Peter Jadoonath
Artist Statement
My focus is making pottery for twenty-five years has been about wandering within the material. I’m better at asking questions than I am at providing answers. If there is a defining goal for me over this time, it’s been to make drawings that are pots and pots that are drawings. It’s never been my intention to have a style, there were times I pursued “style”, but most of the time it was an aspect or technique that was lifted from elsewhere and then I proceeded to beat it into the ground. It’s taken me a long time to express myself within the material. Part of that was developing a toolbox of skills, but another part of that was me just getting tired of not being honest with who I am or what I am interested in. People often say to me, “You change your work so much”. I’m not sure what to say. I’ve never seen it as much of a change, it's just evolution for myself. If I couldn’t do that then I would find something else to do.
Artist Bio
Peter earned a B.F.A in Ceramics and Painting from Bemidji State University in Northern Minnesota in 1998, and that is where the formal part of his journey began. As a kid drawing and fantasy was a foundational part of his life, so it's not a surprise he ended up here. After attending University, Peter decided to make roots in St. Paul Minnesota. He didn’t stray far from home because that was his hometown. But the strong clay community made it easy to stay close to home. Peter was an original member of the Toppot Clay Studio in Lowertown St. Paul where he worked for 10 years. Eventually, Peter moved to home studios, as he began a family. Over that time Peter became more and more active within the Midwest Art Community. Teaching at a variety of art centers including Northern Clay Center, exhibiting at Art Fairs, and organizing events. Currently, Peter and his family live an hour north of The Twin Cites where he maintains a home studio. He hosts two events per year, his annual “Backyard Pottery Sale” and he hosts a site for “The St. Croix Valley Pottery Tour”.