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Ruth Severson creates Raku Pottery works of art. Grout was filled in between the pieces of pottery that are adhered to “Shattered Cloud.”

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Ruth Severson grew up in Devils Lake, ND, the only child of Glenn and Geraldine Swenson.  My mother and grandmother both enjoyed crafts and triggered my interest in the arts.  I was encouraged to pursue many crafts and music.  After receiving my education in nursing at St. Luke's Hospital in Fargo, ND, I continued to be interested in all kinds of crafts.  The arts where my diversion while raising three daughters and working part time.

Raku pottery, lapidary and jewelry manufacturing currently occupy my time.  I am a member of the Artisan's Group and the Arts Center in Jamestown.  I teach beginning lapidary and jewelry creation using precious metal clay.

My husband Howard, step-daughter Katelin and I live in the country near Jamestown, ND.  We have two portable raku kilns and have recently been hired to demonstrate firing raku pottery at several summer art gatherings.

I love the creativity of the artistic community.  Everyone I've met seems so willing to share their knowledge and to encourage each other.  The excitment that flows through this group is contagious.

Artist Statement:
I was introduced to the idea of "Herd About The Prairie" by Bob Kurkowski during a visit to his studio during the Fargo Artists Studio Crawl in the fall of 2005.

Jamestown, ND is the home of the worlds largest buffalo and the National Buffalo Museum.  The museums buffalo herd has an albino buffalo named "White Cloud".  My love of raku pottery, being active in the Jamestown Arts Center, The Artisan's Group and "White Cloud" combined to inspire me to create "Shattered Cloud."  She is a combination of raku pottery shards, copper wire and dichroic glass eyes.  The glazes are all homemade and all the pieces of pottery have been hand formed on the fiberglass base using raku clay.  The pieces were dried in place, bisque fired, glazed and raku fired.

The excitement of being selected as an artist for this project and the enthusiasm of my family and friends has been so encouraging!  The arts are a wondeful way to express yourself.  Fellow artists are great support and they make me feel like I belong and that my work has value.  Their combined encouragement and support has been invaluable!

Herd About The Prairie: A Virtual Art Stampede is sponsored by the Lake Agassiz Arts Council and showcases the work of local and regional artists with support from businesses and individuals in the central Red River Valley.

2006 © Lake Agassiz Arts Council, All Rights Reserved.