Blue Spruce Gallery & Pottery Studio
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H I S T O R Y i n P O T T E R Y
In 1976 two young Newlyweds moved to Bend fresh from an internship in a full pottery production studio on the coast. Upon arriving, they immediately started with their dream... a successful pottery studio. They found a quaint home on Newport Avenue, planted a Blue Spruce (a recent gift) in the front yard, built a stoneware kiln and dove in. The small spruce grew and flourished along with their determination for success. It wasn't long before the thriving conifer came to symbolize their new adventure in the high desert and thus was born, "Blue Spruce Pottery". Little did they know that 25 years later the "Blue Spruce" name would become synonymous with great clay art throughout the Northwest and the entire West Coast.
In 1993 they sold their Gallery/Studio to a young ambitious newcomer on the Central Oregon Arts Scene. BOB SANT had worked as the main "glazer" in the Blue Spruce Studio since 1989. They knew the studio/gallery would be perfect for this young clay artist. During those three years Bob was busy cofounding the Bend Arts Association (which merged with the Central Oregon Arts Society to become COAA...now Arts Central), the Bend Summer Festival, and spearheading the effort (along with preservationist Chris Reese) to renovate the historic Allen-Rademacher House into the Mirror Pond Gallery. All three adventures were, and continue to be, very successful for Bend and the entire region.
Under Bob's stewardship Blue Spruce Gallery & Pottery Studio grew from representing 60 artists to over 180...attracting collectors/buyers from as far away as New York, England, Austrailia, and Japan. In addition to offering the largest collection of clay art in the northwest, Blue Spruce expanded to include custom clay work with local designers, a variety of original custom awards for sporting events (Pole Pedal Paddle, Junior Olympics, McDonald Forest Trail Run, The Great Nordeen, Cascade Lakes Swim Series, Mayday Ski Race) and numerous corporate recognition awards (Sunriver Resort, Brokentop, Deschutes Brewery, Kah Nee Ta Resort, St.Charles Medical Center,just to name a few).
In 1999 the gallery was hit hard by a long drawn out highway construction realignment in Bend. Eventually in 2002 Bob was forced to move the gallery/studio, as the new parkway destoyed access to his location. Luckily Bob found a perfect space in the booming "Old Mill Marketplace" in the heart of Bend. Though a tad bit smaller than the south store, the mill location is perfect for the direction he intended to take the gallery & the pottery studio. Blue Spruce Gallery refined the number of artists it represents, expanded it's own line of stoneware and focused more on "custom" orders (sinks, tile, lamps, dinnerware etc.)
Most important of all, this has allowed more time to be involved in the local art community. For the Central Oregon this has manifested as the sold-out annual Empty Bowls Project.
The new Blue Spruce Gallery location shares a building with many award winning artists and their studio/galleries. The Blue Spruce studio offers private pottery instruction, works one-on-one with local interior design firms, teaches custom workshops in the local schools, and has been involved in the Arts in Education (AIE) Programs in Oregon and Washington. Today Bob Sant and Bill Earhart work together to design & produce the popular Blue Spruce stoneware line.
Bob Sant's newest adventure...the on-line pottery gallery was conceived from a desire to fulfill the needs of people like himself...busy people who need a one-stop shopping source for their gift giving. Shopping from home or the office simply makes life easier, and he knew all could appreciate that!
Providing quality products, prompt and courteous service and speedy delivery has always been Blue Spruce Gallery's formula for success! Their goal is to provide quality pottery & clay art at the most reasonable prices and backed by superior customer service.
You will discover hundreds of fabulous and unique gifts, and we know you will find a Perfect Gift for Any Occasion!
You may order any of our products on-line, and your transactions are completely secure! However, you may also order by phone. Also, remember every item that the Blue Spruce pottery studio makes is guaranteed!
We hope you enjoy your shopping experience and come back often!
