Grand Forks' Muddy Waters Clay Center to dedicate main gallery to Vreeland Family
Sep. 27—GRAND FORKS — The Muddy Waters Clay Center will dedicate its main gallery in honor of the Lynn Vreeland Family, in an event set for 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28. The dedication ceremony is planned for 6 p.m. at the clay center, 2014 13th Ave. N. Everyone is welcome.
Lynn Vreeland, founder of Vreeland Remodeling of Grand Forks, leased space in his building on 13th Avenue, which has housed the Muddy Waters Clay Center for the past 15 years.
"(Vreeland) has always been very supportive of us and our mission," said Dianne Paulsen, a local pottery artist and member of the clay center. "Without his support, we could not have done as well as we have over the years."
The gallery will be dedicated to his family "for supporting our growth and physical expansion to accomplish Muddy Waters' mission in the creation, education, and the enjoyment of ceramic arts in the greater Grand Forks community," Paulsen said.
The family has been a great part of the clay center's history in Grand Forks, she said.
News that the main gallery dedication came as a "big surprise," Vreeland said. "It's a great honor. I'm very happy to have it dedicated to us."
Over the years, "it has been so nice to work with the (Muddy Waters artists) and they are such pleasant people — they made it easy for everybody, and I tried to make it easy for them," he said. "They have been awesome renters."
Vreeland himself is not a pottery artist, he said. The closest he got to the avocation was playing with clay as a boy in Niagara, North Dakota.
Vreeland established his business, Vreeland Remodeling, in 1963. The business, located at 2003 Gateway Drive, provides service and craftsmanship for remodeling of commercial and residential properties.
In 2007, a group of pottery artists came up with the idea to house a ceramic studio, which would be financially supported by its members, Paulsen said.
At the time, the building housed three separate spaces, with the Vreeland Remodeling business occupying one of them, she said.
After the pottery group was formed, Vreeland rented one of the spaces — about 2,000 square feet — to Muddy Waters. In 2011, a second, middle space in the building — where Dakota Woodworks was located — became available and then that space, too, was rented to the clay center, she said.
As membership grew, Muddy Waters expanded into the remaining space and now occupies the whole building, Paulsen said.
"Lynn Paulsen continued to hold the contract for us," he said.
About five years ago, the Muddy Waters Clay Center purchased the entire 7,680-square-foot building on a contract for deed basis, Vreeland said.
With proceeds from a fundraising event and a bank loan, obtained with Vreeland's support, the Muddy Waters leadership was able to pay off the contract, Paulsen said.
A nonprofit organization, Muddy Waters is supported financially by members' monthly and annual fees, as well as their pottery sales. Members also volunteer their time teaching, staffing the gallery Saturdays, and providing other services, Paulsen said.
Individuals and businesses support the clay center by shopping in the gallery and by providing services and grants, she said. One primary source of financial support is the Myra Foundation, which has helped the clay center obtain kilns, pottery wheels, lighting, ventilation, a clay mixer, wiring and other items.
Muddy Waters also serves the community by reaching out with volunteer activities, demonstrating the art of ceramics, and teaching classes for youth and adults, Paulsen said.
