In Memoriam: Bob Black - People Pots

A message in my mailbox:

You might want to post a mssg advising that my good friend, James R. (Bob) Black, Jr, the well known "People Pot" artist/ceramicist, passed away from a massive heart attack on Saturday, January 14, 2012, at his home in Tuscon, AZ.  I met Bob and his wife, Agnes, umpty nine years ago at the Ann Arbor (Michigan) Art Fair (U of M was our mutual Alma Mater), and was immediately impressed with his ceramic virtuosity.  Bob was giving an on site demonstration, creating a new People Pot, and the man literally had magic in his fingers.  The art world has lost a true magician and he will be sorely missed. -- Mel Sachs

Bob Black was almost legendary in the art fair business. He was teaching at the University of Michigan when the art fairs really got rolling. I believe he was one of the founders of the Guild, formerly called the Michigan Guild of Artists and Artisans, and he exhibited on State Street at the Ann Arbor Art Fair for many years. He was known for his "people pots", figures of stylized people figures and had a large impact on many artists, in particular potters, probably Rex Benson for one.