President's Message
Greetings NDPCS members:
Thank you to everyone who attended the 2023 Convention and Annual Meeting June 9-11 at the Holiday Inn in Fargo, ND. Those who were not able to attend we missed you! Please review the annual meeting minutes printed in the newsletter and reach out to any board members or officers with questions, concerns and notes of appreciation. Please review the endowment request approved by the membership.
I want to share a few personal highlights from the convention and apologies if I left out anyone or one of your favorite moments:
Special thank you to Sarah Heitkamp, curator of the UND collection for Friday night’s presentation “UND History: The Past, Present, and Future of Paintings by Paul Barr and Ceramics by Margaret Cable.
A thank you for the presentation from Mark Halvorson of the North Dakota Historical Society and thank you to the video provided by our commemorative potter Julie Schuster. I hope you enjoyed this year’s commemorative.
Thanks to our Keynote Speaker Todd Hanson, who has plundered Norway to bring an awesome display of antiques and artifacts to enrich our knowledge of Norwegian heritage. “Ya Sure You Betcha Don’tcha Know Norwegian Antiques”.
Thank you to auction chairs Brad Bird and Sharon Smith and everyone who helped with the member auction. Thank you, convention chairs Linda Fiedler and Tara Holt, who always appeared to be having a good time. Thank you to everyone who helped make this convention a success.
Finally thank you is not merely enough to honor our retiring treasurer, RoseAnn Goerger, we owe her a debt of gratitude for her service. Membership voted to elect Dave Woods as our new treasurer. Welcome Dave!
At the convention board meeting the board and committee chairs tackled difficult challenges and concerns for our organization. The future of conventions, commemoratives, the member auction, declining registrations, and even the future of our organization were discussed. I am issuing a call to membership. Next year will be our 35th Anniversary and convention chairs and board members are preparing an exciting and memorable convention. We need you there! If our registrations continue to decline this may be our last convention as you have known it. The future of NDPCS depends on your participation. We will be excited to see you in Fargo next year June 7-9, 2024! Happy Hunting… Michael Kaul
At the convention board meeting the board and committee chairs tackled difficult challenges and concerns for our organization. The future of conventions, commemoratives, the member auction, declining registrations, and even the future of our organization were discussed. I am issuing a call to membership. Next year will be our 35th Anniversary and convention chairs and board members are preparing an exciting and memorable convention. We need you there! If our registrations continue to decline this may be our last convention as you have known it. The future of NDPCS depends on your participation. We will be excited to see you in Fargo next year June 7-9, 2024! Happy Hunting… Michael Kaul
34th Annual NDPCS Convention
FARGO, ND
A Look Back...
Friday---registration and check-in went well. The Holiday Inn was, once again, great to work with! The social on Friday evening was fun! It was good to see all the familiar faces. Our presenter Friday night was Sarah Heitkamp. Her presentation was amazing! She spoke of the UND Arts Department and itsconnections to Paul Barr, Bob Barr's father. It was so interesting! Friday evening ended with room sales. Always a fun adventure!
Saturday---early morning board meeting with so much to discuss. A lot of things decided that would be brought to the members on Sunday morning. One of our educational speakers that morning was Mark Halvorson from the State Historical Society. He basically spoke of “what to do with our collections”. He had alot of good ideas. Saturday afternoons auction was filled with a variety of North Dakota pottery items. Lots of members and some outsiders were in attendance. Double D Auctioneers called the auction. They always do a good job! Saturday evening's presenter was Todd Hanson who spoke of his collection of Norwegian Wood Antiques. He brought several items he described that were so unique. It was fascinating!! The evening ended once again with room sales - always a convention favorite.
Sunday---the annual member meeting had a lot of agenda to discuss. Someof it being next year's convention ( its our 35th), newsletter information andwebsite information. We closed the meeting, and several members went down the road to the Goerger Auction for the afternoon.
All in all I thought the convention went well! I hope everyone enjoyedthemselves! A special 'thank you' to Tara Holt for all of her assistance and time(mostly on the phone). Thank you to all of those who helped : from takingcommemorative orders to registration to auction catalog, check-in, runners, to banquet helpers and donation of centerpieces for drawings. You all know who you are and how special you are to me. I appreciate you all! We hope to see everyone back here next year!
Good Travels! Safe Summer To All!!
Linda Fiedler, Convention Co-Chair
2023 NDPCS Convention Highlights
FARGO, ND
Photos Courtesy of Tess Erickson Cain
NDPCS Annual Meeting
Sunday June 11, 2023Holiday InnFargo, North Dakota
Meeting called to order at 9:00 AM at the Holiday Inn, Fargo, ND a quorum was declared.
