Andrew Wroble & Sumi Von Dassow

Sumi von Dassow Bio:

Sumi von Dassow attended the University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 1982-1984 and San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA 1985-1987. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Art with an emphasis in Ceramics.

Sumi was Director of the pottery program at the Washington Heights Art Center of the Lakewood Heritage, Culture and Arts Program of the City of Lakewood in Lakewood, Colorado for 22 years. She taught pottery at all levels, including hand-building, wheel-throwing, glaze mixing and formulating, and pit-firing workshops. She mixed glazes and loaded and fired kilns. She built the mini wood kiln there and developed many of the glazes teachers and students use.

In 2021, Sumi moved to Beulah, Colorado and opened Beulah Valley Pottery at 8868 Grand Ave., Beulah 81023.

Sumi has been a frequent contributor to Pottery Making Illustrated Magazine since its inception in 1997. She has participated in the Denver Potters Association and Castle Clay shows each year since 1998. Sumi conducted annual pit firings for the City of Breckenridge from 2001 through 2015 and helped design and test the pit in the Breckenridge Arts District.

Andrew Wroble Bio:

Andrew Wroble was born in 1952 in Casper, Wyoming and lived his early years in the central part of that state. His father worked in oil distribution which took the family through moves between Wyoming, Nebraska, Illinois, and finally Iowa. After graduating high school and drafted in to the United States Army, an opportunity arose to paint murals while he was stationed in Europe. Never having studied art Andrew looked for guidance from an exhibition featuring Rembrandt brushed ink drawings. The immediacy of Rembrandt’s technique and simplicity in communication fascinated him. On discharge from active service Wroble took advantage of the GI Bill and his new found intrigue with ink to study at The University of Iowa. There he was exposed to drawing as a modern medium.

In following years Mr. Wroble formed an ‘experimental’ street theatre troupe in Minneapolis, Minnesota (Pesky Thoughts Theatre), designed architectural glass work in Singapore, modified a Montana ranch’s calving season as ‘performance art’, was a shop assistant in a porcelain ceramic studio, and hosted annual ‘Art Car’ rallies in North East Iowa (Drive on the Edge). Staying active, he presents his work at art festivals, sells in gallery collections, and readily accepts invitations to demonstrate for organizations and schools.

Andrew’s life is rooted in rural America. A current theme in work deals with trees and the air surrounding them. For him trees chart stories running parallel with human experience.

Andrew and his wife live in Northeast Iowa on a certified American Tree Farm that overlooks The Upper Mississippi River Valley. There they’ve built and operate Point of View Bed and Breakfast and include Andrew’s studio on the farm.

First Friday on the Avenue Creative Circuit offers free access to monthly cultural events at museums, galleries, boutiques, artisan shops, restaurants, performance venues, and more. Events take place on the first Friday of each month, 5-8 p.m. year-round in the districts of Manitou Springs, Downtown and Old Colorado City. View listings, locations and additional details updated monthly at: peakradar.com/firstfriday

ArtWalk 2022 Season Lineup:

• July – Andrew Wroble, Sumi Von Dassow
• August – Tom Conter, Lorraine Danzo
• September – Stephanie Moon
• October – Tony Guido, Patrick Kochanasz
• November – Pottery Palooza
• December – Pie Mixer