Donald (Don) Reitz (1929-2014) holds a special place in contemporary craft, particularly in ceramics. Not only did he reinvigorate salt and wood firing technique, but he was also a beloved figure who inspired numerous artists and collectors. This exhibition underscores RAM’s commitment to chronicling the career of Reitz, who spent 1962-88 living and working in Wisconsin while actively teaching as faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. There were already a handful of works by Reitz in RAM’s collection when a…

Patrick Nagatani (1945 – 2017) was an artist committed to investigating the possibilities of photographic technology. Employing hand-coloring, multiple printings, and constructed scenarios, Nagatani built his photographic narratives through props, careful direction, and image manipulation. In addition to challenging the “truth” associated with photography, he touched on social, cultural, and personal issues, including nuclear power, myth-making, Chromatherapy, Japanese Americans, and the self. A former faculty member at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, Nagatani obtained his MFA from the…

In the late 1940s, contemporary glass production was given new energy as Frances (1912 – 2004) and Michael (1908 – 1999) Higgins reinvigorated the ancient practice of glass fusing. Capitalizing on the post-World War II interest in bright colors and abstract patterns, the Higginses produced mostly functional items sold through major retailers and worked with glass companies until they formally established their private studio in Illinois. Frances and Michael’s partnership—both personal and professional—seemed to fuel their creative energy, and they…

Donald (Don) Reitz (1929-2014) holds a special place in contemporary craft, particularly in ceramics. Not only did he reinvigorate salt and wood firing technique, but he was also a beloved figure who inspired numerous artists and collectors. This exhibition underscores RAM’s commitment to chronicling the career of Reitz, who spent 1962-88 living and working in Wisconsin while actively teaching as faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. There were already a handful of works by Reitz in RAM’s collection when a…

In the late 1940s, contemporary glass production was given new energy as Frances (1912 – 2004) and Michael (1908 – 1999) Higgins reinvigorated the ancient practice of glass fusing. Capitalizing on the post-World War II interest in bright colors and abstract patterns, the Higginses produced mostly functional items sold through major retailers and worked with glass companies until they formally established their private studio in Illinois. Frances and Michael’s partnership—both personal and professional—seemed to fuel their creative energy, and they…

In the late 1940s, contemporary glass production was given new energy as Frances (1912 – 2004) and Michael (1908 – 1999) Higgins reinvigorated the ancient practice of glass fusing. Capitalizing on the post-World War II interest in bright colors and abstract patterns, the Higginses produced mostly functional items sold through major retailers and worked with glass companies until they formally established their private studio in Illinois. Frances and Michael’s partnership—both personal and professional—seemed to fuel their creative energy, and they…