Brad Bachmeier – Raku Ceramics
(May 1 - June 1, 2009)

The Dacotah Prairie Museum hosted Fargo ceramic artist Brad Bachmeier in the Lamont Gallery. Bachmeier is an art professor at Minnesota State University- Moorhead, a founding board member of the FM Visual Artists, the visual arts representative on the Fargo Public School Curriculum Council, a member of the Plains Art Museum Community Arts Center Planning Committee as well as a state arts advocate.

Brad and his wife, Susan, were born in central North Dakota in the small town of Anamoose. They both graduated from Minnesota State University-Moorhead before embarking on teaching careers. In addition, Brad has just completed his MFA in 2008.

The exhibit at the Dacotah Prairie included ceramic vessels, sculptures, and hand-built forms. About his ceramic craft, Bachmeier said, “As a vehicle for my work, I have primarily chosen to use the raku firing technique, because to me it is the most exciting and challenging ceramic process. It requires patience, dedication, and intuition. I find it important to my craft to be true to my material, the technique and my personal background. Through the study of raku firing and Eastern pottery, I have developed an appreciation for Zen aesthetics. This noble theory of beauty has created for me a connection with the rural prairie in North Dakota.”

Many of the pieces in the exhibition are from the series on the evolution of civilization that Bachmeier has continued to work on. He explains, “Clay as a medium is the oldest and most universal art making material…clay has been used in every facet of human life from the culinary arts, to international trade, manufacturing, agriculture, the invention of writing and the construction of towns and cities. Even today, clay continues to play a significant role in the advancement of civilization…”

For information on past exhibits in the Lamont Gallery, please click here.