Porcelain potter retires from studio, parts with treasured collection

Rick Cosgriffe's decades long fascination with Oriental brush stroke painting shows in his graceful

and detailed work. These jars are inspired by the wildflowers of his native Montana.

SUMI BRUSH PAINTING INFLUENCED MONTANA BORN ARTIST'S STYLE

PORCELAIN COLLECTION GOES FOR SALE AS ARTIST MARKETS SHOW PIECES

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS

PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER

Artist Cosgriffe's fine porcelain pottery caught the eye of

New York Times art critic John Canaday, who called his

pieces "elegant -- still wet with the feel of the brush."

PORCELAIN  has ancient roots in the world of art.

And for many years, a Montana native has been carefully creating fine arts porcelain show pieces.

Artist Rick Cosgriffe is  retiring his pottery studio, selling a collection of unique pieces he has crafted since the 1970s during  three decades at the potter's wheel.

Rick's hand painted bowls, vases and platters

reflect his study of sumi painting and his love

of nature and the American west as well. 

The one of a kind collection spans his entire career, showcasing his evolution as an award winning potter, based for many years on the west coast. 

Rick in Europe last

month with his brother-in-

law Bruce Keller.

If this sounds boastful or braggadocious, it's because I'm his sister and a fan. 

Cherry blossoms and birds are frequent motifs in Cosgriffe's

art, here on a platter featuring the faithful chickadee.

I've watched him grow as an artist since we were children drawing birthday cards. Rick left Montana in the early 1970s to apprentice at the Hayes Pottery Studio in Point Arena, California.  Jim Hayes, a native New Yorker and my brother-in-law, invited Rick to study ceramics and learn the craft. It was soon apparent to Jim and his wife, my late sister Peny, that Rick had tremendous talent. As his reputation grew on the west coast, I helped promote his art and sell his porcelain at art fairs and juried shows, including Yellowstone Art Museum. One of our patrons was the wife of the owner of the Seattle Seahawks. She spent thousands on vases,  platters, lamps, jars and bowls and promoted Rick's work in high-end galleries.

IT IS WITH mixed emotion that I announce Rick is parting with his collection at a show and sale this weekend (details below). I will never part with my collection, acquired during many art shows together. My pay each show was a work of art so my collection features Rick's evolution. 

I have collected my brother's hand painted

porcelain for decades. These lovely jars hold

 teas, coffee and sugar for hummingbird nectar.

When I interviewed New York Times art critic John Canaday,  I invited him to our home to show him Rick's pottery. "It has elegance, and enduring beauty," he said with admiration. "It is still wet with the feel of the brush." 

FOR YEARS, Rick's pottery was shown in galleries from San Francisco to Taos, Denver, Whitefish and Red Lodge, and in Billings at Toucan Gallery.  After suffering "burnout" from the rigors of production and shows, Rick's career segued from pottery to nature  photography and writing, a move to Montana, return to university and a degree in counseling. He worked for years at Passages in Billings, helping troubled women return to society and productive life. He retired from Passages but developed another arts career, collaborating with his partner Jane on calendars, mugs, photographs and journals.  Despite  dealing with Parkinson's, he remains an accomplished artist and writer, but no longer creates porcelain art. He jogs daily, and friends from our hometown of Columbus, Montana, remember his excellence as an athlete and devoted runner.

Rick Cosgriffe with his Montana photos. They will

 be available this weekend, along with his porcelain

MY BROTHER'S art is informed by a lifelong interest in travel, in art of many cultures and a particular interest in sumi painting. In reflecting on his work with porcelain -- known for both its delicacy and durability -- Rick pays homage to porcelain artists of centuries past. "Japanese, Chinese and Korean artists worked with classic celadon glazes." Porcelain, he adds, lends itself to graceful glazing "and is an excellent canvas for brush painting." Potters know how difficult it is to paint on curved surfaces rather than a flat canvas. Thus Rick's work reflects both talent and patience. It's been my pleasure to be part of my brother's artful world for many years. I encourage admirers and collectors not to miss this weekend's show. I'll be the one with the hanky.

Art show and sale details: Buyers can browse and collect a piece of Cosgriffe's unique, one-of-a-kind porcelain artwork during a three-day show this weekend at 1311 Hardrock Drive, Billings, Montana, 59105. His elegant work will be displayed on his back patio, during a neighborhood sale. Times are Friday, Sept. 6, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 7, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, Sept. 8, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The complex problem of over-tourism is the focus of our

next column.  We experienced protestors and understand.

UP NEXT: Tourists go home! We felt the frustration and anger of locals on a recent return to Europe. There we were -- enjoying ourselves, spending money, taking in familiar and new sights. But not all the locals want us in southern Europe. We understand their feelings, because tourism has done damage, along with providing income for many.  This "Tourist Go Home" mentality was on both signs and on the lips of protestors during this most recent trip to Europe. It's a complicated issue. Over-tourism is putting pressure on health services, waste management, water supplies and housing at the expense of residents. We delve into the problem in the next piece. Meanwhile, remember to enjoy, live and learn, and catch us weekly for a fresh spin on travel, performance, nature, family and more: www.whereiscookie.com