When it comes to art, Lou Alderman has done it all. He has a B.S.E. and an M.S.E. in Art Education, both from Henderson State University in Arkadelphia. Alderman says, “I was fortunate to have the best teachers to be found anywhere in drawing, painting, print-making, sculpture, and pottery-making.”

He taught art in the public schools in both Arkansas and Missouri for 35 years. He is a talented artist in many media including handmade paper and flutes of both wood and clay. Alderman has presented workshops and demonstrations all over Arkansas and was the resident potter for the Ozark Fork Center in Mountain View for four years.

But his first love is pottery. He and Joe Coulter found a tiny electric kiln in storage at Henderson University, borrowed some clay, and began experimenting. That led him to learn how Native Americans made pots, to study the art of Japanese, Chinese, Attic, African, and South American potters, and always to look for new ways to create beauty rom clay.

Today his work ranges from pots of all sizes and shapes (made both to be beautiful and to be used) through small decorative boxes and oil lamps to sculptures. He works in a variety of glazes and says, “I always include a few sample tiles with new glaze possibilities whenever I fire my kiln.”

He also makes horsehair pottery. This is porcelain ware of a lovely soft white that, after it has been fired, is brought back to a high temperature. Immediately on taking the pot from the kiln, Alderman drops pieces of horsehair on the hot surface. This burns instantly, leaving beautiful patterns of carbon where the hair touched the pot.