About Me
I was first exposed to pottery at the age of four, when my older brothers would take me to the high school to play with clay and escape the chaos of my parents' divorce. In 1979, as a freshman in high school, I took my first formal class in the subject and continued to pursue my passion throughout high school. However, life got in the way, and it wasn't until 1997 that I built my own kick wheel, followed by an electric motor a couple of years later. I fired my work in a 100V Cress kiln that I rescued from a neighbor's "dump pile."
In 2002, I upgraded to an electric wheel from a high school and have been throwing on it ever since. My love for the craft reached new heights in 2005 when my dad surprised me with a brand new Paragon kiln for my 40th birthday. In 2019, I even made my own extruder, and in 2022, I repurposed a meat grinder as a pugmill.
Over the years, I've been commissioned by friends and coworkers to create custom pieces of pottery, from pitchers to platters and everything in between. Through the 20 years I worked in aerospace and beyond, I've made over 2,000 unique pieces of pottery, each with its own personality and quirks. To me, pottery is more than just a hobby - it's a lifelong passion that brings me joy and fulfillment every time I sit down at my wheel.
What Does Golden Hill Mean?
Golden Hill is a symbol of preciousness, rarity, uniqueness, and value - qualities that are also reflected in pottery.
The name "Golden Return Hill" was given to my grandpa, who was an extremely hardworking individual who did whatever it took to support his family during the Great Depression. He sold corn and potatoes door-to-door, raised chickens for meat, served in WWI, and was even a certified journeyman electrician. My grandpa wasn’t only a hard worker but also a devoutly Christian man, having served two missions for the Church.
Pottery keeps me connected to my ancestors, and I strive to honor my grandpa's legacy through my work. I don't mass-produce 600 coffee cups - I create one-of-a-kind, artistic pieces that reflect the individuality and specialness of each piece of clay I work with. When I'm at my wheel, I feel a deep connection to my grandpa and the generations of hardworking and dedicated people who came before me.