Bob Reiberg

Bob took his first classes in clay when he was 42. He grew up in Bloomington and always wanted to take a clay class at IU, but not being an art major there was no way to get into one.

He taught elementary school on St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands for six years and later middle school science for Indianapolis Public Schools for almost ten years. One day when taking his seven year old daughter to sign up for Saturday art classes a friend convinced him to take a pottery class too.

He had already taught himself silversmithing and darkroom photography and thought a wheel class might be diverting.

It was REALLY diverting.

 Six years later he quit a full time, guaranteed paying job with summers off and was out on the streets. Well, on the streets at art fairs around the whole Midwest, and other more distant states selling pottery as his full time job. Even working long hours seven days a week he found it a joy either making pots or selling them to folks that apparently actually liked his work.

But Bob found he still needed social contact away from studio and taught at the Indianapolis Art Center for over twenty eight years. It was always just one or two classes a week but the community of artists, and of potters especially was necessary for his psyche.

In 2023 he’d taken a break from teaching and was mostly retired from art fairs when Chris asked if he could step in and take over one of  Darryl Craddock’s classes for 8 weeks. He was a bit reluctant yet agreed . Now three classes into being back in a clay community he has happily signed up to teach another class.

Bob says he hopes to get to meet you in this charming Fountain Square clay community.

Some of you already know his work but for those who may not, you can see some of his pots on Instagram @bob_reiberg.