Curatorial statement

This exhibition entitled The Pottery of Marguerite Wildenhain has been assembled featuring examples from the collection of Frank Friedlaender and family with additional examples from my collection. Frank Friedlaender is Marguerite’s nephew and he visited her at Pond Farm on many occasions. Most if not all of the Frank Friedlaender collection has never been publicly exhibited before. The Stewards of the Redwoods and Coast and I feel very fortunate that they agreed to show works from their collection at Santa Rosa Junior College.

Marguerite Wildenhain was an active teacher and potter in Sonoma County for over 40 years arriving at the Herr’s Ranch, outside of Guerneville in 1942 after teaching for 2 years at California College of Arts & Crafts in Oakland (now CCA in San Francisco). She built upon her training at the Bauhaus where she was the first woman in Germany to earn the title of “Master Potter.” Marguerite built a modest home & studio at Pond Farm where she created distinctive ceramic works and engaged each summer a group of students with her techniques and methods of work. She also made numerous trips to colleges and universities throughout America giving workshops on her methods of working with clay.

I wish to thank Bill Geisinger, Sonoma County Potter, for his tireless enthusiasm and efforts in assisting me in arranging this exhibition. Special thanks go to the Stewards of the Coast & Redwoods, Justin Lindenberg, Executive Director and Michele Luna, Emeritus Director, and the staff of SRJC Hiroshi Fuchigami, Head of Ceramics, and Christopher Woodcock, Gallery Director. AND most importantly great gratitude and thanks go to Frank Friendlaender, his son David and other Friedlaender family members.

Forrest L. Merrill

February, 2024