Jack Handshaw

Box 159
Fairfield, PA 17320
717-642-5607
JGHobbitt@comcast.net

ARTIST STATEMENT
Jack is a self-taught artist that started his interest in the arts at an early age in Jr. High school and continued through High school. After graduating in 1974 at Chambersburg High School, he continued his art experience in the recreational services in the Army where he was taught basic pottery skills, black and white photography and watercolors. He attended Burlington Comm. college for sculpture and attended night classes doing Raku at The Clay Studio in Philadelphia. Jack was honorably discharged from the Army in 1978 and set up a studio in the N.E. of Philly where he helped a friend with her pottery supply business. In the summer of 79 he moved into his present location at Mount Hope, where he established Hobbitt House Pottery. He has been actively potting there for almost 45 years, doing many types of pottery from redware reproductions for the NCCS at Penn State Mont Alto, pit firings wood firings, raku and high fire reduction porcelains.
In addition to creating, Jack enjoys passing his talent along to others by teaching. He has been affiliated with the Adams Co Arts Co for over 30 years, gives lessons privately and has given demonstrations at many non-profit venues. He was an artist at residence at Hoffman Homes, Vida school and at Boonsborough Elementary school. Jack enjoys teaching all ages and techniques from the wheel to hand building.
Jack has won many awards and most recently was accepted to” Art in the State” and won third place in crafts in 2020.Every year he opens his studio for sales with the Foothills Artists group which is in their 16th year and is the weekend before Thanksgiving.