Peter Karner
I was acquainted with Jeff through the American Craft Council Baltimore show. Seeing his work was one of the highlights of the show for me every year. I very much appreciated his glaze designs and I purchased several pieces of his over the years.
A couple of interactions with Jeff stand out in my memory and they are related. Back in 1999, I first exhibited at the Baltimore ACC show. With all the confidence of a newbie, I asked Jeff if he’d like to trade cups with me. Jeff responded that he only traded with peers. Fast forward to this last year at the show, I asked Jeff once again if he’d like to trade cups. This time he wasn’t so blunt but he didn’t agree. While this might have seemed like a slight, I wasn’t offended. Driving back to Colorado after the show, I reflected that Jeff was a person with very clear beliefs and boundaries. That is something that I also admired about him.
When I heard of his passing, I was deeply affected. We were not close but we are both potters, and his death struck very close to home. I’m glad to have known him and even more glad to own a few of his pieces. RIP, Jeff.
Peter Karner
December 27, 2020
I was acquainted with Jeff through the American Craft Council Baltimore show. Seeing his work was one of the highlights of the show for me every year. I very much appreciated his glaze designs and I purchased several pieces of his over the years.
A couple of interactions with Jeff stand out in my memory and they are related. Back in 1999, I first exhibited at the Baltimore ACC show. With all the confidence of a newbie, I asked Jeff if he’d like to trade cups with me. Jeff responded that he only traded with peers. Fast forward to this last year at the show, I asked Jeff once again if he’d like to trade cups. This time he wasn’t so blunt but he didn’t agree. While this might have seemed like a slight, I wasn’t offended. Driving back to Colorado after the show, I reflected that Jeff was a person with very clear beliefs and boundaries. That is something that I also admired about him.
When I heard of his passing, I was deeply affected. We were not close but we are both potters, and his death struck very close to home. I’m glad to have known him and even more glad to own a few of his pieces. RIP, Jeff.
Peter Karner
December 27, 2020