Our Story

We are Jill and Dirk. Jill began working with clay in 1982 when she enrolled at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, to get a degree in art. She graduated in 1987 with a BfA with a major in Ceramics and a minor in Sculpture. Her thesis show consisted primarily of life-size child figures. Since that time she has continued to explore with various arts and crafts in addition to raising her family. She has also been busy pursuing a nursing career, which culminated with a Masters degree in Nursing and becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner. While attending graduate school at the University of Hawaii she was able to take a few ceramics classes. This not only provided great stress relief but also revived her love of working with clay. It renewed her determination to have her own studio.

Dirk also attended the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, and got his PhD in Physics there. He continued his career as a scientist at NCAR/HAO in Boulder, Colorado studying the aurora. He eventually returned to Alaska and retired as a Professor from the University of Alaska in 2010. Dirk is helping Jill in the ceramic studio and creates the wood components of her work.

In 2015 we moved from Alaska to Kapaau, Hawaii. We finally had the time and opportunity to built the ceramic studio in the back of our garden.

In November of 2022 we got together with two other couples and opened an art gallery in Hawi. We now sell our pottery and ceramic art at `Ōlena Gallery.