2017 North Iowa Studio Tour shows off area talent

For the sixth year in a row, the North Iowa Art Studio Tour set up shop across several north Iowa counties, showcasing local talent and inspirational work. Over the course of three days, patrons of art were encouraged to tour the region, visiting 19 artists last weekend, from Sept. 29, through Oct. 1.

Representing Franklin County along the art tour was Mateer Pottery, located in Sheffield, which showcased three area craft makers, as well as Sheffield artist himself, Bill Mateer.

Mateer has been mixing clay, molding pottery and firing a kiln for the last 50 years, while running his farming operation in north west Sheffield. An art major at the University of Northern Iowa, Mateer initially liked to draw; it wasn’t until Mateer needed to take a mandatory elective that he took pottery, and wound up falling in love with the art form.

“I enjoy making pots,” Mateer said. “I enjoy just the whole process.”

Read the full story in the October 5 edition of The Sheffield Press and The Pioneer Enterprise.