This year I will be a host site for the Sedona Open Studio Tour. I’ll be participating with Jason Bohnert, Jeff Heeg, and Heather Spontak on our property in Camp Verde, AZ October 29, 30, & 31, 2021.
Read moreRussell Beach: Ever The Adventurer
I was asked by my family to create an urn for my grandfather who passed away on April 6, 2020. I always told my grandparents that I would make these objects for them without much additional thought. After my grandfather’s passing, and a gentle reminder from my grandmother, I started to think about what this object would look like. I started to think about the importance of this object and what my grandfather meant to me. Someone who would always listen, who always cared more about what was going on in my life, who always had advice for the difficult questions and times. I never realized how much importance the jar form could have. It’s an honor to create such an object and it’s an honor to have had such a wonderful man as my grandfather. Thank you Grandpa Russ.
Read moreLong Overdue Update
It’s hard to believe it has been over a year since my last update to my website. As everyone can tell, it’s been pushed off for a little too long. LOTS has happened since I previously updated my blog, I’ve gone through another school year teaching for Yavapai College. I started teaching on the Clarkdale campus this last Spring Semester. My family and I bought a house in Camp Verde, Arizona this last month. However, with all of the changes over the past year the largest was accepting a position as the Education and Programming Director at the Reitz Ranch! I’m over-the-moon with the opportunity to work full-time again at the Ranch.
Read morePottery Sale and "Pots for Paws" fundraiser for PPNAZ
Join us for our annual Flagstaff Potters' Guild Pottery Sale in downtown Flagstaff, May 12th, 2018. Perfect timing to purchase a locally handmade gift for Mother's Day or your 2018 grad. This year we'll also have handmade pet dishes with proceeds going to Paw Placement of Northern Arizona (PPNAZ).http://www.ppnaz.org/home
Read moreSpring Sedona Open Studio Tour 2018
The Spring 2018 Open Studio Tour will happen this Friday April 27th to Sunday, April 29th. Our Studio will be open on Friday the 27th and Saturday the 28th from 10 am to 5 pm. On Sunday the 29th we will be open from 12 to 5 pm. Be sure to stop by and see demonstrations by our artists and of course ceramic artwork
Read morere[VOL]ve
Ben Roti’s “re[VOL]ve” opens at Gallery 527 in Jerome during First Saturday Art Walk on February 3 from 5 – 8 p.m. Roti will feature new contemporary ceramic work constructed and altered on the pottery wheel. The collection of turned objects includes a variety of cups, bowls, jars, and platters. Vibrant glazes and slips are used to create a rich, weathered surface on the wheel-thrown utilitarian objects.
Read moreHappy Birthday Don
Happy Birthday, Partner. Not a day goes by that I don't think of you. Here are a few images of my time out at the ranch.
Read moreYunomi Invitational Exhibition
First Annual Yunomi Exhibition begins this week and officially opens Saturday, November 11th from 10-8 PM.
The Yunomi exhibit showcases the work of many of our superb local and regional clay artists. (15 artists, 2-5 pieces per artist = a staggeringly beautiful selection of choices. Holidays are just around the corner! Find the perfect one-of-a-kind gift for that special someone.
Work is being delivered on a daily basis so if you'd like a preview stop by today or tomorrow to see what is currently available.
I look forward to seeing all the great work from artists across the state!
Read moreReitz Ranch Center for Ceramic Arts
It's been a little over 3 years since Don Reitz passed away and left behind his wonderful studio out in Sycamore Canyon in Clarkdale, AZ. I spent over 4 years growing up out in the desert. It seems just like yesterday I was waking up to the cows and horses brushing up against my trailer, however, time has passed and there is a start of something new. Don often spoke, in his remain years, of what the property could be. He talked of having artists from all disciplines come and use the property to further their creative energy.
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Material Impulse: A Confluence of Clay Artists
GVG Contemporary is delighted to present “Material Impulse | a Confluence of Clay Artists,” an exhibition that surveys contemporary ceramics by regional ceramic artists. This exhibition is a collaboration between guest curator Robert Michael Siracusa, who is an Arizona curator and gallerist, and GVG Contemporary in Santa Fe.
