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The Hobergs How did we get started in Pottery? Nedra grew up on a farm near the town of Lakota ND. It was here she developed a love for the soil and natural resources of the area. From an early age she had an interest in nature and art. She has worked in soil and water conservation for over 15 years. As part of her job she worked on projects to reduce stream bank erosion on rivers in Minnesota and North Dakota. Clay is a key material in stream bank restorations. She became interested in the properties of clay while working on the projects. She currently works for Eastern Grand Forks County Soil Conservation District as Education Coordinator. In the late 1990s Nedra decided to take a class in pottery offered at UND. Her intent was to better understand characteristics of clay, learn more about the history behind North Dakota pottery, and was looking for a stress reducing hobby. The instructor was Elizabeth Raleigh, who instantly became a good friend. The class was overseen by Don Miller, who offered a lot of expertise and also allowed Nedra a lot of room to experiment. She enjoys creating pieces by hand building and molding. Because of her love for nature and natural resources, she draws on plants and animals for her inspiration. Because of limited time available to work at the university, Ted (her husband) encouraged Nedra to invest in a kiln, so she could work at home, and continue experimenting in clay art. Ted also became interested in clay as and art medium, decorating bisque pieces Nedra made. Eventually Ted and Nedra discussed making pottery as a North Dakota art form and perhaps, a small business. This was the beginning of Frog Point Pottery. The North Dakota Pottery Collector's society has been a strong supporter of the business, and has commissioned Frog Point to produce their commemorative pieces for the past four years. Ted has been involved with art from an early age, taking national awards for oil painting while in high school. He has continued painting over the years, and has also done extensive photography work. His photos have been published in magazines, science text books, posters, and have even been purchased by National Geographic for use on websites and publications. He has a background and degree in Chemistry and in fact worked at the UND Chemical Engineering Department for 3 years. This may have been the reason he became curious as to how glazes actually worked. He has also run a taxidermy studio for about 30 years, and this experience gives him a very good background for decorating the pottery. His wildlife mounts are on display in the Minto Museum, and include everything from mammals and birds to reptiles and amphibians. He has a degree in biology, and teaches life science at Twining School on the Grand Forks Air Force Base. |
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