Charlie and Linda Riggs

Charlie and Linda Riggs are nationally renowned experts on alternative firing techniques. Most of their work is thrown by Charlie who takes time to make a very smooth surface that will later be polished with terra sigillata. These pots are then finished with one of the smoke fired techniques that results in a shiny unglazed surface brilliant with the colors of saggar firing, the bold blacks and whites of naked raku or the subtle marks of horsehair and ferric chloride.

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Available Pieces

Charlie and Linda Riggs (CLR001)

Yellow Horsehair Vase

Price: $195.00

Available

Charlie and Linda Riggs (CLR003)

Horsehair Vase

Price: $125.00

Available

Charlie and Linda Riggs (CLR004)

Saggar Vase

Price: $350.00

Available

Charlie and Linda Riggs (CLR006)

Saggar Black Square Vase

Price: $150.00

Available

Charlie and Linda Riggs (CLR007)

Fossil Pot

Price: $175.00

Available

No Longer Available

Charlie and Linda Riggs (CLR002)

Ferric Jar

Price: $300.00

Sold/Unavailable

Charlie and Linda Riggs (CLR005)

Ferric Wall Plate

Price: $150.00

Sold/Unavailable

Charlie and Linda Riggs Bio

Charles has a Fine Arts Degree in Pottery. He has been featured in Clay Times, Ceramics Monthly, and Studio Potter as well as in several raku and alternative firing books. Charlie has exhibited extensively in the Southeast, the Western US, and as far away as Canada and Norway. He also teaches workshops throughout the US and Canada in a variety of subjects including, Raku Methods, Saggar-firing, Pit-Firing, Raku Kiln Building, and Throwing Techniques.

Linda has Masters in Anthropology. She collaborates with Charlie to create some of the unique surfaces on their pottery including saggar-firing, naked raku, and carvings and slip designs. Linda has written a number of articles on pottery for Ceramics Monthly and Clay Times. She is also featured in magazine articles on saggar firing, and in several books. She co-teaches workshops with her husband Charlie.

Linda Riggs Artist Statement

"I am motivated by the beauty of the natural world and by ancient cultures. Low-fire fuming and naked raku techniques create clay surfaces that resemble smooth rocks with organic patterns. The techniques also utilize the same ingredients and processes as ancient cultures resulting in a continuity of time both in the forms and in the creative process."

Charlie Riggs Artist Statement

"When I work, I like to think about the dynamic of opposites, order and chaos; dark and light. I throw forms that are precise and tight, many of which mirror the spheres and ovals of the natural world.

In contrast, the glazing and firing methods are spontaneous and sometimes unpredictable. There is a particular joy in using this method of creation: the beauty of the controlled form is transcended by the patterns of serendipity and bright flows of glaze jump out at you from a dark background. Life is always full of surprises."

Charlie and Linda Riggs Resume

Teaching, Workshop Presenters:

"Alternative Firing Techniques." Creative Clay Studio, Alexandria, VA. October 2010
"Raku and Alternative Firing Techniques" Wyoming Secondary Art Educators.Conference, Saratoga, WY. September, 2010
"Naked Raku and Alternative Firing." Mudfire Clayworks , Decatur, GA. April, 2010
"Alternative Firing" Lumberton, NC. March, 2010
"Alternative Firing with Precision and Abandon. Sierra Nevada College," Incline Village, NV. July, 2009.
"Raku, Saggar and Alternative Firing Techniques," CraftSummer Program-- Miami University, Oxford, OH. June 2008, June 2009.
"Six Masters of Naked Raku." Desert Dragon Studio. Phoenix, AZ. April 2009
"Raku and Alternative Firing Techniques." Orlando City Arts, Orlando FL. October, 2008
"Raku, Saggar, Horsehair and Decoration for Experienced Potters," John C Campbell Folk School, NC. Aug-Sept. 2008
"Raku, Saggar and Alternative Firing Techniques," CraftSummer Program-- Miami University, Oxford, OH. June 2008
"Raku and Saggar Firing," Rock County Fine Arts Association, Luverne, MN April 2008
"Alternative Firing Techniques," Creative Clay Studios, Alexandria, VA Oct. 2007
"Saggar Firing and Raku, "Odyssey Center, Asheville, NC, July 2004; June 2007
"Saggar Firing and Other Alternative Techniques Using Terra Sig'd Surfaces," Five Elements Pottery, Prosper, TX, April 2007
"Alternative Firing Techniques", Walnut Creek Art Center, Walnut Creek, CA. Feb. 2007
"Raku, Saggar Firing and Special Effects," Laloba Ranch Clay Center, Steamboat Springs, CO. July, August 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006.
"Raku and Alternative Firing", Associated Artists of Southport, Southport, NC. June, 2006.
"Multiple Low-fire Techniques," Sawtooth Center, Winston Salem, NC. May, 2006.
"Alternative Firing Techniques," Oak Ridge Art Center, Oak Ridge, TN. Oct. 2005.
"Alternative Firing Techniques, Creative Clay," Alexandria, VA. June, 2005.
"Raku and Saggar Firing, Desert Dragon Studio," Phoenix, AZ. April, 2005.
"Raku and Saggar Firing, Barbara Kobler Studio," Green Valley, AZ. April, 2005.
"Raku Masters," Dan Finch Pottery, Bailey, NC. November, 2004.
"Multiple Low-fire Techniques," Hamilton Potters Guild, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Sept. 2003
"Naked Raku Workshop," Riggs Studio, Carthage, NC. April, 2003
"Multiple Firing Techniques", Walnut Creek Art Center, Walnut Creek, CA. Oct. 2001
"Naked Raku Firing" at Rockingham Community College, Reidsville, NC. June, 2001.
"Raku/Saggar-Firing" at Rockingham Community College, Reidsville, NC. March, 1999.
"Throwing Techniques and Brush-making." NC Pottery Conference, Asheboro, NC. March, 1999.
"Raku and Saggar-Firing" at Oak Ridge Art Center, Oak Ridge, TN. Sept. 1998
"Pit-Firing/Saggar-Firing" at Pososin Arts Center, Columbia, NC. June, 1998
"Raku / Pit-Firing," J-Me Boyles Studio & Ron Filbeck Pottery, Lawndale, NC July, 97.
"Raku Copper Matte and Lusters," Dan Finch Studio, Bailey, NC. April, 1997.
"Throwing, Glazing and Raku Firing", Pocosin Arts Center, Columbia, NC, April, 1997.
"Basic Raku Firing Techniques," Tom Gray Studios, Seagrove, NC. May, 1996
Pottery Instructor, La Sierra University, Riverside, CA. 1981, 82.
Pottery Lab Instructor, La Sierra University, Riverside, CA. 1973-75; 1981.

