20 Dirty Hands Pottery Tour Comes to Clarke
Clarke University is proud to take part in the 25th annual 20 Dirty Hands Pottery tour, October 16-18. Guests will be able to meet the featured artists and purchase works in the Wahlert Atrium from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Sunday.
20 Dirty Hands is an art collective based out of Galena, Illinois that elevates the work of ceramicists from around the tri-states. The pottery tour includes 10 unique stops at studios and shops in Galena, Hazel Green, Dubuque, and more. Clarke’s stop will include work from member artist and Assistant Professor of Art, Troy Aiken, as well as pieces from Shelby Cole, Kevin Hughes, Paul Marek, Belinda Shastal, and Clarke students Haley Holzer and Royal Hart. Clarke Alumna Sarah Zenner ’14 will also be featured at the Burro Branch Studios stop on the tour.
“Being part of 20 Dirty Hands is a great opportunity to connect Clarke’s ceramics program with the larger network of artists working throughout the Tri-State area,” Aiken said. “Ceramics is such a hands-on, community-oriented discipline, and these kinds of connections give our students the chance to see how artists are working beyond the classroom, learn from practicing artists, and imagine possibilities for their own creative futures. It’s also exciting to share the work being made by our students and alumni alongside so many talented regional ceramicists.”
The relationship between Clarke and 20 Dirty Hands goes deeper than a single event, however. Over the past three years, guest artists and members of the group have offered demonstrations in Ceramics and Sculpture classes at Clarke. Students have also had the chance to visit other studios and sites for unique opportunities, such as running a woodfire kiln with artist Ken Bichell.
“Being able to learn from other artists and explore their studios has given me so many new ideas and influenced how I approach my own work” said Haley Holzer ’27. “To now be able to showcase those efforts alongside these established artists is an incredible opportunity and great exposure as I work to build my own business.”
To learn more about 20 Dirty Hands and find the full tour map, visit twentydirtyhands.com. You may also learn more about Clarke’s Studio Art program and community involvement at clarke.edu.
About Clarke University
Founded in 1843 by the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Clarke University is located near the Mississippi River in Dubuque, Iowa. The University believes learning is lifelong and life-changing. Our community inspires intellectual curiosity, cultural engagement, professional preparedness, spiritual exploration, and a commitment to contributing to the common good in a global society. Academic offerings include a robust array of undergraduate majors and minors, pre-professional programs, and graduate degree programs.