake. The road ends at a large red brick building which looks like a school surrounded by a large grove of mature pine trees. What a wonderful environment. Can this be the right place? Oh hope this is it. There is someone to ask.

Excuse me please, I am looking for Dean Schwarz, he is expecting me and I hope I am in the right place.

Yes this is it, give me a minute to locate him.

Dean leads me downstairs and on making a left turn there is functional art everywhere I look. It is going to be difficult to pick 2 or 3 pots to take home with me. The trials of a collector, so many cool pots and so few dollars. Dean shows and explains the evolution of a series of bowls he is working on. Each time I pick up a piece there is a story to be told. So many, each different and with a story to be related. Finally I have 6 pots sitting on the table but my budget says I can't take them all.


After a tour of the studio Dean asks if I would like to go upstairs to the gallery. Who in their right mind would refuse this invitation. Again there is visual overload, BIG pots everywhere, smaller pots lining the walls. I actually found myself giving one pot a big hug. All this time Dean is relating stories about his world travels and where he gets his inspiration.

Back downstairs and it is now decision time. It has been a difficult process but I finally have three pots to take home. Each one has a special meaning because the artist has related the inspiration for each.
Dean was a student of a master teacher who I feel passed on to him not only the technical skills but a true passion for his life work. Much of his work has ties to the history and traditions of area Indian tribes and African art with a touch of modernism thrown in for good measure. I can see in his eyes a little glint of satisfaction as he describes the inspiration for and story told by the decoration on each and every pot. It is truly an honor to be in the presence of a master who can create a pot with that special something. In the last 20+ years I have seen many who can throw a good pot but few who create a work of art with soul. On this trip I spent my time in the presence of a true master of the potters art.

The following is taken from his card.
During the last forty years, Schwarz Pots have found homes in over thirty museum and university collections in six countries. Dean Schwarz and sons Gunnar and Lane make traditional forms harvested from a family tree of potters reaching back through Marguerite Wildenhain and the Bauhaus to the 13th century craft guilds. "Nearly all pots represent my love and respect for the artworks of ancient peoples," says Schwarz. In honoring artistic tradition, he makes a distinction between tradition and convention: genuine tradition remains creative. Convention, on the other hand, "takes something from the past and imitates it forever," he says. "I copy no pots directly but try to honor the spirit and quality the Old Ones were so good at.".


SCHWARZ work is represented in the following collections

Museum of Art and Culture (Wu Han, Hubei, China)
University of Botswana (Galorone, Botswana, Africa)
National Museum of Botswana (Gaborone, Botswana)
Malawi Institute of Education (Zomba, Malawi, Africa)
National Gallery of Zimbabwe (Harare, Africa)
National University of Science and Technology (Bulawayo, Africa)
University of Nottingham (England)
Stavanger College (Stavanger, Norway)
Collection of King Olaf (Oslo, Norway)
Pottery Museum (Mikawachi, Japan)
Keimyung College (Taegu, Korea)
Burg Giebichenstein (Halle, Germany)
Museum of Handwork (Gera, Germany)

The White House Collection

St. Lawrence University                            University of Iowa
University of Alaska                                 University of Northern Iowa
Hamline University                                   Blanden Art Gallery
Herrmann Collection                                MacNider Museum
Waterloo Municipal Galleries                     Central Iowa Art Association
St. Cloud State College                             University of North Dakota
University of Wisconsin, S.P.                     Ambroz Art Center
Nobles County Art Center                        Indian Hills Community College
Charles City Art Center                            Central College
Mundelein College                                    Iowa Valley Community College
Neville Public Museum                             Luther College
Dubuque Museum of Art                         Winston Collection

AWARDS, a partial list
Best of Clay--Festival of the Masters, Disney World
Best of Show--University of Wisconsin, La C./CIAA/Clear Lake Art Sail/
Davenport Museum of Art/MacNider Museum/Charles City/West Des Moines
President’s Award--University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point
Award of Excellence--Green Bay/Appleton/College Hill/Oakbrook/Riverssance
Award of Merit--Art at the Station, St. Louis / Oakbrook / College Hill

United States Senior Fulbright Scholar in Ceramics, Korea, l970-7l