Segment of Three-Day Workshop by Don Reitz
Courtesy of Kim Markham
Collection Focus: Don Reitz
September 20, 2023 – February 3, 2024
at Racine Art Museum
Don (Donald) Reitz (1929–2014) holds a special place in contemporary craft, particularly in ceramics. Not only did he reinvigorate salt- and wood-firing techniques, but he was also a beloved figure who inspired numerous artists and collectors.
Similar—and yet different—to Toshiko Takaezu, another legendary figure who impacted the course of ceramics in the twentieth century, there was no separating art and life for Reitz. While Takaezu seemed to orient the connection on day-to-day practices, Reitz related to the material in a way that it became an extension of his body and a reflection of profound personal circumstances. He appeared to live an adventurous life, loving nature at an early age and feeling connected to the earth (or “dirt”) from the first time he played in it. Reitz’s energetic spirit is most obviously reflected in ceramic objects with loopy handles, textural surfaces, and direct—or indirect—evidence of his hand.
This exhibition underscores RAM’s commitment to chronicling the career of Reitz, who spent 1962–88 living and working in Wisconsin while actively teaching as faculty at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. There were already a handful of works by Reitz in RAM’s collection when a recent major gift from Leatrice S. and Melvin B. Eagle catapulted the number of his pieces to over 60. This gift established an archive for Reitz and pushed him into the top three most-collected artists working primarily in clay in the collection.
Collection Focus: Don Reitz
September 20, 2023 – February 3, 2024
at Racine Art Museum
Segment of Three-Day Workshop by Don Reitz
Courtesy of Kim Markham
Don (Donald) Reitz (1929–2014) holds a special place in contemporary craft, particularly in ceramics. Not only did he reinvigorate salt- and wood-firing techniques, but he was also a beloved figure who inspired numerous artists and collectors.
Similar—and yet different—to Toshiko Takaezu, another legendary figure who impacted the course of ceramics in the twentieth century, there was no separating art and life for Reitz. While Takaezu seemed to orient the connection on day-to-day practices, Reitz related to the material in a way that it became an extension of his body and a reflection of profound personal circumstances. He appeared to live an adventurous life, loving nature at an early age and feeling connected to the earth (or “dirt”) from the first time he played in it. Reitz’s energetic spirit is most obviously reflected in ceramic objects with loopy handles, textural surfaces, and direct—or indirect—evidence of his hand.
This exhibition underscores RAM’s commitment to chronicling the career of Reitz, who spent 1962–88 living and working in Wisconsin while actively teaching as faculty at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. There were already a handful of works by Reitz in RAM’s collection when a recent major gift from Leatrice S. and Melvin B. Eagle catapulted the number of his pieces to over 60. This gift established an archive for Reitz and pushed him into the top three most-collected artists working primarily in clay in the collection.
Sample of Work in the Exhibition
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Exhibitions at RAM are made possible by:
Platinum Sponsors
The Estate of Karen Johnson Boyd
David Charak
Judith and David Flegel Fund
Institute of Museum and Library Services
Ron and Judith Isaacs
Nicholas and Nancy Kurten
Windgate Foundation
Diamond Sponsors
City of Racine’s Grow Racine Grant
Osborne and Scekic Family Foundation
Ruffo Family Foundation
Ruth Arts Foundation
Gold Sponsors
Anonymous
Tom and Irene Creecy
Richard and Patricia Ehlert
Herzfeld Foundation
Reliance Controls
Ruth Foundation for the Arts
Trio Foundation of St. Louis
W.T. Walker Group, Inc.
Wisconsin Arts Board
Silver Sponsors
Anonymous
Art Bridges
Baird
A.C. Buhler Family
Lucy G. Feller
Ben and Dawn Flegel
Jim Harris
Sharon and Tom Harty
Lise Iwon
J. Jeffers & Co.
Johnson Financial Group
Dorothy MacVicar
Jan Serr and John Shannon
Bronze Sponsors
Ellen and Joseph Albrecht
Andis Foundation
Susan Boland
Virginia Buhler
Butcher & Barrel/Amos Los Tacos
Educators Credit Union
Express Employment Professionals
Tony and Andrea Hauser
Bill and Debbie Keland
Susan Manalli
Jean and Alex Mandli, Jr.
The Prairie School
Cathy Stanghellin
Georgiana Treivush
Twin Disc, Inc.
