The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

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  • Jamey Biggs, Concord University professor and potter, works on one of his creations Sunday at Tamarack. W. Dayton Whittle

    potter
June 14, 2010

Starting to take shape

Potter, Concord professor uses problem-solving to create works of art

By Amelia A. Pridemore Register-Herald Reporter

Jamey Biggs starts with dirt and ends with works of art.

The Princeton resident and potter says his work from the ground up was heavily influenced by his relatives’ keen and creative problem-solving abilities. Now, the Concord University professor shares that passion with his students and Tamarack visitors.

Biggs’ interest in pottery was sparked when he was a 15-year-old high school student, and a teacher allowed him to spend extra time on the potter’s wheel.

“He turned me loose, and gave me a shot,” Biggs said. “He was willing to let me make a lot of ugly pots.”

Nonetheless, Biggs said his interest grew, and the work he produced greatly improved after six months. He actually liked the fact that the art form is difficult to perfect. The work also ends with concrete results.

“You basically start out with dirt, and you eventually wind up with a functional item,” he said.

He eventually earned art education and studio art degrees from Concord. Later, he earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from Indiana State University.

Biggs said the greatest influences on his work are his relatives. The Summersville native’s family members included a grandfather who worked for a power company and was a serious farmer. His family members, he said, are people who use creativity to solve problems — which potters like him must do constantly. Potters’ tools are mostly simple items, but deciding exactly how to use them is by no means easy.

His grandfather, Biggs said, did not have the proper equipment or tools. But he managed to get his farm work done by thinking outside the box.

A prime example was how his grandfather dealt with latches on the barn, Biggs said. These are called “buttons,” a piece of wood with a nail at the center that held the doors together. Over time, these wear down, but his grandfather would simply slide a stick underneath the latch to make it sturdier.

His grandfather eventually obtained a “proper” tractor, but beforehand, he only had a heavy-duty riding lawnmower, Biggs said. Nevertheless, his grandfather and uncle scraped together parts from places like junkyards and modified the machine.

Biggs said most of his work, which also includes sculptures, is a tribute to those creative relatives who have supported him and made significant contributions to his life. He hopes it also reflects Appalachian culture.

“It’s a way of saying ‘thank you’ for that,” he said. “I want to honor that creativity.”

One of his pieces is called “The Hay Wain or Big Wheel with Radio Flyer.” The sculpture is comprised of numerous replicas of mechanical pieces made from clay. They are put together in the shape of a big wheel — tricycles with very large wheels at the front that were extremely popular in the 1980s.

Biggs said that when he was a young child, his Dukes of Hazzard big wheel was the most precious thing he owned. He was too young to actually help his grandfather with farm work, but his grandfather used that big wheel to make the boy feel like a farmer.

“He would tie the wagon up to the big wheel and drive all the way to the barn,” he said. “...It was entertainment and transportation all in one.”

Biggs said he plans to stay put. His job at Concord allows him to train new potters. He and his students built a large wood-fired kiln on the college’s campus. He also has three children younger than 5. Numerous fishing spots in the region are appealing to his son.

At least a few times a year, he visits Tamarack, where he and other West Virginia artists can share their works with others. The Tamarack Foundation, he said, provides excellent support for the state’s artists.

“It’s possible, through their hard work, that my students can have a future without leaving the state. They work to preserve our heritage, and this is a special facility for the artisans in our state.”

— E-mail: apridemore@register-herald.com

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