• Justin Rothshank is a studio potter working in Goshen, Indiana since 2009. Justin’s ceramic work has been exhibited and published internationally, including articles in Ceramics Monthly, American Craft, Studio Potter, The Log Book, and several books. He has been a presenter, panelist, visiting artist, and artist-in-residence at numerous universities, schools, conferences, and art centers throughout the United States and abroad.

    Justin is the author of Low Fire Soda, a book published in 2020 by Ceramic Arts Network that also includes a corresponding video release. In2012 Justin released an instructional DVD titled Ceramic Decals: New Ideas and Techniques, published by Ceramic Arts Daily. His functional and decorative ceramic ware is available for purchase in more than three dozen galleries and gift shops around the United States.

    In 2001 Justin co-founded the Union Project, a nonprofit organization located in Pittsburgh, PA, where he served as Associate Director and Principal Artist until 2009. Justin’s work at the Union Project was recognized with numerous historic preservation and social innovation awards from city, state, and national organizations. He is also a co-founder of the Michiana Pottery Tour, Northern Indiana Clay Alliance, and the Indiana Clay Conference.

    Justin was awarded a GAP Grant from Studio Potter in 2023. In 2019 he was selected by Traditional Arts Indiana as a Master Artist. In 2014 Justin was awarded an Individual Artist Grant by the Indiana Arts Commission. He was presented with an Award of Excellence by the American Craft Council in February 2009. In 2007 he was recognized by Ceramics Monthly Magazine as an Emerging Artist. He has also been awarded an Alcoa Foundation Leadership Grant for Arts Managers, a 2007 Work of Art Award from Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, the 2005 Decade of Servant Leadership Award from Goshen College, and was named to Pittsburgh Magazine’s 40 under 40 in 2005.

    Justin's work is in the numerous public and private collections around the United States. Museum collections include: High Museum (Atlanta, GA), Frick Museum (Pittsburgh, PA), Museum of Fine Arts (Springfield, MA), San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts (San Angelo, TX).

  • Hi! I’m Heidi Fahrenbacher (fair-en-bach-er). I am the woman behind Bella Joy Pottery. Each piece is handmade with the intention to make you smile, to bring you a little joy.

    I create Bella Joy Pottery for daily rituals - drinking coffee, eating lunch, watering your plants. Frivolous? Not at all! Life is better when you enjoy the small things.

    I started Bella Joy Pottery in 2006, but my love affair with ceramics started much earlier. At 15, I took my first ceramics class and I was hooked. I was also awful. Awful. I struggled at the potters wheel for years, but liked the challenge. In college, I wanted to become a gerontologist. Before the beginning of my sophomore year, my dad sat me down and advised me to do what I loved instead. (What a good guy!) I went to the registrar's office and changed all my courses for the fall. Looking back, it was the correct decision.

    I launched Bella Joy Pottery out of a former chicken coop in 2006. In 2017, I flew the coop, to a new studio in Plainwell, MI, smack dab between Chicago and Detroit. Each design begins on the pottery wheel with an original clay prototype before being turned into a mold and formed from liquid stoneware. Each piece is created, finished, and glazed by hand. All clay and glazes are made in house.

    I am obsessed with color. When I see something I usually think I bet that would look better with some red or blue or green. I am inspired by the contrasts that make colors really pop like neon lights on a dark rainy night, brightly colored flowers against all green foliage, and autumn leaves vibrant against a gray November sky. It is these details of color observation that go into my pottery.

    I am a friendly introvert, which really confuses people, but it is true. I tend to find the silver lining in most things and if not, I can at least laugh at myself or the circumstances. I tend to be kind, but have a low tolerance for nonsense.

    If I am not in the studio you will find me outside either laying in my hammock or laying in the grass, without a blanket. I currently live on a 40 acre farm with my husband Joe and two cats, Midnight and Buck. I am always in search of the best homegrown tomato. I love swimming, especially in cold water, dance music, old Atari games, pickles, and anything with tomatoes.

  • Becca Otis is a colorful nomad potter who adventures in her van with a curious cat named Lloyd. Her pottery career spans over 15 years, and she has sold her work professionally for 10.

    During that time Becca worked as a large scale production potter. Her focus today remains on efficient movements within the throwing process. She teaches throwing courses online, and offers private instruction to those wanting to imrove and streamline their throwing skills.

    Since embracing van life, Becca has scaled down her production work. She has created a line of brightly colored jewelry with an entire line dedicated to reminiscing the 80’s.

    You can also find Becca on a popular podcast in the pottery community - Wheel Talk Podcast. She and Ryan Durbin of RD Ceramic talk about all the ins and outs or being a potter, and have interviewed many potters throughout their 5 years of operation.

    Becca is headed back to the Midwest this summer, and Beale Pottery is on her tour stop!

  • A scientist and artist, Holly’s works draw from her experiences immersed in Florida’s wildest settings. She combines elements of Florida’s rich natural history (going back millions of years) to our current events (clay from Hurricane Ian). Jones’ ceramic works combine fossils, indigenous clays that she collects here in south Florida, and frequent interactions with our diverse wildlife. Her functional wares are beautiful moments preserved on high fire stoneware.

    A fine art major in college, Holly Jones fell in love with geology and became a research scientist and adjunct professor at Indiana University and FGCU in Fort Myers. She earned a Bachelor of Art in Geology and a master’s in public Affairs. She’s a trained naturalist, an arborist, a master gardener & a chef. A farm kid at heart, her skills range from things like working with dogs and horses, growing, and preserving delicious food, welding, baking bread, hunting fossils & making things.

    In summer, she enjoys traveling to see her daughter and sailing on Lake Michigan.

    She has a passion for learning and loves to see people (and things) thrive. Working in clay combines her true loves: earth minerals, creating forms, playing in the mud, growing community, and fires.

  • Eric is a union carpenter by day, and has spent almost three decades moonlighting as a studio potter. In 2016 Milissa and Eric Beale launched Beale Pottery, and so began his career as a small batch production potter.

    Through mentorship and practice Eric has aquired he a very impressive and efficient skillset on the potters wheel. He believes in building consistency and control through repetition. Today he continues to produce small batch work for Beale Pottery, and has gone on to share his love of the craft with others through various classes + workshops.

    Raku firing and glaze formulation are among other areas of deep understanding and interest for Eric.

    Eric has a great love of the outdoors, and enjoys the study of wildflowers and mushrooms. Hiking with family and friends is where you’ll find him when he’s got some free time.

  • Hi! I am Milissa Beale. My clay story began back in 1994, in Mr. Dan Vidt’s ceramic class. I fell in love with the medium, and have always found a way to keep my hands muddy and creating. In 2001 I walked into a little hole in the wall gallery, and ran into Eric teaching pottery classes in a dingy basement. Up to that point in my life, I had never met anyone more nerdy about clay. We hit it off right awa, and started devising plans for our own studio.