| Barbara Willis was born in Bakersfield,
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| | be kind enough to sign it for me. She
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| California on June 29, 1917. She began
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| | signed it "To Alice, Warm Regards -
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| her art career by studying with potter
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| | Barbara Willis - 1/29/04." I later
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| Laura Andreson and trained with the
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| | noticed that she had inadvertently dated
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| master, Glen Lukens at UCLA in the late
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| | it 2004 instead of 2005. Like most of us,
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| 1930's. In 1942, Barbara opened her first
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| | we write the previous year's date until
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| studio pottery. With the shortage of
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| | we are used to the new year. I certainly
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| domestic products due to World War II,
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| | did not mind the incorrect date. I was
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| Barbara then went from studio to
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| | overjoyed that I was conversing with her
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| production potter. Barbara's unique
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| | and expressing my admiration for her work
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| glazing technique, vibrant colors and
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| | directly in person.I speak of Barbara
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| imitation wood designs were sought after
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| | Willis with much enthusiasm because of
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| by the large store chains such as Neiman
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| | many reasons. First and foremost, I love
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| Marcus, Lord & Taylor of New York,
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| | her pottery - not only her vintage work,
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| Gump's, & Macy's to name a
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| | but her contemporary work as well. Here's
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| few....including the White House. The
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| | a woman, in her late 80's, who currently
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| popularity of her work lasted until the
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| | has her "creative juices" in motion,
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| mid 1950's when art pottery interest
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| | working right out of her home in Malibu
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| declined due to the increase in imports
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| | Beach letting herself be known again to
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| after the war. Barbara closed her pottery
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| | the pottery world after a thirty-seven
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| and moved on to her next business
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| | year absence to clay. I, like many
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| venture.In 1994, Barbara Willis found a
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| | others, am very appreciative of her work
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| piece of her vintage pottery at a flea
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| | and share in the joy of her return as she
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| market. During a conversation with the
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| | quickly is being recognized as an
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| seller, she passed on her phone number. A
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| | important American ceramist!You will find
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| few weeks later, an avid collector of her
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| | pieces of her vintage and contemporary
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| vintage works called her to explain that
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| | works in the shopping gallery at as well
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| she is a California Art Pottery legend!
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| | as some hand made pottery gift items such
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| Barbara was encouraged to begin a new
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| | as necklaces, paperweights, and ring
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| line of pottery and, this Barbara Willis,
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| | holders. I am also proud to announce that
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| Terrene Pottery was reborn! Barbara
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| | Barbara Willis is the "Featured Artist"
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| utilizes a different approach in the
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| | for the Grand Opening of the gallery.If
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| making of her contemporary line. She hand
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| | you would like to learn more about the
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| presses each piece, using one of three
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| | life and works of Barbara Willis, the
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| types of clay. Barbara uses a unique
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| | above mentioned book is a great read! The
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| one-fire glazing process. Each piece is
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| | author, Jack Chipman, had the opportunity
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| definitely one of a kind!What a gracious
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| | to interview her for his book and during
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| woman! I had the opportunity to meet
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| | the process they became good friends and
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| Barbara Willis, in person, at the Los
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| | he is now a student of hers. A lucky
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| Angeles Pottery Show on January 29, 2005.
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| | man!Alice Krueser is the owner of an
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| In anticipation of meeting and talking
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| | online art gallery that promotes the arts
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| with her, I took along my book "Barbara
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| | and its "Directory of Artists" to the
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| Willis - Classic California Modernism, by
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| | design industry as well as the general
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| Jack Chipman" and asked her if she would
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| | public.
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