Secretary’s ReportMinutes of the June 12 annual meeting were published in the July 2022 club newsletter. Rose Ann Goerger moved to approve and Jeff Fratzke second. Motion carried.
Treasurer’s ReportRose Ann Goeger reported a checking balance of $26,849.76, the CD was surrendered in the amount of $8,226.27 for a total of $35,076.03. Motion to approve Kenneth Metzen, Rick Stubson second. Motion carried.
Auditor’s ReportVicki Swartzendruber reviewed the financial records covering the period of January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022. President Kaul read comments provided by Vicki S. and passed the report to attendees of annual meeting for review.
Presidents ReportPresident Kaul thanked everyone who attended the 2023 convention making it a success.
Committee ReportsMembership: Linda Fiedler reported currently have 141 members and 19 honorary members. Of the 19 honorary members 8 continue to pay their annual membership dues. This translates into 130 paying members. For year 2023 we got 8 new members and 4 registered for convention.
Commemoratives: Linda Fiedler reported Nate Leben stepped aside as chairman and Bonnie Olson stepped in to collect money for commemoratives. Members purchased 53, 1 silver was raffled for $334.00, one gold was auctioned for $80.00 at the Saturday evening banquet. 13 commemoratives are produced as specials for board members and 5 are given to historical places. At the banquet a donated salad bowl made by Julie Schuster and wooden utensils by Doug Prchal was auctioned for $70.00. An additional donated cobalt blue bowl made by Julie S. was auctioned for $95.00.
Newsletter: Linda Fiedler reported in absence of Deanna Reynolds. Two hundred newsletters continue to be printed so bulk mailing rate can be obtained. Editions range from 8 to 10 pages depending upon the number of articles submitted with 4 color pages per edition. Fourteen members have requested electronic versions of the newsletter. Deanna is encouraging anyone interested in doing newsletter in the future to express your interest to our President because she would like to pass the task on. Since Deanna would like to retire , should our newsletter change? A lot of discussion was held on newsletter. Possible outsourcing was one sug-gestion. Many thoughts and ideas were presented. Should our group join other arts associations like Bismarck Arts Gallery and the Fargo arts group in hopes of increasing our membership?
Web Site; Tess Erickson Cain reported website runs smoothly. Site has become a little more active and costs to maintain are currently $232.00 per year. Site is contacted about off loading collections or values of individual pieces. Tess suggested additional security features should be added to secure our site. It would protect individuals who access our site. The estimated cost would be less than $200.00 per year. A member also suggested setting up a payment system for membership dues. Tess encouraged membership to consider participating and be involved with information to place on website. Currently the web site is updated 3 times per year.
Endowment: Jeremy Dietchman received a request from Richland county museum for $1,000.00 for lighting, displays and ADA compliance. Gayette Fratzke moved to pay endowment of $1000.00 as requested and Sharon Smith second. Motion passed.
Budget: Bill Bakken clarified what makes up the budget to membership. Bill also informed membership that 2024 budget will be last budget he completes. Someone needs to volunteer to work on all future budgets.
2023 Convention: Linda Fiedler reported 51 people registered for this years convention and the silent auction sold 2 items totaling $995.00. Linda and Tara both expressed having a good time planning the convention.
Old Business:
President Kaul recognized Tara Holt and Doug Prchal for the donation they made to NDPCS, and clarified that this money is to be used for stipends for speakers at convention and equalizing pay for committee members. Sandy Short made motion and Ken Metzen second. Motion carried.
New Business:a. President Kaul spoke about the 2024 annual convention. Numbers continue to drop, costs increase, what’s the future look like for the organization? Fargo Holiday Inn has been very accommodating to NDPCS and will host the 2024 convention. It is the organization's 35th anniversary. Our 2025 convention may look very different. Participation is so important and ours is declining. Board will be discussing various options. How can we get some of the 517 people on the ND pottery face book page to join our group. Todd Hanson suggested the convention auction by advertized as an open auction instead of a NDPCS auction in hopes of better attendance. Other suggestions were offered to board for discussion at future board meetings.b. President Kaul asked membership for a committee to be created to review bylaws and guidelines and report to the board for future changes at annual meeting. Bylaws have not been reviewed and updated for many years.c. There has been no activity on Website in regard to member spotlight.d. President Kaul asked the membership approve equal compensation for Webmaster and Newsletter editor. Motion by Karen Midarden, second by Dave Woods. Motion carried.e. The board nominated Dave Woods to become the new treasurer for NDPCS. Karen Midgarden moved a unanimous ballot be cast for Dave and Sandy short second. Motion passed.f. Anyone interested in becoming commemorative chairman for 2024 convention, see President Kaul. Julie Schuster will be potter, but need chair.g. Anyone interested in assuming Newsletter Editor, see President Kaul.
h. President Kaul informed membership Arley Olson is retiring as NDPCS Historian. Anyone interested in becoming NDPCS Historian see President Kaul. A motion was made by Kenneth Metzen that all historical records be digitized prior to being donated to Bismarck Historical Center Archives. Pat Grantier second.
