The 2026 Demonstration Guide

See How Pottery Is Made—and Used

The Minnesota Pottery Festival is more than a place to shop.

Throughout the weekend, participating artists will demonstrate how clay is decorated, fired, and even used for cooking. Demonstrations are free and open to all festival visitors.

Surface Decoration with Karin Kraemer and Alysha Baier

Saturday at 11 a.m.

Karin Kraemer and Alysha Baier will team up for a demonstration on pottery surface decoration.

Working from two different artistic perspectives, the artists will share how they approach the surface of a pot and make decisions about imagery, pattern, texture, mark-making, and color.

Seeing the artists side by side provides a valuable reminder: even when potters begin with similar materials and tools, individual choices can produce dramatically different results.

Raku Firing with Joe Frank McKee

Saturday at noon
Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

Joe Frank McKee will lead two live raku firing demonstrations.

Raku is known for its dramatic process, including glowing-hot pottery, combustible materials, smoke, and rapid cooling. The results can include metallic surfaces, crackled glazes, and patterns shaped partly by the fire itself.

Both demonstrations are weather permitting.

Because the firing process involves very high temperatures, visitors must remain behind the marked safety area. Adults should keep children close throughout the demonstration.

Cooking with Clay with Morgan Baum

Saturday at 2 p.m.

Pottery does not have to stay on a shelf.

Morgan Baum of Clay Coyote Gallery & Pottery will demonstrate cooking directly over a gas grill using handmade Flameware cookware, including the Clay Coyote Grill Basket featured on the TODAY show.

The demonstration will show how a handmade ceramic pot can move from the pottery studio to the grill—and then directly to the table.

All demonstrations take place near the demonstration area shown in blue on the festival map.