Museum to highlight continuing legacy of Marj and Richard Peeler

A Marj Peeler and Nancy Lovett collaboration. A student of Richard Peeler and later a collaborator with Marj Peeler, Lovett will be one of three artists speaking during a panel discussion of the ongoing influence of the Peelers on April 16 at the Putnam county Museum.

Courtesy photo/PUTNAM COUNTY MUSEUM

Long-time friend of Richard and Marj Peeler, Carol Emory once wrote “They were generous with their time and expertise, especially with their students who frequently became potters themselves and teachers of pottery.”

A Peeler panel discussion exploring their influence will convene at the Putnam County Museum, 1105 N. Jackson St., Greencastle, at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 16. This program is free and open to the public.

The Peelers touched many lives in Putnam County. Three persons who embraced the Peelers’ pottery teachings and advice will talk about the experiences they carried into their own careers as potters.

Nancy Lovett, Charles Todd Wagoner and David Berg will share and answer questions about how their lives and work were influenced by their relationships with the Peelers. All have continued to work in ceramics and will have examples of their work at the discussion. In addition, they have works on display as long-term loans at the Museum.

Lovett was a student of Richard’s and has worked in clay for more than 40 years. She credits his teaching for inspiring her passion for creating pottery and sculpture. Over the years Lovett has experimented with many different techniques in forming and firing clay. 

She also collaborated with Marj Peeler on a pottery series. Lovett created forms using the potter’s wheel, Marj carved on the shapes and Lovett would glaze and fire the pots.

Wagoner worked with and for the Peelers and had the privilege of firing Richard’s final kiln. In high school, he discovered the potter’s wheel in art class and learned to use it alongside his childhood friend David Berg.

“I persuaded my Greencastle high school art teachers to allow me to focus solely on the potter’s wheel and I made a lot of bad pots,” Berg said. “I also taught several other students how to throw pots on a potter’s wheel, including Mr. Charles Todd Wagoner. So, he kind of owes his entire art career to me ... well not really.”

Wagoner counters with an awkward photo of the two in 1975, standing beside their first Raku kiln, built of purloined bricks from the site of the fire-ravaged Barnaby Sawmill.

David Berg and Charles Todd Wagoner display their first raku kiln. Former students of Richard and Marj Peeler, Berg and Wagoner will be two of the three artists speaking on the ongoing influence of the Peelers during an April 16 discussion at the Putnam County Museum.

Courtesy photo/CHARLES T. WAGONER

Attendees may hear more about purloined bricks, exploding pots and other potter’s exploits during the presentation, moderated by Dr. Warren Macy.

For more information call the museum at 653-8419.