Prairie Pottery

Local potter produces stoneware which

reflects the beauty of Minnesota's fields and prairies
Just west of Long Prairie, down a winding driveway and tucked inside an unassuming building, is Prairie Pottery, a one-woman business specializing in elegant and functional stoneware. Carol Sanvik, who has been a full-time potter for 18 years, creates products which are recognized by their muted browns and blues and graceful sheafs of wheat and grass.

One of the few full-time potters in the area, Sanvik did not just decide overnight to make pottery for a living. She has always enjoyed art and majored in the subject at St. Cloud State University. Sanvik has a bachelors degree in art education as well as a master's degree in art with an emphasis in ceramics and fiber.

During college, Sanvik participated in the Student Project for Amity Among Nations (SPAN) program through the University of Minnesota. SPAN is the state's oldest study abroad program and provides a unique independent study opportunities for students.

Sanvik traveled to Japan to study the country's potteries. The most important lesson Sanvik learned from her study of Japanese potteries is that simplicity can be beautiful. Her trademark design, which reflects Minnesota's prairies and fields, is based on the minimalistic traditions of Japan.

Sanvik used her teaching degree to teach art in Long Prairie, St. Cloud and Upsala. While teaching art she did pottery "on the side". After 10 years of teaching and part-time potting, Sanvik decided to take a leave of absence from teaching and see if she could make a living from pottery. At first, Sanvik missed teaching and being with her

students, but she now enjoys working alone.

After all these years as a potter, Sanvik describes what she does as "a way of life" and says she can't imagine what else she would rather be doing. Sanvik plans to keep making stoneware pottery for as long as she is able.

Sanvik's pottery studio is divided into three separate rooms to accommodate the different stages her products go through before they are completed.

Sanvik, who works at least eight hours a day, spends most of her time in the "pottery room". This is where she throws her pots and does her glazing. The shelves are filled with objects in various stages of drying--some waiting to be put in the kiln and others waiting for their coat of glaze. Also in this large airy room are special pillows for her cat, Scooter, and dog, Lacey.

It takes Sanvik two to three minutes to wedge the clay and another three to four minutes for her to complete a piece--such as a plate, bowl, mug, vase, etc. Sanvik lets the piece dry for a day before trimming the excess weight off the bottom.

After another week of drying, the stoneware is ready for its first firing, which takes place in the kiln room. The kiln room houses three separate kilns--two small electric ones and a large, gas-fired kiln.

Sanvik does her first firing in the smaller kilns, at 1,800°F, for 8-10 hours. After the first firing, the stoneware is glazed and then placed in the gas-fired kiln for eight hours at 2,500°F. It takes the kiln another 10 hours to cool down enough to be opened.

The finished products are then moved into the storage area of the shop--a small room with floor to ceiling shelves filled with Prairie Pottery items.

Sanvik's daily production goal is anywhere from 50 to 65 pots a day. She will usually spend four days throwing and trimming pots and one day glazing. Sanvik fires pots once a week in the slower season and sometimes as often as every other day when she is building up inventory for art fairs.

Sanvik's product list includes about a 100 different items including: complete dinnerware sets, pitchers, casseroles, birdhouses, teapots, etc.

Sanvik sells most of her products at the various art fairs she attends. To simplify her life, Sanvik only goes to fairs which are within a three hour drive. Customers have come to expect to find Prairie Pottery products at the annual art fairs in Alexandria, Brainerd, Bemidji, Phelps Mills, Willmar and at the big Christmas craft sale at the LP-GE High School.

By far the biggest fair Sanvik attends is the Minnesota Renais-sance Festival in Shakopee. Prairie Pottery has had a booth there for 13 years and has many loyal customers. The Renaissance Festival runs for seven weekends, in August and September. Sanvik's summers are extra busy, throwing pots, attending other art fairs and preparing for Renaissance Festival.

Sanvik, and her husband Lowell, get into the spirit of the festival by donning medieval clothing. Sanvik assists customers in a floor-length, embroidered gown and Lowell gambols about in his pants and tunic. Sanvik said that Lowell's former students will come to the festival to visit with him. He is able to stay in touch with them and their varied lives. Some have become very good friends.

Without expanding her operation and hiring people to help her, Sanvik is at her maximum production capacity. She has considered getting bigger, but isn't sure she would want the added hassles or if such an expansion would really generate more income. Instead she is in the process of designing a website for Prairie Pottery.

Sanvik uses a low-key marketing approach--she considers many of her long-time, loyal customers as friends. She believes many of her returning customers appreciate her top quality items and the personal service she provides.

Sanvik would advise anyone going into business for themselves to expect to work hard; to set goals; and persevere.

If there were any extra hours in the day, Sanvik would like to spend a few of those working on a quilt she began three years ago. She would also use some of that time to weave, spin, sculpt and do photography.

Sanvik does take the time to plant a garden, and even though the weeds can get ahead of her, she cans and preserves all she is able.

Sanvik said she feels lucky that she can make a living doing what she loves; that she lives in a community that supports her work; and that she can sell a product that is both beautiful and functional.