Read moreSoft Slab Construction From Simple to Complex
I will be teaching a workshop at the Sedona Arts Center in April. I'm really looking forward to meeting new people around the area and sharing my work with the ceramic community. If you're interested in signing up for the class, details can be found below.
April 7–8, 2017
Friday and Saturday - April 7th and 8th , 2017
All Levels | Ceramics Studio| 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
This workshop demystifies working with soft slabs and deals with the essential components in creating unique slab-built objects. Workshop participants will learn the basics of constructing objects with clay slabs and tar-paper patterns. The presenter will cover necessary techniques...
2017 CERAMIC STUDIO TOUR
Every spring, Arizona State University’s Ceramics Research Center sponsors a self-guided tour of AZ ceramic artists in the Phoenix metro area. Artists who are not local to Phoenix are hosted by someone who has their home studio in the area. This will be my first year as a participating artist, and I will be hosted by Tiffany Bailey alongside fellow artists Magda Gluszek and Jason Bohnert. All four of us will be demonstrating ceramic techniques on both days of the tour.
Come check us out at Studio 9 on the map (37 E. 14th St. Tempe, AZ)
Read moreRoti at AMOCA
What a wonderful opening reception out in Pomona, CA! I met so many great people, some who had never met Don or I and others who had long histories with both of us. I have been trying to process the whole experience over the last week, and I still am in shock that the opening has come and gone.
Read moreLife is not a dress rehearsal...You only get one shot at it
WOW, such an incredible week. As I return to Arizona from NCECA, Facebook reminded me that it has been 2 years since my mentor Don Reitz has passed. While I was at the conference I was able to reconnect with so many great friends and meet just as many new ones! I feel so fortunate to have worked with Don at the ranch and am astonished with the doors he continues to open for me. Today I'm left thinking about something Don once told me, "It doesn't get any easier, it just gets different". I can honestly say that it's sure a hell of a lot different buddy, but I wouldn't change a thing. Thank you Don, love you and miss you.
Read more#benlaugh
I'm excited to be a co-featured artist with Ben Craigie at SoSoba and The Commerce in Flagstaff, Arizona. Be sure to check it out for first Friday, or stop by have some great food and maybe a few cocktails.
#benlaugh at SoSoBa and The Commerce.
Join us for First Friday Artwalk this Friday February 5th for a very special art installation by Benjamin Craigie and Bennett Roti.
29th Annual Made In Clarkdale Art Show 2015
It's that time of year once again, I will be exhibiting my artwork along with several other fantastic artists from the surrounding Clarkdale area. I'm looking forward to the Gala opening as always, and can't wait to share my new works with everyone.
Read moreEmpty Bowls Ceramic Show
This week I was invited by my friend Natasha Hovey to participate in the 2015 Empty Bowls Ceramic Show & Sale at the Wichita Falls Museum of Art at MSU. I was thrilled to be asked to participate and join several other artists in this great cause! If your interested in seeing more of Natasha's work please click the button below.
Read moreStarbrick Clay National Cup Show 2015
I'm very excited to have been accepted into the Starbrick Clay National Cup Show of 2015! My piece was one of 50 cups that was chosen from 160 cup entries! I'm so honored to be in a show with two of my past professors and several friends in the ceramic field. Can't wait to see the whole show with everyone's entries.
Read moreGonzaga Workshop
Last week I was asked to do a two day workshop for The ceramics department at Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA. I had a great time sharing my hand building techniques with everyone. A very special thank you to Mat Rude and the Kreielsheimer Visiting Artist foundation. I’ve put a few photos from the workshop below. I look forward to my next shop!
Read moreThree Amigos – Ceramic Exhibition
Made In Clarkdale’s Corner Gallery announces the opening of the “Three Amigos Ceramic Exhibition”. Ben Roti, Michael Bolen and Luke Metz are excited to share their ceramic art collaboration. Each artist brings a unique vision and approach. Thinking outside the box is a quality all of these artists share. Come see where fine craftsmanship and art merge.
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