Reiko Rymer

by Dale Woodfin

Arts in the Burg welcomes Reiko Rymer as a part of our Arts in the Burg Launch Party Festival and our first Arts in the Burg Working Artist.

Reiko Rymer is joining us for the Arts in the Burg Launch Party on June 26th from 9 am – 4 pm CST. She will have a booth with pottery for sale and will be doing live pottery throwing.

Experience how creating pottery and ceramic pieces can be highly enjoyable and an expression of oneself creatively in a tangible and utilitarian manner. Creating pottery reduces stress and becomes therapeutic. It comes to no surprise that many people, including Reiko, find working with clay a much-needed hobby

Reiko Rymer   https://www.facebook.com/reiko.rymer/photos

Reiko is a ceramic artist who has worked in ceramics for over 20 years. She has been a student, taught, and managed a nonprofit pottery studio for seven years. Reiko currently sells her pieces in Chattanooga, TN, which can be found at The Edwin Hotel, in local stores (currently in five), and by private order.

When asked what she loves about ceramics, Reiko has this to says, “I wish I could say that I have always loved ceramics, but that would be a lie. I started in ceramics only because I needed an art credit for my degree, and it was the only art class that fit in my schedule. I loathed it because I am a math person and did not think myself creative at all but about ¾ the way through the semester I began waking up with ideas, and my passion (some might say obsession) bloomed.” Since that time, Reiko has made and sold her work and taught others of all ages and skill levels. She has collaborated with and assisted other artists on bodies of work and advised on Gallery presentations. Reiko can now, 20 years in, say, “I love ceramics. I love making it, I love teaching it, I love thinking about it and I love talking about it from the clump of clay to the glazing and ultimately the finished work.” She now works part-time for a national nonprofit agency as their Financial Director, affording her afternoons and evenings to devote herself to her ceramic business and endeavors.

We are fortunate to have Reiko join us as one of our first Arts in the Burg Working Artists. Our pottery studio will be open, we hope, in the Fall of 2021.

Reiko Rymer Accomplishments

Pottery Commissions and Exhibitions

The Edwin Hotel
New Moon Gallery
Ember Gallery
AVA
2232 Gallery
Imbibe
Homegrown Adornments
Stone Cup
Wildflowers on Signal
Winderbinder
Frameworks

Career:

City of Chattanooga Pottery Studio – Studio Assistant and Instructor
Scenic City Clay Arts – Studio Manager and instructor
Classes taught: Kids Clay Camp ages 5-12, Begining Wheel, Intermediate Wheel, Glazing 101, Handbuilding

Demonstrator for Ketner’s Mill, Camp Agape, Breakfast on the Bridge, and the Creative Discovery Museum

Arts in the Burg is a program of SPARQ

Tennessee Placemaking Partnership

The Tennessee Placemaking Project is a collaborative pilot project between Thrive Regional Partnership, Tennessee Arts Commission, Southeast Tennessee Development, and the Lyndhurst Foundation. The project is designed to support local communities as they scale up strategies that leverage local arts and cultural assets for economic vibrancy and growth throughout the greater Chattanooga region. To learn more, visit www.thriveregionalpartnership.org/projects/tn-placemaking-partnership. 

Thriving Communities

Thriving Communities is a creative placemaking program of Thrive Regional Partnership designed to leverage local arts and culture assets for economic vibrancy and growth throughout the greater Chattanooga region. To learn more, visit www.ThriveRegionalPartnership.org/Thriving-Communities.

Thrive Regional Partnership

Thrive Regional Partnership inspires responsible growth through conversation, connection, and collaboration across the tri-state greater Chattanooga region. To learn more visit www.thriveregionalpartnership.org.

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Arts in the Burg is a program of SPARQ

Tennessee Placemaking Partnership

The Tennessee Placemaking Project is a collaborative pilot project between Thrive Regional Partnership, Tennessee Arts Commission, Southeast Tennessee Development, and the Lyndhurst Foundation. The project is designed to support local communities as they scale up strategies that leverage local arts and cultural assets for economic vibrancy and growth throughout the greater Chattanooga region. To learn more, visit www.thriveregionalpartnership.org/projects/tn-placemaking-partnership. 

Thriving Communities

Thriving Communities is a creative placemaking program of Thrive Regional Partnership designed to leverage local arts and culture assets for economic vibrancy and growth throughout the greater Chattanooga region. To learn more, visit www.ThriveRegionalPartnership.org/Thriving-Communities.

Thrive Regional Partnership

Thrive Regional Partnership inspires responsible growth through conversation, connection, and collaboration across the tri-state greater Chattanooga region. To learn more visit www.thriveregionalpartnership.org.