studio potter Mary Scheier passes away at age 99

Mary Scheier, an internationally known ceramic artist noted for her superbly thrown pottery vessels, died May 14 at age 99 in Green Valley, Ariz.

In 1935 Scheier was appointed director of Big Stone Gap and Abingdon Art Centers, the first federally sponsored art galleries in Virginia. There in 1937 she met her future husband, Edwin Scheier, who was then field supervisor of the Federal Art Project in Kentucky, Virginia and North Carolina.

The Scheiers were invited in 1940 to teach at the University of New Hampshire by David R. Campbell, director of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen. The Scheiers lived, worked and taught in Durham until 1968, when they moved to Oaxaca, Mexico, where they had visited during several winters. In 1978 the Scheiers moved to Green Valley, Ariz., where Ed Scheier continues to reside.

Their pottery is in museums across the country, including the American Craft Museum, the Everson Museum of Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Newark Museum, the Ceramic Research Center, Tempe, Arizona, the Cranbrook Academy of Art Museum, and the Currier Museum of Art, where they gave their personal collection. The University of New Hampshire Special Collections also has important holdings of their work.

In 2001 Ken Browne Productions released a film on the Scheiers entitled “Four Hands, One Heart” that was aired nationally on many public television stations, and in 2003 the Scheiers were granted the Lotte Jacobi Living Treasure Award by the governor of New Hampshire. On May 10, they received a lifetime achievement award from the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen.

donations sought for “Hidden Treasures” auction at UNH’s Art Gallery

The Art Gallery, University of New Hampshire, is seeking donations for a special auction of art, antiques, and collectibles. “Hidden Treasures!” will feature works by local artists, including paintings, prints, drawings, ceramics and photographs, as well as jewelry, textiles, glass, and collectibles. A highlight of the gallery benefit will be the auction of many one-of-a-kind “treasure boxes” made by many local artists, including Jennifer Benn, Tim Christensen-Kirby, Christopher Cook, Eve Corey, Arthur DiMambro, Jane Kaufmann, Scott Schnepf and Valerie Sobel, among others. The event will be held on Saturday, June 23, from 6 to 9 p.m. at The Art Gallery, Paul Creative Arts Center, University of New Hampshire.
To donate items for “Hidden Treasures!” contact Cindy Farrell at 603-862-3712 or This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it before June 8. For more information, visit www.unh.edu/art-gallery.

Tickets to the auction are $35 per person or $60 per couple, and advance reservations are recommended. Reservations may be made online at www.unh.edu/art-gallery or by calling 603-862-3712.

new artists join Dover gallery

Work by Terris Bedard and Great Bay Furniture has been added to the Cocheco Falls Gallery, 421 Central Ave. in Dover. Terris Bedard also owns and operates Creative Cottage. Great Bay Furniture was started in 1996 by Richard Pascoe and John Andrade, who build furniture and accessories in the Arts and Crafts style.