Report from Santa Fe; Frank Willett

KENW-TV, Eastern New Mexico University, Portales, New Mexico · September 28, 2013

This week's guest on "Report from Santa Fe" is Frank Willett, potter and ceramic artist, and recipient of the 2013 Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts. A master of his craft, Willett has won many honors and his work has been shown and collected, both in New Mexico and nationally. The Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts is New Mexico’s highest artistic accolade, and is added to the many other honors Willett has received over a lifetime of ceramic artistry and mastery. Potter extraordinaire Frank Willett has made a living as an artist for more than 60 years. “A true master of his craft, Willett has continually produced pottery made with an unerring sense of beautiful form, good design and superb craftsmanship,” said nominator James Marshall, Associate Professor of Art and Program Head/Ceramics at Santa Fe Community College. “He devotes each and every day to the production of some of the finest, most highly crafted functional pottery in today’s environment of handcrafted pottery produced in this country.” In 1971, Willett established Santa Fe Pottery, a working studio where he produced and sold his own pottery and mentored fledgling potters, who went on to forge their own careers in ceramics. He sold Santa Fe Pottery in 2003, but has continued to make one-of-a-kind pieces in his home studio. Noted as a New Mexican artist who has worked with clay while remaining true to himself and his artistic vision, Willett continues to be a role model for his fellow artists. He was one of the original founders of New Mexico Potters and Clay Artists in the early 1970s and has participated in cultural exchanges with Kazakhstan and Korea.