Interviewer and Panelist

Mark Skudlarek’s journey began in 1978 while attending Saint Johns University in central Minnesota. Mark was originally interested in painting but after taking a ceramics class, was drawn to clay. In 1981, he had a opportunity to travel to central France and work in the historic pottery village of La Borne. It was there that Mark had his first experience firing wood-burning kilns. He was immediately seduced by the process and results from these kilns. Returning home in 1983, Skudlarek sought an apprenticeship with Todd Piker at the, Cornwall Bridge Pottery and in 1988, moved to Wisconsin where he established the foundation for my first kiln.