Potter will be featured speaker at next session
FARMINGTON – Potter Phil Schaltenbrand will be the speaker for the next Friends of Fort Necessity’s September Lecture Series. The lecture will begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the interpretive center’s auditorium at Fort Necessity National Battlefield.
The potter, who has written and published three books, will discuss “Stoneware’s Impact on Western Pennsylvania Beyond 1850-1890.” His most recent book, “Big Ware Turners,” will be available at the program and autographed by the author.
Schaltenbrand has been making pots since 1967. He was introduced to ceramics at the Tyler School of Art at Temple University, where he earned his master’s degree. He taught art for 35 years, the last 27 as a professor at California University of Pennsylvania.
For many years, Schaltenbrand created unique one-of-a-kind pieces of pottery for sale in galleries and art fairs. Research of the 19th century stoneware of southwestern Pennsylvania led him to found Westerwald Pottery. Westerwald was the first to make reproduction-customized stoneware in America. Only two companies make the blue-and- gray stoneware.
Westerwald Pottery has produced and shipped quality custom stoneware throughout the world. Its customers have included Arnold Palmer, Robert Mitchum, Hank Aaron, the DuPont family and President Bill Clinton.
As a special feature of the evening, Schaltenbrand will identify pots brought by participants. Anyone who has a pot that has been a mystery can bring it in for identification.
Friends of Fort Necessity is sponsoring Wednesday’s lecture. It is free and open to the public. For more information on this and other programs at Fort Necessity, call 724-329-5512 or visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/fone.
Fort Necessity is located 11 miles east of Uniontown on U.S. 40, the National Road.