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Joseph P. Hadamik was born in Chicago on May 23, 1962 to Polish immigrant parents. He attended St. Mary of Gostyn grade school in Downers Grove and started his high school education at Westmont High School. He later transferred to St. Joseph High School in Westchester where he received his diploma. Joe's love of art started during his freshman year of high school. That love blossomed while taking classes in drawing, painting, photography and pottery. He found his passion in pottery and devoted as much time as he could to practicing and perfecting his talent. During his senior year in high school, he entered the Webolts Scholastic Art Show and won a gold key.
Joe found the College of DuPage filled with many learning adventures. While there he gathered knowledge in all aspects of clay work from the basics of making clay, to glaze formulation and firing a raku kiln. Solid foundations of more advanced wheel technique were also passed on to him there. He found his piece of heaven in the glaze room and a gas kiln. While pursuing his love of pottery, he took classes in graphic arts in which he made a career for 14 years.
Many years have passed since his college days but his love of pottery remains intense. Five years ago, he ignited his passion by purchasing the tools of that trade. He worked mainly with stoneware bodies and porcelain fired to cone 6 oxidation. While the majority of his work is functional, he has an interesting collection of art pieces. Joe built a raku kiln in 2004 and has enjoyed much success from it. He is currently working on his own ash glaze and preparing to pit fire with a sagger. As always, combining wheel and hand built pieces consumes much of his time.
Over the past five years, "The Peaceful Potter" had given many wheel demonstrations to local schools and churches and has shared his talents with students at the Plainfield Art Factory in Plainfield. You may have also seen him in the last three years at the Fields Fine Arts Festival in Crest Hill or at the Towne and Country Art Show in Oswego.
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