Select Recent Exhibits:

Mudfire Clayworks and Gallery. "American Masters Biennial", Group Exihibition, Decatur, GA. June-July 2010.
The Jared Michael Branfman Memorial Gallery. "Mastering Raku: The Book and the Art Within." Group Exhibition. Newton, MA. Feb/March 2010.
Tahoe Gallery, Sierra Nevada College. Faculty Exhibition, Incline Village, NV. July, 2009.
Hiestand Gallery, CraftSummer Faculty Exhibition, Miami University, Oxford Ohio. June, 2008, June 2009
Icehouse Gallery, Phoenix AZ. Group Exhibition in connection with NCECA.2009
Orlando City Hall Gallery, Orlando, FL. 2008
John C. Campbell Faculty Exhibition, Brass Town, NC. 2008
Hiestand Gallery, CraftSummer Faculty Exhibition, Miami University, Oxford Ohio. June, 2008
Carnegie Cultural Center, Luverne, Minnesota. April, 2008
Gallery Janjobe, "Cyberclay: The First International Exhibit of Clayart." Louisville Kentucky, in Conjunction with NCECA, Louisville Kentucky, March, 2007
Campbell House Gallery/Moore Arts Council, Southern Pines, NC. June-July, 2005.
Campbell House Gallery, "Nature's Expressions," Southern Pines, NC. Oct-Nov, 2003.
Marshall Gallery, Greensboro, NC. "Expressions in Clay," Group Show. July, 2003.
Gallery 405, San Diego, CA. "The Faculty of Laloba Ranch Clay Center." March, 2003
The Esther and John Gay Fine Arts Gallery, LCCC. "Ceramics from Laloba Ranch," Cheyenne, Wyoming. September, 2001.
Collective Arts Gallery, Raleigh, NC. "Featured Artist," June, 2001.
Fayetteville Museum of Art, "Museum Shoppe Featured Artist," March-May, 2001.
Green Tara Gallery, Chapel Hill, NC. "Three Faces of Clay, Raku, Sagger, and Wood Fired Pottery" September 8-October 14, 2000.
Campbell House Gallery, Southern Pines, NC. October, 1999.
Atelier Skaara Galleriet, Gressvik, Norway-July 19 through August 25, 1998.
Pocosin Arts Center, Columbia, NC-February through June, 1998.
Broadstander Gallery, La Sierra University, Riverside, CA.--February, 1998 (Art Alumni Exhibition).
Gallery 122, Fayetteville, NC--October, 1997.
Boyles Studio, Lawndale, NC. --July, 1997.
Pocosin Arts Center, Columbia, NC--April, 1997.
NC State Crafts Center, Triangle Potter's Guild Group Show, Raleigh, NC-March, 97.
Campbell House Gallery, "Pottery, Paintings and Polygrams," Southern Pines, NC. - October, 1996.
Main Street Art, Aberdeen, NC. --October, 1994
Campbell House Gallery, "Profiles in Clay," Southern Pines, NC--December, 1993
Hastings Gallery, Sandhills Community College, Pinehurst, NC--1993
Broadhurst Gallery, Southern Pines, NC--November, 1992.
Campbell House Gallery, "Collage and Clay," Southern Pines, NC--February, 1992.
Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA-- 1981.
La Sierra University Little Gallery, Riverside, CA--1981.
La Sierra University Library Gallery, Riverside, CA.--1980

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Charlie and Linda Riggs

Available Pieces

No Longer Available

Charlie and Linda Riggs Bio

Linda Riggs Artist Statement

Charlie Riggs Artist Statement

Charlie and Linda Riggs Resume