Welcome

Resident Potter at the Ceramic Museum and Heritage Center.

Dale's interest in ceramic art and craft grew from living next door to LePere Pottery in Zanesville, Ohio and later near Roseville, Ohio where family and friends worked for the many potteries there.  This interest grew to a passion when he found clay deposited in the glacial moraine around his home while a librarian and administrator at Miami University (Oxford, Ohio).  He attended various classes and workshops about clay and glaze.  He learned more while working with his family in their pottery and mixes his own glazes.  Dale has been a member of the Coop since its inception and currently serves as President of the Board.

I am a retired high school teacher and have turned my free time into learning some
stained glass techniques.  I like to volunteer at the co-op each month and offer
exploratory experiences in glass to children and adults. I also help organize other
events like tile painting, macrame’, acrylic pours and more for groups who just want a
creative outing with friends or family. I also work with classroom teachers to bring
experiences to them and their students. I seldom do the same thing twice.
 I live on a small farm and care for two aging horses, a husband and 40 acres of rocky
woods in Reading Township, Perry County.  Jane currently serves as Vice-President of the Board.

As a young woman I was an avid embroidery artists, doing hangings as well as tablecloths, carves, etc.  I embroidered pictures on squares I used in quilts also.  I sewed my families clothing-including suits for my sons.  I enjoy teaching youth and see an excitement in them with their accomplishments which is often lacking in our electronic society.  I see many types of art as being a step for our communities to teach our young people the joy and self-worth from creating something on their own, whether it be a card, clay pot, oil painting, glass work or a piece of beaded jewelry.  It is UNIQUELY their creation.  Phyllis's cards are individually hand cut and created from recycled materials.  All sales go to research and aid to Huntington's Disease patients and their families.  This is in memory and honor of Phyllis's husband and son who died from HD. 

Space Welch (Space Cadet Soaps) began making soap as a home-school project in 2007, and it soon bloomed into a thriving business, including a line of natural, plant-based body products and herbal remedies.  She loves functional art and knowing that her labors provide folks with respite and refreshment in the mundane duties of life, such as bathing.  Most of her soaps are made with raw goat's milk, though some are purposefully crafted with herbal teas and beer, as well.  Many incorporate plant-based colors and grit for exfoliation.  For more information, check spacecadetsoaps.com.  Happy bathing!    

I came late to the arts by way of jewelry making.  My interest was in using vintage beads, buttons, and any object I could rescue from old drawers and bags that could be repurposed and see the light of day again!  The challenge is to create a piece without purchasing a new material.  I strive to keep my work affordable so you can enjoy it and then pass it on because face it, we do get tired of wearing the same pieces over the years.  Recently I've taken up pottery (hand building), textiles and working with alcohol ink- because art is relaxing and fun!  I also have over 28 years of experience working for a nonprofit including budgeting, project development, implementation, and grant writing.  I currently serve a Treasurer for the Coop.

 Hello! My name is Ariel Jovan Swartz and I’m 25 years old. I live in New Lexington Ohio and graduated from New Lexington High School in 2015. I graduated Hocking College in 2018 with a degree in Art Business Marketing and Design with a specialization in ceramics. It has been an amazing adventure and joining the Somerset Artists’ Co Op has given me a chance to grow and try new things as a new upcoming artist. The Co Op is such a beautiful, convenient and quiet studio where I feel I can let my new creative juices take flight. I joined the Somerset Artists’ Co Op in the beginning of December 2020. I joined in hopes of bringing new fellow artists together to collaborate and make new creations. I’m excited to take art classes and expand my skills, as well teach children classes in my experienced art forms, including ceramic hand building techniques, and construction paper art. Overall, I hope to volunteer and make a difference by changing the lives of new fellow artists as well as sell, create and learn new art forms as a new local artist coming to my own in the art world 

Bio for David A. Kunkler

My fellow artist/wife, Jane and I live on a rock.  I oil  paint, silversmith and write. So far,  I have 5 novels 

printed.    I've taught all three skills at the co-op.   I started teaching back in the '60's  and retired  in 

2008.   In my classes the goal is for everyone involved to be independent silversmiths, writers and 

painters.    I like to spend time in our greenhouse where I raise orchids and oil paint. We raised two 

daughters  and countless dogs on our rock.  Living in the wilds of Perry County does have its advantages.  Dave was recently honored to display one of his works at the juried show in Licking County. 

 Beth Ramsey has spent a life time with nature and art.  Her love and passion for nature and animals has brought her to a better understanding of herself and enabled her to create paintings that represent both in her art. Inspired by her two children, who are both artist, she is always finding beauty in everyday things and strives to represent the visual interest of her subject in her own style. Currently working in oils, she also enjoys pastels, and mixed media. Most recently doing “plein air” painting has given her the pleasure of being in nature and experiencing the excitement and visual joy of painting on location. In all her paintings she strives to represent the world as she sees it, hoping to share her take on life and nature with others. Currently her work is being sold at Buckeye Lake, Ohio, Buckeye Lake Gallery and on line at www.buckeyelakegallery.com  and in the past few years she has exhibited and sold her artwork at Somerset Artist Cooperative, Somerset, Ohio, Sunbear Studio, Westerville, Ohio, and Bryn du Mansion, Granville, Ohio, . Beth is a member of the Somerset Artist Cooperative, Ohio Plein Air Society,  and the Ohio Pastel Artist League . 

I started in ceramics at  15years old when my 9th grade art teacher introduced me to hand building and ceramic slip molds.  From there I progressed to wheel throwing and combination techniques.  After obtaining my BFA in sculpture from the Ohio State University I taught ceramic art at various locations before establishing my own ceramic studio.  StudioMudd.com.  Since then, I have shown in multiple group and solo shows. I prefer to use a combination of thrown and assembled techniques with a focus on simple aesthetics.  Recently, I have been incorporating donated slip molds from our own local Roseville pottery.  My interest is the contrast of predictable objects created from the slip molds and the relaxed objects produced from the kick wheel.  My goal is to get more people interested and excited about our local ceramic history.  Perry county's significant ceramic heritage rivals any.  Worldwide!