2025-2026 Art Gallery Exhibitions
"Nature's Faces: Crow Haven Ceramics and Mississippi Mud Studios"
November 3, 2025 - December 17, 2025
Reception: December 13, 2025 - 6:30 P.M.
with The Texas Tenors "Deep in the Heart of Christmas" - 7:30 P.M.
Artist Statement
Dean Wellman and Denise McCullough
"Sculpture is the art of the hole and the lump." - Auguste Rodin
Dean Wellman - My clay work seems to reflect the 11 different cities I've lived in all over the United States. Not necessarily the places themselves, but the people I've met along the way. They are interpretations, I believe, of the personalities, stories, and individuals I've encountered in my travels. Faces and people are my favorite pieces to create, although I enjoy an occasional abstract.
Denise McCullough - Working with clay for me is an ongoing experiment. Creating vessels that are attractive, useful, and hopefully bring someone a little joy is my goal. I am just a student of this oldest human invention and I am having a great time learning this ancient medium.
Artist Bio
Dean Wellman and Denise McCullough
Wellman attended the Colorado Institute of Art from 1986 to 1988. He has worked as a designer for Atmosphere Productions, Independent Media Solutions, Mediacom productions, and ten years on the board of directors for the Dubuque Area Art Collective. McCullough has no formal art training. Ceramics started out as a hobby for both Wellman and McCullough and has quickly developed into a partnership of passion for the medium.
Artist Statement
Gary Carstens - Mississippi Mud Studios
"It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see." - Henry David Thoreau, Walden
The direction of my clay work both sculptural and functional has always been brought by the landscape. Often what is hidden and not immediately revealed. Understanding, seeing, and finding a voice to interpret into clay is a very personal journey. The reward makes that fleeting moment of sight and interpretation permanent and recorded.
All clay work is high fired stoneware. My preferred firing method is atmospheric wood fire with salt. All functional work is durable and withstands the rigor of daily use. Glazes are non-toxic and food safe.
Artist Bio
Gary Carstens
AA, BA, 1977 - Monmouth College, Monmouth Illinois
Carstens has been working with clay since 1974 where, as the art department assistant at college he helped set up and began the ceramics program as a sculpture student.
He has worked steadily in clay since that time and was offered the purchase of Mississippi Mud Studios in 2003. Serving local potters and holding classes, the studio has become more of a private studio over the last 10 years. Devoting more energy to personal development, Carstens focuses his energies to expanding the evolution of his sculptural forms. He focuses on high fire stoneware in both gas reduction and wood fire atmospheres.
Today, Carstens frequently demos traditional techniques at colleges and high schools. He also teaches at his studio for individuals and small groups.