Dean Rockwell

Dean was first introduced to ceramics by Leroy Moffett while taking an art class to fulfill a humanities requirement for a science degree at Western Illinois University. From this class he became interested in working with clay and glazes. Upon receiving his B.S. in Education he was hired by the Macomb School District to teach biology. There he met Don Heberling, the high school art teacher, who taught him to throw on the wheel and encouraged him to continue developing skills in pottery. Other obligations and opportunities eventually supplanted ceramics which then remained dormant for 32 years. Retiring from public school teaching in the spring of 2002 left Dean with time and energy to once again revive his artistic interests. He has studied under SunKoo Yuh and Vince Palacios of the WIU Art Department. It was there that his interst turned into a love and passion for ceramics. Dean’s pieces draw inspiration from all aspects of his life, interests and backgrounds. One recurring theme is a direct result of taking students to study rainforest ecology in Costa Rica. Of everything they studied he became particularly fond of the poison arrow frogs which now often grace a plate or bowl. His work has a fresh and eclectic feel that reflects his love of learning and experimentation; as well as his quirky sense of humor. May 2007 saw Dean’s juried acceptance into the Illinois Artisan Program (Illinois Department of Natural Resources). His work may be seen in art fairs, gallery exhibits, and shops.