Mel Bolen

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Mel Bolen, whose name is synonymous with pottery in Saskatchewan, is known for his distinctly decorated, finely crafted thrown porcelain ware, mugs, plates, tureens, lidded jars, often with lusters and gilded rims, marketed under North Star Pottery. Mel’s studio and living accommodations are as distinctive as his work. Turning south at the carmel sign post, the top of a church spire appears on the horizon. Standing on a hill, the converted church sprouts windows and balconies in unexpected places. This peaceful and harmonious environment is the atmosphere in which Mel Bolen has chosen to live and pursue his chosen art form -- Pottery.

Mel grew up in Regina, Roman Catholic, middle class, a jock who was asked to leave the Engineering department at the University of Regina for not working. His first introduction to pottery was through a Fine Arts elective he had taken and from that moment on he was hooked. Switching to Fine Arts he majored in Sculpture and decided to take classes that interested him rather than simply filling academic requirements. For Mel, living in an art school environment in the seething intellectual milieu of the late ‘60’s was exciting.

At the age of 25 Mel was Head of the University of Regina Extension Department Pottery studio -- he says, "not a high credit, high salary position." But the Extension Department was incredible, plenty of space, excellent facilities, a good supply of materials, big budgets and open 24 hours a day.

But in 1974, it was time for a change. Mel placed ads across Saskatchewan looking for an acreage with all weather roads, a house and other features. To his surprise he got thirty-five responses to his ads. Because he had the summers off, he took one month to check out all these possibilities, and worked his way through the province. A Roman Catholic Church, 6 kilometers south of Hwy. #5 near Carmel, Saskatchewan was one of these possibilities.

This church, built in 1926, had stood empty for 10 years. It had no windows left -- most had been shot out while shooting at the pigeons that had taken over the building. There were also no trees, but Mel could see a great possibility for a pottery studio and his future home. Father Mathew, a Benedictine priest, who was in charge of the building also had helped build it, agreed to sell. Mel bought it immediately and this was the start of his dream.

For two years Mel spent his holidays and weekend trying to get the place in some kind of shape. Then in the spring of 1976 he moved in with Anita Rocamora, Charley Farrero, and Robert Oeuvrard, ceramists all. Preparing the building, which had no heating, no wiring, and no plumbing, for the first winter was the objective. Glass had to be replaced and fortunately for them, the day the put the windows in, December 13, 1976, there was a Chinook! They insulated upstairs, used oil heat and outfitted the studio. For three years they had no running water, only a 300 gallon tank.

Truthfully he had bought just a shell in a state of disrepair, no floors or walls! Mel said, "We had energy and the ignorance of youth." They had no money and no technical knowledge. They planted 1000 trees, got a garden into shape and put in a large cistern.

The early days of North Star Pottery were characterized by a frenetic level of activity. The four individualistic artists experiments criticized, showed work in exhibitions across the country and lived with their partners in living quarters built into the vaulted ceiling of the church above the studio.

Of the original four, Mel is the only one remaining there. By 1981 the group at North Star Pottery had left to go their separate ways. They are all still good friends, and they all still work in clay.

Mel's focus swung from largely experimental, one-of -a-kind work for exhibition to largely production work and marketing in the search for a better breadline income. Long hours, high quality work and an established reputation have secured that.

"My job is a bit of a luxury. I get paid to do something I love to do. If I wasn’t getting paid for it, I’d be doing it anyway in my free time."

Since 1980, Mel and his wife Karen Holden own and operate the studio. Both work on their art, Mel maintaining his reputation for quality and beauty, and Karen working to establish her name in the art community. Together they have done extensive renovations and landscaping. They operate a retail gallery in the church, open to the public. Appointments are recommended by phoning (306) 682-3223.

To his credit, Mel has pieces included in several national and international collections and has participated in over 70 exhibitions including Clay in Canada, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1995, and Expo ’86 in Vancouver. Mel continues to keep to himself in touch with ceramic trends shown by his recent educational pursuits at the Banff Centre of the Arts.

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