Caroline Bouwense

 

Clay Tooth

 

Caroline grew up in Petoskey, Michigan and studied ceramics under Professor Anna Greidanus - a fellow FRGF member - while attending college in Grand Rapids, Michigan. After spending some time in Oregon and New Mexico and working a plethora of jobs, she is now a studio potter working out of the basement of her home in the Creston neighborhood of Grand Rapids.

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Caroline is drawn to the medium of clay by the intimacy of the material–the tactile, messy immediacy of it–and finds it both grounding and inspiring. Her aim is to create pieces that charm and entice, and she enjoys pursuing new concepts and forms as much as making functional items for everyday use. She also loves to teach others and sharing in their joy of discovery, confidence and creativity.

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After spending about three years managing a local community clay studio and teaching classes there, Caroline set out to pursue her own practice full time at the start of 2023.  This includes some time set aside for in-depth teaching in one-on-one wheel courses, or up to four people in handbuilding courses.  If you're interested in a clay class, visit her website at www.claytooth.com.

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Whether in her studio, tending to plants, or combing Michigan lake shores for stones, Caroline's in it for the earthly contact.  It's where Clay Tooth got the name:  being so close to the source it gets in your teeth.

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Clay Tooth pottery is fired to cone 5 / 6 in an electric kiln.

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