202: Clay, Community, and Faith among Goshen’s Mennonite Potters

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with four ceramic artists that live in the Goshen, IN area; Justin Rothshank, Dick Lehman, Marvin Bartel, and Mark Goertzen. They share an educational lineage that starts with Marvin Bartel, who started teaching at Goshen College in 1970. Lehman and Rothshank were students of Bartel’s decades apart, but both talk fondly of his experimental teaching techniques. Goertzen worked for Lehman for many years in his studio before later purchasing the business at the Old Bag Factory in Goshen.

In our interview, we talk about the influence of the Mennonite faith on their work ethic, the development of a ceramics community in Goshen, and the founding of the Michiana Pottery Tour. To find out more about Justin visit www.rothshank.com. For more on Dick visit www.dicklehman.com. For more on Marvin visit www.bartelart.com. For more on Mark visit www.goertzenpottery.com. To find out more about the Michiana Pottery Tour, which happens in September of every year visit www.michianapotterytour.com.

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