My Background...
 

About Peter Knickerbocker ...   

Education:
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Alfred University, 1971,
Cum laude; Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi

Master of Fine Arts, Rochester Institute of Technology, 1974

Business:
Established "Spider's Nest Pottery" after earning my Master's degree in 1974, and have operated it ever since. Nowadays, my sales are mostly wholesale to shops and galleries, and I've pretty much stopped showing my work at retail shows/sales. My work features copper red glazes -I love colors, and combine them for a pleasing and painterly effect.


Lifestyle:
I moved out into the country six years ago for peace and to concentrate on my work. I've participated in organized shows in Rochester, Buffalo, Ithaca, et al
for a long time - 20 years, and grew tired of all the hassles of the organized art world - now I enjoy being with my dog (whose wisdom and appreciation of the demands of the creative life never falter nor disappoint), working by myself, listening to music
that I truly like, reading, and creating and growing my gardens.

Home:
I live at 1936 Briggs Road which can be reached from Penn Yan by heading west on Route 364, and then south on Briggs Road to the first intersection -
my house is located to the west on the corner (in the woods).  Map

While at Alfred U. I studied:
Sculpture with Bill Parry
Painting Bill Mahan, Harland Snodgrass
Pottery/Ceramics Val Cushing, Dan Rhodes, Bill
Turner, and Ted Randall
Glaze Calc and
Materials Wally Higgins
Design Eric Renner, John Wood
Art History Dick Kavish

While at R.I.T. I studied:
Painting with Fred Meyer, Phil Bornarth
Pottery Hobie Cowels (also glaze calc)
Bob Schmitz
Art History Hans Zanvort and Wetherald

Heroes:
John Glick and Warren McKenzie, potters who have never lost their faith nor souls, John Updike, and Morris Louis, and Jackson Pollock, the painter whose incredible passion for life and painting changed the world of modern art

and Phil and Rocky Secrest, potters who gave me a first opportunity to grow a business, develop a comprehensive line and style of my own, and who have taught me to survive the trials of this profession.