Next annual meeting will be 2024 convention, Holiday Inn, Fargo, ND June 9, 2024Motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Bonnie Nelson
UND Pottery Inspired by Norway
By Karen Midgarden
When the University of North Dakota declared its intent to found a School of Mines in 1890, part of its mis-sion was to highlight North Dakota resources nationally and internationally. UND chemistry professor and eventual dean, Earle Babcock, spent several summers traveling around North Dakota surveying mineral re-sources. As he traveled, he collected specimens of native clay which testing revealed to be suitable for art pot-tery leading to the 1910 founding of the UND Ceramics Department. Combining industry, art and science, the department’s students and instructors produced art pottery that was sold to area businesses through a traveling salesperson to support the department and pay instructors. Organizations ordered commemoratives for special occasions. The pottery was popular as gifts and as keepsakes for the artists.
In June. 1939, Norway’s Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Martha visited the Red River Valley of Min-nesota and North Dakota to bear witness to the achievements of the Norwegian citizens who emigrated to the United States. As part of their visit, the Daughters of Norway organization contracted with the UND School of Mines to create a commemorative medallion for the royal visit. Pictured here is a glaze test medallion which is marked on the reverse with a glaze number and the word “orange”. The definitive version of the medallion has its ribbon attached and the markings on the reverse to signify the occasion. 1000 were produced in 1939 and 1000 more in 1941 according to Don Miller’s University of North Dakota Pottery: The Cable Years.
Julia Mattson graduated from high school in Grand Forks in 1920 and obtained her undergraduate and master’s degrees from UND. She began her UND career as a student assistant and became an instructor in the Ceramics Department when she graduated, eventually earning a position as an assistant professor.
Mattson held a key role within the ceramics department because she was the person responsible for stacking all the kilns with pieces that needed firing and removing them when they were finished.
Mattson made the molds for convention favors, special orders, and new pottery designs. It is likely that she had a hand in the creation of the 1939 medallions. Mattson’s pottery work demonstrated a strong emphasis on the area where she grew up and spent her career. In a nod to the Red River Valley’s strong Scandinavian roots, Mattson created other Scandinavian-themed work.
Two pieces from the author’s collection are pictured here. Mattson’s signature on the bottom is the stylized “JM”. The royal visit in 1939 inspired the creation of the Norwegian girl. The bunad vase pictured bears Mattson’s signature on the bottom along with the trademark stamp found on most UND pieces. The author has seen student pieces with this design which may have been created as an instructional tool that also sold well to area Scandinavians.
Miller, Donald. University of North Dakota Pottery; The Cable Years. 1999, Second edition. University of North Dakota Visual Arts Department.Dommel, Darlene Hurst. Dakota Potteries. 1996. Collector Books.
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Memorable Convention Speakers
By Tara Holt
Friday evening after dinner, Sarah Heitkamp, UND Collections Curator, did a deep dive into her two favorite UND collections, Margaret Cable and Paul E. Barr. The Barr family was in attendance, which made it even better! She included aspects of her job, the exceptional venue at UND, and her future wishes and plans for the addition of interactive displays.
Saturday morning another noted Curator and Collections, Mark Halvorson, ND State Historical Society, brought us ideas about trimming our beloved collections. As we move into homes without storage and display area, it’s prudent to begin gifting, selling, and cultivating what you have collected as you see an interest from family and friends. After all, it’s the hunt and mutual sharing of our collections we enjoy most!
Saturday evening after dinner we enjoyed “Ya’, You Betcha” from our own Todd Hanson, a collector of centuries old Norwegian items. We were enthralled as he went through the history and use of authentic pieces in his collection. It was so interesting, especially since many of us are of Norsk legacy. We’re still wondering how he packed all that stuff in his car, but he did it, and was off to present in Minot. He’s in demand!
Thank you to our presenters! You were all so interesting and thoughtful. You brought us excellent, useful information!
Meet the Potter:Julie Schuster from Dickinson created our 2023 commemoratives. We thank her for her time, attention to detail, and her expertise! She also donated two beautiful bowls for the Saturday evening live auction! Thank you! She has a great video showing her as the “throws” our commemoratives at https://www.youtube.com/@julieschusterpottery.
2023 NDPCS Auction
By Linda Bakken
