Shaping-Family-Tradition-in-Pottery-at-RVC.php

Shaping Family Tradition at RVC

• Students
• 04/11/2025

For Josh Frank, a Running Start student from Pecatonica High School, pottery is more than just an art – it’s a family legacy

Currently enrolled in the Associate of Arts program at Rock Valley College, Josh has rekindled his family’s passion for ceramics, inspiring his grandmother, Dana, to do the same.

For years, Josh's grandparents had a little pottery studio in Oregon. His grandpa David did most of the throwing – shaping clay on a petter’s wheel – while his grandma Dana did most of the glazing. Over the years, they made lots of impressive pieces. At first, when they began to teach their grandkids the art of pottery, David would center the pots for them to create their own pieces. As their grandchildren grew, David and Dana passed down their knowledge, often helping the kids center their clay on the wheel – a fundamental step in pottery.

Josh remembers spending hours in the pottery barn with his older brother, trying to master the complex art of centering. Watching his grandpa's effortless skills when he made pots was mind-blowing. "After we had our questionable pots thrown, we would sit down with grandma and decide which glazes we wanted to use. She would then help us paint our glaze and experiment with different colors."

A little over a year ago, Josh's grandpa David passed away, which made it a little harder for them to make pots since he was the main centerer. However, Josh decided to take a ceramics class at RVC last semester with Professor Fisher-Carlson. He remembered that his grandpa had also taken ceramics in college, where he first learned how to work with clay, which excited Josh to develop his grandpa's skills.

Professor Lynn Fisher-Carlson reflected on Josh’s time in her class. "He did a great job with his work, diligently completing each assignment. His work was thoughtfully crafted and creative.”

"It was such a wonderful experience! I learned much more about hand building, slab building, and throwing,” said Josh. “Taking the class gave me a solid grasp of the basics. When I showed my work to my grandma, she was impressed and decided to take the Continuing Education ceramics class so she could learn some of the things I did."

Dana reflected on how their family's pottery journey has evolved over the years. "When we lived in Oregon, we bought a kick wheel and a gas kiln, teaching our children whenever they visited. As the grandchildren grew, we expanded our setup, building a shed and adding an electric kiln and wheel. At every family reunion, they would throw pots and glaze them, developing a love for the art."

Seeing Josh thrive in his pottery class at RVC inspired Dana to expand her skills. "We taught Josh his first experiences with pottery, and now he's sharing his new knowledge with me. It has truly come full circle."

"It brings me joy to think about how much Josh has grown through his experiences at RVC," said Jennifer Nordstrom, Early College Coordinator. "Rather than being singularly focused on taking courses related to his intended career field, Josh has made good use of his time in the Running Start program to expand his knowledge and be open to learning new things. He understands the value of a liberal arts education and the skills developed through the balance that liberal arts provide. This approach to his education will serve him well in the future."

Josh has one semester left at RVC and hopes to transfer to Brigham Young University in the fall.