Articles and Media
Pottery Studio News
Potter Richard Bresnahan Navigates an "Eco-Mutual" Future (National Gallery of Art, April 12, 2024): National feature on Richard Bresnahan and the work of The Saint John's Pottery by SJU alum Paul Schmelzer with photographs by Jenn Ackerman, Tim Gruber and SJU alum Paul Wegner.
Kura: Prophetic Messenger book continues to earn awards (Saint John's University, 2022): The latest award came in June when it was named the winner in the highly competitive Arts, Photography and Coffee Table Books category at the 32nd annual Midwest Independent Book Awards.
Kura: Prophetic Messenger racks up another major book award (Saint John's University, 2022): The book, which chronicles the collaborative effort that brought the sculpture into being, was named best Fine Arts book in the 16th annual National Indie Excellence Awards (NIEA).
Kura: Prophetic Messenger earns international book award (Saint John's University, 2022): The book about the sculpture that became the first permanent installation in the Jon Hassler Sculpture Garden at SJU won the 2022 Nautilus Special Honors Book Award in the photography and art division.
Kura: Prophetic Messenger a 2022 Minnesota book award finalist (Saint John's University, 2022): Award nominees were celebrated at the 2022 Minnesota Book Awards Ceremony on April 26 at the Ordway Center for Performing Arts in St. Paul.
Saint John's kiln firing is celebration of art, community (Minnesota Public Radio, October 21, 2019): Text and audio story highlighting the 15th firing of the Johanna Kiln.
Forty Years On: Bresnahan carries rich legacy of the Saint John's Pottery into the future (Saint John's University, Summer/Fall 2019): Intervew with Richard Bresnahan on the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of the Saint John's Pottery.
Forty Years On: Richard Bresnahan and Artists of the Saint John's Pottery (NCECA, March 29, 2019): Images and audio of panel discussion featuring Dr. Matthew welch, Paul-Vincent Niebauer OSB, chef Raghavan Iyer, Richard Bresnahan and Samuel Johnson. Hosted by the National Council on Education in the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) during their 53rd annual conference in Minneapolis, MN.
Saint John's Pottery supports artists, stewardship in Benedictine style (National Catholic Reporter, April 2018): Article on the Saint John's Pottery from a Catholic and stewardship perspective.
The Saint John's Pottery awarded $500,000 for Japan-based research and study (Saint John's University, August 17, 2017). The Saint John's Pottery has been awarded a grant from the Mary Livingston Griggs and Mary Griggs Burke Foundation to establish the Mary Griggs Burke Fellowship for Japanese Artists and Apprentices.
The Saint John's Pottery receives $175,975 from the estate of Bernard Kathmann (Saint John's University, July 31, 2017). The purpose of the gift is to support the Mildred and Bernard Kathmann Saint John's Pottery Apprenticeship fund, which provides formal training to post-undergraduate artists in sustainable resource development, ceramic production and contemporary art theory.
Beauty Born in Fire (MPR, September 29, 2016): Interview and review of exhibition, workshop and lecture at the Minnetonka Center for the Arts.
The Saint John's Pottery to Host Three Resident Artists in June (Saint John's University News, May 31, 2016): Debra Keyes of Minneapolis, Minnesota and Nadine Terk of New York, New York are selected as Jerome Foundation Emerging Artists for 2016. In addition, the studio will host artist Jane Kelley Rodeheffer of Malibu, California.
The Saint John's Pottery Awarded $29,500 for International Environmental Artist Fellowship (Saint John's University News, October 16, 2015): Saint John's University and The Saint John's Pottery announce a residency project for environmental artists in conjunction with the Camargo Foundation in Cassis, France.
Saint John's Fires Up Continent's Largest Wood-Burning Kiln by Isaac Schweer (WJON News, October 16, 2015): This news article and accompanying video highlight the lighting ceremony and firing of the Johanna Kiln at The Saint John's Pottery and Saint John's University.
Johanna Kiln Builds Sense of Tradition, Community by Ben Rogers (Saint Cloud Times, October 16, 2015): Saint John's University and The Saint John's Pottery celebrate homecoming with the lighting ceremony and firing of the Johanna Kiln. Artists from as far away as Japan and Australia gather in Minnesota to take part in this large community event.
The Saint John's Pottery to Host Two Jerome Foundation Emerging Artists (Saint John's University News, May 14, 2015): Erin Anderson of Minneapolis, Minnesota and Kevin Lips of Brooklyn, New York are selected as the 2015 recipients of The Saint John's Pottery Jerome Foundation Emerging Artist Program.
Jerome Foundation Awards 2014 General Program Grants (The Jerome Foundation, July 10, 2014): This news release profiles the Jerome Foundation 50th Anniversary Grant of $50,712 to Saint John's University and The Saint John's Pottery as well as other programs in Minnesota and New York City.
