Documentaries
Feature Film Appearances
Minnesota Potters: Sharing the Fire by Kathleen Laughlin (Anoka-Ramsey Community College, 2012): Accompanied by a travelling exhibition and workshop series, this documentary provides a view into the work of eight Minnesota artists, including Richard Bresnahan and Steven Lemke at The Saint John's Pottery.
The one-of-a-kind effort to encourage, record, and share the rich history of ceramics in Minnesota is made possible in part by multiple Folk and Traditional Arts Grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board received by Anoka-Ramsey Community College and coordinated by art faculty member and ceramic artist Mark Lambert.
Clay Wood Fire Spirit by John Whitehead (Twin Cities Public Television, 1996): Winner of two Emmy Awards, this documentary captures the rhythm of a Master Potter at work. It illustrates Bresnahan's entire process-from digging his own clay to firing the largest wood kiln of its kind in North America.
This video portrait captures how Bresnahan's passion for environmental sustainability, community, and generational continuity has influenced his work at The Saint John's Pottery. Funding for this program provided by the Japan Foundation and the Mary Livingston Griggs and Mary Griggs Burke Foundation.
The Firing by John Whitehead (Twin Cities Public Television, 1996): part of the Tapes Rolling series, this short documentary film highlights the dramatic inaugural firing of the Johanna Kiln, located on the campus of Saint John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota.
Ideal for professional art educators, ceramic artists, and art lovers of all kinds, each film is available to purchase in DVD format directly from the Saint John's Pottery. All three films are guarunteed to challenge conventional ideas related to work, family, and the environment. Video (above) courtesy of Twin Cities Public Television.