Cedar Grove’s Center Hallway featured the ceramics of Randolph Lewis at HEARTS Catawba Nation on October 19, 2024. Featuring three works of handbuilt pottery by Randolph Lewis, each inspired by the Catawba ceramic tradition.

About The Artist:

Randolph Lewis has been making pots and ceramic art for nearly 20 years. Lewis is a HEARTS co-founder and co-founder of Pioneer Springs Community School. Previously, he taught youth and adult pottery classes at the Cornelius Arts Center. His work is in many private collections including the NC Arboretum.

As an instructor at Pioneer Springs Community School, Lewis explores the Catawba pottery traditions with his high school ceramics students, through “place-based learning,” grounding the study to local history, nature, and culture; emphasizing hands-on, real-world learning. Students research Catawba ceramic shapes and their use and employ traditional techniques including coil-building, burnishing, and pit firing. Featured are examples of Lewis’s handbuilt pottery creations inspired by his studies of the Catawba ceramic tradition.

Pictured to the left, from left to right:

Vessel inspired by traditional Catawba water jug, Handbuilt stoneware burnished terra sigillata

Vessel inspired by traditional Catawba Rebecca Pitcher form, Handbuilt glazed stoneware

Vessel inspired by traditional Catawba cooking pot, Handbuilt burnished and blackened stoneware