307 North Texas Street
Silver City, NM, 88061
505 699 5005
art of the southwest new mexico
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Letha Cress Woolf
It was 16 degrees below zero in Burning Springs Kentucky, when my mother gave birth to me in front of the fireplace. The wet washcloth my Father had placed on my Mom's forehead froze within seconds. At 2 years old my family of nine moved to Tabernash Colorado. The first winter we all lived in a railroad box car where the honey bucket froze within minutes. I adapted to the chilly world around me by becoming an A-1 ski racer winning many awards and ultimately competed in both the Junior and Senior Nationals. Between myself and 3 of my brothers we brought home over 100 medals and brother John made the U.S. Olympic Team.
I played in the snow during the winter and MUD during the summer. When I was 8 yrs old I made my first pot and have loved Art and Clay ever since. I have a K-12 Fine Art Degree from the University of Northern Colorado with over 100 hours in Art and a teaching certificate. I taught Art in Colorado for 5 yrs, and moved to Alaska in 1976 where I lived for 38 years in Girdwood. I worked as an Art Resource Teacher for 16 years and built my pottery studio which included two cone 10 gas reduction kilns. I opted for an early retirement from teaching which allowed me the time to become the Master Mudhead I am today. In 2014 we moved lock, stock, and 16,000 pounds of fire brick to Wind Canyon, Silver City New Mexico.
I have won several Juried Art Shows in Colorado, Alaska, and New Mexico. I have been a full time professional studio potter for over 30 years. These days you will find me in my studio where I am creating signature glazes, new forms, innovative textures, and mastering multiple techniques. My happy place is in my studio (the just let be tree is out back.)
~Letha Cress Woolf