Denny Young

After graduation in Architecture, I was accepted to graduate school in Art at MSU, with a thesis in ceramic sculpture and clay mining/processing.  While I was a graduate student of Frances Senska, I did a Toshika Takesu workshop at the Archie Bray Foundation in Helens, Montana.  I was chief grunt for a Peter Volkous workshop at Montana State.

I restarted my pottery activity with the discovery of the YWCA Pottery in 1967 and began teaching evening classes there in 1968.

I became a charter exhibitor at Coeur d'Alene Art Festival  (later known as Art on the Green) in 1968, where potters were 3/12 of the total exhibitors.  Since then I have been in the juried show about 22 times and have won juried show awards 4 of the last 5 years.  Still regularly have a juried booth and fire RAKU en situ (which means with a concealed supply of cold beer needed to stay cool during firing.)

I placed a large, 36" ceramic sculpture (actually a cookie jar for a family of 18) in the 1972 Spokane Annual Juried Art Show which may have been the first ceramic piece accepted in the show.

I have exhibited and fired RAKU at a variety of "pure" art festivals including: St. Maries SMART, Spokane-Harvest Festival, Spokane Civic Theater Art Festival and Deer Park.

Other artists that have greatly influenced my work are Rudy Autio, Warren McKenzie and Henry "Skip" Lyman.

Call me at
509.328.6174