Tom Wintczak, thanks to his interest in antique pottery and desire to learn the basics of clay, enrolled in a six-night crash-course in pottery. That was sixteen years and many tons of clay ago. His passion for making redware pottery grew out of his admiration for the simplicity of form, function, and decoration.
He favors sgraffito-decorated pieces because of the folk art nature of the designs. He has studied the work of many potters of the 18th and 19th Centuries, but he does not do reproductions—he likes to have his own hand show in the pieces. Wintczak sees himself as the village potter, making pottery people need and commemorating their lives in sgraffito pieces. The fact that dated, personalized family pieces become heirlooms is his motivation to produce high-quality work.
He works from a circa 1850 log studio with views of the garden, which allows nature to inspire many of his pieces. Another inspiration is his proximity to the town of New Harmony, Indiana, settled by the Harmonists in 1814. Wintczak follows in the footsteps of Christoph Weber, the society’s potter, by demonstrating during Heritage Artisan Week and the annual Kunstfest.
Artisans wishing to participate in the 2021 Directory of Traditional American Crafts™ may download applications by clicking here. Because of the uncertainty of mail delivery caused by the Pandemic, we have extended the deadline for entries. We will accept entries postmarked by February 15, 2021. Those selected will be notified after judging in April, 2021. The 2021 Directory of Traditional American Crafts™ will appear in the August 2021 issue of Early American Life.
1,994 days until America's Sestercentennial
Coming Up This Weekend
Many events listed on our calendar have been postponed or cancelled as a precaution to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, now a pandemic. If you must (or choose) to attend an event, we suggest you call and verify that it will be taking place as planned.
Subscribers' Notes
Our December 2020 edition has been printed on schedule and is on its way to all of our subscribers. Because of the Covid-19 situation, postal delivery sometimes is taking longer than usual, so please be patient. Subscribers should get their magazines before Decembesr begins. Email us at subscribe@firelandsmedia.com if you suspect you have had a delivery problem—because our offices remained closed for the protection of our staff, we cannot answer telephone queries at this time.
All new web subscriptions will start with the February 2021 issue. Please email us at subscribe@firelandsmedia.com if you have other subscription requirements.