The Saint John's Pottery Celebrates 35th Anniversary (Saint John's University News, June 23, 2014): This event release details two special events to mark the 35th anniversary of The Saint John's Pottery. The events coincide with Alumni, Family and Friends weekend at Saint John's University.
The Saint John's Pottery Awarded $50,712 for Jerome Foundation Emerging Artist Program (Saint John's University News, June 16, 2014): This news release announces a Jerome Foundation 50th Anniversary Grant in support of a program for emerging artists from Minnesota and New York City to create work in clay at The Saint John's Pottery.
The Saint John's Pottery Awarded Grant by Frank Lee (Saint Cloud Times, June 16, 2014): This article profiles the announcement of a Jerome Foundation 50th Anniversary Grant in support of The Saint John's Pottery and Jerome Foundation Emerging Artist Program. (Complete online article available to Saint Cloud Times subscribers only.)
SJU Pottery Kiln Firing by Dr. Michael Hemesath (Quad 136, October 11, 2013): Dr. Michael Hemesath, President of Saint John's University, writes in his weekly blog about how firing the Johanna Kiln at The Saint John's Pottery embodies a truly Benedictine sense of community at Saint John's.
Kiln Lit in Memory of Influential Women by Erin Kelso (The Record, October 8, 2013): This article profiles the 12th firing of the Johanna Kiln, held in honor of S. Johanna Becker OSB, Mary Griggs Burke, and Akiko Sako. SJU President Dr. Michael Hemesath and Mr. Masaharu Yoshida, Consul General of Japan in Chicago, spoke at the event.
Made on Earth: Slow Art Pottery by Joe Sandor (MAKE Magazine, July 26, 2012): Artist and writer Joe Sandor shares with MAKE Magazine about the deeply-rooted sense of materiality and ecological awareness in Bresnahan's ceramic work as Artist-in-Residence at The Saint John's Pottery.
The Teacher: Richard Bresnahan by Anna Hoeschen (Handful of Salt, April 16, 2012): A recent graduate of the College of Saint Benedict, Anna Hoeschen chronicles the work of Master Potter and Artist-in-Residence and Richard Bresnahan for a contemporary American craft publication and blog.
Two Teapots by Richard Bresnahan: Our Favorite Things by Jason Onerheim and Lori Williamson (Minnesota Historical Society Collections Podcast and Blog, July 29, 2011): The Minnesota Historical Society highlights a special part of their collection by highlighting a selection of Bresnahan teapots.
Firing the Kiln at Saint John's University by Scott Carlson (The Chronicle for Higher Education, September 27, 2010): Scott Carlson writes for the Buildings and Grounds blog about his experience traveling with a group of colleagues to various sustainably-minded locations across rural America.
Earth, Wind and Fire: Richard Bresnahan's Elemental Approach to Art and Life by Scott Carlson (The Chronicle for Higher Education, February 13, 2009): This article is a fantastic introduction to the studio, and includes compelling descriptions of The Saint John's Pottery during a past firing of the Johanna Kiln.
Art and Life, Steeping in a Teapot by David Colman (The New York Times, February 17, 2008): Rome Prize in Landscape Architecture winner Fritz Haeg references his appearance at the 2008 Whitney Biennial and his decision to keep a Bresnahan teapot as a cherished belonging while freeing himself from his other possessions.
Saint John's University Potter and Kiln Builder by Laura McCallum (Minnesota Public Radio, February 10, 2007): The Odd Jobs segment visits Richard Bresnahan in his earth-toned studio rich with the smell of indigenous clays, where he starts his day preparing slip, the watery clay mixture vital for throwing good pots.
Pottery Studio Hosts Renowned Japanese Potter Shiho Kanzaki (Saint John's University News, January 7, 2004): The Saint John's Pottery hosts the Shigaraki-based potter along with a film crew filming Kanzaki, Richard Bresnahan, and Dr. Matthew Welch from the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.
North Dakota Natives Receive Alumni Achievement Award and Degree (Saint John's University News, April 13, 2003): Saint John's University President Br. Dietrich Reinhart OSB, presents an alumni achievement award to Richard Bresnahan, SJU class of 1976, along with the presentation of an honorary degree to his father, Richard Bresnahan, Sr.
Pottery Book Finalist for Benjamin Franklin Award (Saint John's University News, May 27, 2002): Honors the book "Body of Clay, Soul of Fire: Richard Bresnahan and The Saint John's Pottery," as told by Dr. Matthew Welch, Deputy Director and Chief Curator at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.
Richard Bresnahan Talks Up His Giant Kiln by Annie Feidt (Minnesota Public Radio, December 31, 2001): Richard Bresnahan speaks with Minnesota Public Radio about the Johanna Kiln and the book "Body of Clay, Soul of Fire: Richard Bresnahan and The Saint John's Pottery," nominated for two Minnesota Book Awards.