Julie Clark

My work has a modern, simple and rustic aesthetic that I believe has evolved and was inspired by my environment and experiences accumulated from curating art, product design, installations, and travel. Participations in wood firing kilns led to my continued pursuit and appreciation of Japanese aesthetics. 

Producing pieces that can be touched and used are essential to me - - a utilitarian piece that functions for daily rituals can be a very rewarding experience. However, creating work with a ‘nod only’ to functionality is meaningful too. A sculptural form or vessel strategically placed in the home can add depth, awareness and definition. I find this type of work to be equally as satisfying. 

Inspired by my daughter, a fashion designer, I began making porcelain jewelry several years ago. Modern, simple and rustic are the aesthetics I strive for in the making of jewelry pieces as well. 

Julie grew up in the Dayton, Ohio area. She and her husband purchased historic Bear’s Mill located in Greenville, Ohio in 1979. They renovated the Mill and the adjacent barn, which became their home and Julie’s clay studio. For 34 years, she served as owner, manager, and product/art curator of the Mill. Julie’s ceramic career was simultaneously conducted during this time with her work being exhibited primarily in the gallery space of the Mill. Now, the Millrace Gallery exists on the first floor on their barn home, where Julie and her husband reside.

Rita Wiley

I have spent my years since retiring from teaching developing my passion for working with clay. I started making pottery over 40 years ago because of my fascination with the limitless possibilities in clay for creating shapes that can be both functional and aesthetically pleasing. I strive to create pieces with strong, simple lines that show the plasticity of the clay. I hope people will enjoy using my pottery every day.

My pieces are formed on a potter’s wheel or hand-built from slabs or coils of clay. At times, a combination of these techniques is used to create the form.  Surfaces of the resulting pieces can be left smooth, or can be textured which is often influenced from observing textures in nature.  I am continually fascinated by the marks left when I touch the clay.

I am inspired by nature, other potters, and by the clay itself.  Each piece evolves from the pressure of my hands and the reaction of the clay to my touch.  My desire is to make pottery that reflects the calm serenity I feel living in a rural setting near Bear’s Mill in Greenville, Ohio.

Dionne Mayhew

I am a part time Potter/Ceramic Artist working out of Julie Clark's studio located beside the Millrace Gallery. Ceramics is my passion outside of my full time career in Transportation. The demanding schedule of my career narrowed my options for a formal ceramic education.  I was lucky enough to be invited to work alongside Julie Clark in her studio. She and Rita Wiley have been my mentors for over 20 years. My education in ceramics continues by attending workshops and pursuing other firing and glazing opportunities. Pursuing unique clay forms and glaze applications is my constant goal.

Dionne resides a short drive from the Millrace Gallery in Versailles, Ohio.