About the Saint John's Pottery
S. Johanna Becker, OSB and Richard Bresnahan at the dedication of the Johanna Kiln (1995). Photograph by James R. Dean.
Located on the campus of Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota, the Saint John’s Pottery embodies, by demonstration and practical experience, the integration of aesthetic, scientific, humanistic, and moral approaches to eco-mutual living in relation to nature. Current artists of the Saint John’s Pottery are:
Richard Bresnahan (founder, director, artist-in-residence)
Daniel Smith (studio manager)
Allison Breen (apprentice)
Carter Slette (apprentice)
The Saint John’s Pottery was founded in 1979 by master potter Richard Bresnahan, who has led the Pottery as both director and artist-in-residence for more than 40 years. Bresnahan studied with art historian Sister Johanna Becker, OSB, at Saint John’s University in Minnesota and later with a National Living Treasure family of ceramics in Karatsu, Japan. Bresnahan’s role as artist-in-residence takes on several forms: he provides mentorship as part of a formal apprenticeship program; instructs a one-of-a-kind course on environmental art and design; lectures and exhibits internationally on behalf of Saint John’s; and operates the Johanna Kiln, the largest wood-fired kiln of its kind in North America.
S. Jane Weber, OSB, and S. Marlene Schwinghammer, OSB, light the 12th firing of the Johanna Kiln (2013). Photograph by Nate Jorgensen.
Chef Raghavan Iyer presents the final meal for the 13th firing (2015). Photograph by Nate Jorgensen.
The matches are in hand for the lighting ceremony of the 15th firing of the Johanna Kiln (2019). Photograph by Nate Jorgensen.
As an artist, educator, and environmentalist, Bresnahan’s passion centers on creating handmade and functional pottery. His ceramic works are featured in many prominent collections, from the Minneapolis Institute of Arts in Minnesota to the Idemitsu Museum of Arts in Tokyo, Japan.
The pottery program occupies not only a physical space on the university grounds, but also an intellectual and spiritual space; the studio embodies the commitment of St. John’s to the integration of art and life, the preservation of the environment, the linkage of work and worship, and the celebration of diverse cultures.
Ancient Pacific Rim methods of pottery are combined with available local resources and attention to process, anchoring a vision of eco-mutualism. The Saint John’s Pottery seeks ways to maintain and develop the environment and materials so that the creative process may speak to and span across generations.
Artist and teacher Mitsuo Kakutani watches over the front firemouth of the Johanna Kiln, 12th firing (2013). Photograph by Nate Jorgensen.
Documentaries
Numerous documentaries and publications have helped tell the story of Richard Bresnahan and the Saint John’s Pottery, including Clay Wood Fire Spirit by John Whitehead (Twin Cities Public Television, 1996), winner of two Emmy Awards. For a full list of documentaries and publications, visit the Saint John’s website.
ABOVE: The documentary Richard Bresnahan: The Taste of the Clay, produced by Prairie Public Television in 2014.
The film documents the 12th firing of the Johanna Kiln in September 2013. The process of firing includes seven weeks of loading the kiln, ten days of firing, two weeks of cooling, a week of unloading and nine months of cleaning. Bresnahan’s wife Colette organizes the chefs and the dinners that serve up to 300 people. The firing is a community-building event with many volunteers returning year after year. In this documentary, Bresnahan talks about his pottery and the related philosophies that guide his life and his teaching.
Online Ordering
Checkout on this website works as a reservation system. Payments will be processed over the phone, using the Saint John’s Pottery's onsite credit card readers; this allows the sale of work to be designated to distinct programs within the Pottery Studio. Here's how online ordering works:
Select items(s) and use the checkout system. During checkout, the price displays as $0 and payment is not processed. A message is sent to the Saint John’s Pottery where your order is reserved and packed for delivery. A summary of your order is emailed to you.
To complete the purchase, the Saint John’s Pottery (320-363-2930) will call you within two days of your order (Monday through Saturday, 10am to 4pm (CT)) to receive your payment method (credit card or check).
In this phone call, the Pottery will: provide you with the total bill for your order (price of item(s) + sales tax (+ shipping, if applicable)), and process your payment method.
Once your payment has been processed, your order will be delivered via the method you select at checkout—either curbside pickup or US Postal Service. If shipping, the tracking number will be emailed to you. The receipt for your bill will be boxed with your order.
If you have any questions, please let us know.