In the “good ol’ days” before universities offered ceramics classes, young folks dreaming of becoming great potters learned the craft primarily through apprenticeship programs.

Nowadays, things are different. Most students become art majors to tune their craft.

Local studio potter David Caradori, however, said he believes students can grow tremendously in their field through one-on-one interaction with an artist working in their area of interest.

“In college, you learn to be good at a lot of things, but not one thing really well,” said Caradori, owner of Caradori Pottery, 359 Ferry St. “You decide what kind of work you want to make, and you focus on that.”

A collection of ceramic art done by Caradori’s apprentices is now on display in the Eau Claire Regional Arts Center’s gallery. The Caradori Pottery Apprentice Show features a couple of Caradori’s pieces, as well as his apprentices.

The show marks the 20th anniversary of Caradori Pottery and recognizes the young artists by exposing the skills they’ve worked scrupulously to elevate, Caradori said.

“A lot of these artists haven’t had shows yet,” Caradori said. “It’s great to focus on young up-and-coming artists. It’s kind of a nice celebration for them.”

Caradori said as an artist fresh out of college, he didn’t have someone to show him the ropes, and this contributed to his decision to take on student apprentices. He stresses the benefit of one-on-one attention, particularly from someone who is in touch with the workings of the art business.

“The thing about a studio artist is that they help a student get to know what the real world of art is all about,” he said. “I can teach somebody more in a year than in all five years at a university.”

Eau Claire Student’s Apprenticeship

Tiffany Bailey, who graduated from UW-Eau Claire in May with a Bachelor of Arts degree in ceramics, has been Caradori’s apprentice since June. She said she works in the basement of Caradori’s gallery on Ferry Street two days a week in addition to periodic visits to finish odds and ends.

“Dave started off just getting a feel for my skills, where I was at,” she said. “He taught me different techniques, I worked on those.”

Bailey said she started off making small colanders for berries which sold well at farmer’s markets. She has also used Caradori’s molds to create an assortment of mugs, jars, and garlic pots.

Bailey is regularly responsible for mixing clay and glazes, loading the kiln and general studio upkeep. She works unpaid in return for invaluable experience.

“I make lots of pots for him,” she said. “He shows me a form, I make 50.”

David Caradori has no formula for choosing an apprentice. “They sort of just find their way to me,” he said.

Bailey said she “wiggled her (way) in there.”

“I went to his shop a few times,” she said. “I got to know him on a university-sponsored trip to Chicago.”

Bailey completed school at the same time Sara Slattery, Caradori’s former student, completed her apprenticeship.

“I went in there and said, ‘So, I heard you might be needing a new apprentice,'” Bailey said. “I think it was a matter of being in the right place at the right time.”

Planning to apply to graduate school in a year, Bailey said the apprenticeship not only improves her skills, but is great for the experience.

About 20 pieces of Bailey’s pottery appear in the art show. In anticipation of the event, she said she swung by to check it out before everything was completely set up.

“I’m so appreciative of what Dave does,” Bailey said. “Giving people the opportunity to apprentice is just awesome.”

Caradori Apprentice History

Caradori began fostering apprentices about 18 years ago, and has worked with about 15 thus far. He has owned and operated his own gallery, Caradori Pottery, for 20 years.

He said a big part of his decision to offer apprenticeships stemmed from the fact that he didn’t have any children, loved to teach and is a people-person. Caradori said he was compelled to help young artists because he understood the art field was a very difficult market.

“I take on apprenticeships because I know it’s tough,” he said. “It’s a hard profession to make a living in.”

Caradori stressed the importance of learning from a studio artist.

“I represent the median of artists,” he said. “We live in smaller towns, have little shops, do art fairs and sell work to galleries. It’s not about having big shows in New York and Chicago, it’s making art that people want to buy. It’s providing a service to the public.

“I sell usable art that people can interact with. That’s the kind of statement I’m making.”

Caradori said he stresses with his apprentices the importance of living in reality.

“Art is not about becoming famous and walking around with the bravado of being an artist,” Caradori said. “It’s not about wearing black clothes and hanging out in coffee shops. We represent the whole spectrum of society.”

The artists featured in the show include Evan Hesteken, Mary Ketzler, Joel Klink, Chris Maierhofer, Kathryn Maves, Kelsey Nelson, Dan Polden, Sara Slattery and, of course, Caradori.

“Some of the artists in the show are professional potters, some do it on the side, some are now doing other things,” Caradori said. “For the most part however, everyone in the show is serious about making pottery.”

The Caradori Pottery Apprentice Show displays a wide assortment of ceramic pottery such as pots, vases, cups, and even flute-like woodwind instruments. Each piece is kiln-fired and glazed in colors ranging from natural shades of brown and green to more lively shades of gold, red and blue.

The show is open for viewing weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and will run until April 27. An artist’s reception will be held from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on April 7. All exhibiting artists will be present and available for comment.

Apprentice Exhibit

Jean Hood, volunteer and gallery coordinator of the Eau Claire Regional Arts Center, said the exhibit has received many good comments so far.

“I think it’s great,” she said. “I love David’s work. I think a lot of people enjoy pottery.”

The ECRAC is a non-profit art facility in downtown Eau Claire. It has a historic 1,100-seat theater and an art gallery. The gallery has a volunteer committee that meets monthly to review applications and portfolios they receive from artists who wish to have their work displayed.

The committee either accepts or rejects the artists, and then decides how to organize the upcoming exhibit. Hood said Caradori had served on the committee in the past, and the committee was happy to accept him upon learning that he was celebrating his 20th year of business.

“He approached us and it happened that we had a spot for him,” Hood said. “We hadn’t had pottery for a while, so we said sure.”

Most of the art on display is for sale. A portion of the proceeds goes to the artist and another portion benefits the gallery. It is used primarily for maintenance and upkeep of the gallery, Hood said.

The arts center has a new exhibit each month, Hood said. It has featured a wide variety of pottery, photography, watercolors, sculpture and has even exhibited art by high school, middle school and college students. Hood said that the ECRAC tries to keep things organized, and to include a variety.

“We provide art to Eau Claire,” Hood said. “We feel that providing a source of artwork is essential to people’s well-being and enjoyment of life.”

Caradori said he finds fulfillment in the world of art on several levels.

“If you’re doing what you love and are making a living off of it, you can’t ask for more than that.”