JON OAKES
Jon was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and raised in North Dakota. As a boy growing up in the Midwest during the 1970's, he had limited exposure to the arts. While attending high school his ceramics teacher discovered his talent and aptitude for clay. After sitting at the potter's wheel for the first time, he immediately felt comfortable and knew he was meant to throw clay.
After moving to California, he enrolled in college to further his clay studies. He quickly learned the unlimited possibilities in ceramic shapes and firing techniques. While in college, he was introduced to the raku process which he have continued to explore to this day. He loves the feeling of opening the kiln and is continually surprised by the unique and beautiful ceramic pieces that the raku process creates.
A few years ago he began to blow glass. He have always been intrigued by the glassblowing process and fascinated by the transparency of glass which allows light to shine through and illuminate it. This wonderful quality is not found in ceramics. He particularly enjoys designing and creating his own cane and murrine as elements for his glass artwork. He have now built a glass studio attached to his ceramics studio and he happily go back and forth between the two art forms.