{{short description|American artist}} {{Infobox artist | name = James Sankowski | image = James Sankowski working.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = James Sankowski | birth_date = {{birth date |1949|10|28}} | birth_place = Schenectady. NY | death_date = {{death date and age |2017|2|5|1949|10|28}} | death_place = Ballston Lake, New York | known_for = Ceramic Art | training = Central College<br> Bowling Green State University | movement = | notable_works = | patrons = | awards = | website = http://ballstonlakepottery.com/ }}
'''James "Jim" Sankowski''' (October 28, 1949 – February 5, 2017) was an American ceramic artist. He was a studio potter known for creating high-fired porcelain pottery that was described as functional, decorative, and contemporary.<ref>{{cite web|author=Karen Bjornland |url=https://dailygazette.com/2015/05/08/potters-plans-new-studio-fire-imagination/ |title=Potter's plans for new studio fire imagination|publisher=The Daily Gazette |date=2015-05-08|accessdate=2021-04-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Benfield Gallery|url=http://benfieldgallery.com/sankowski.html |title=James Sankowski|publisher=Benfield Gallery |date=2011-08-26|accessdate=2021-04-11}}</ref>
Sankowski attended Central College in Iowa, graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Art in 1972, and received an MFA in Ceramic Art in 1974 from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. In 1975, he moved back to upstate New York to open a gallery in Ballston Lake, New York. Sankowski worked and displayed his pottery out of his gallery until he died on February 5, 2017, at 67.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://glenvillefuneralhome.com/tribute/details/725/James-Sankowski/obituary.html|title=Obituary of James Sankowski|website=glenvillefuneralhome.com|access-date=September 13, 2021|archive-date=September 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913093852/https://glenvillefuneralhome.com/tribute/details/725/James-Sankowski/obituary.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Career == thumb|200px|alt=A pot made by artist James Sankowski|left|A pot made by James Sankowski After college, Sankowski opened Ballston Lake Pottery and worked out of his studio as an artist, but sold his works nationally. He thought it was important that his work was both durable and functional. In Ceramics Monthly, Sankowski said: "When someone tells me they would be afraid to use my pots, they deny themselves the pleasures of putting the pot into service. To do this is to neglect the tactile qualities of the pot. The balance of a handle, a good pouring spout and the fit of a lid are as important as the visual response."<ref>{{cite web |author=Ceramics Monthly |url=https://ceramicartsnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/06/Ceramics_Monthly_oct00_cei1000d.pdf |title=Cuisine Art |publisher=Ceramics Monthly |date=1987-09-01 |accessdate=2021-04-11 |archive-date=2021-04-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411163201/https://ceramicartsnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/06/Ceramics_Monthly_oct00_cei1000d.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Sankowski was one of the founding members of the Albany Saratoga Pottery Trail,<ref>{{cite web|author=Joe Donahue|url=https://www.wamc.org/post/albany-saratoga-pottery-trail-spring-studio-tour-aired-5709|title=The Albany Saratoga Pottery Trail Spring Studio Tour |publisher=WAMC Northeast Public Radio |date=2009-05-07|accessdate=2021-04-11}}</ref> which encouraged people to buy local, highlighting local potters and their connection to the area.<ref>{{cite web|author=Jacqueline Domin|url=https://spotlightnews.com/news/2008/04/23/a-passion-for-pottery/|title=A passion for pottery |publisher=Spotlight News |date=2008-04-23|accessdate=2021-04-11}}</ref>
In addition to displaying his work in Ballston Lake, he was a nationally exhibiting craftsperson. Sankowski's work has been highlighted in industry publications like Ceramics Monthly,<ref>{{cite web |author=Ceramics Monthly |url=https://ceramicartsnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/06/Ceramics_Monthly_oct00_cei1000d.pdf |title=Functional Ceramics 2000 |publisher=Ceramics Monthly |date=2000-10-01 |accessdate=2021-04-11 |archive-date=2021-04-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411163201/https://ceramicartsnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/06/Ceramics_Monthly_oct00_cei1000d.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Studio Potter, and The Art of Contemporary American Pottery. He's exhibited at craft and arts fairs like the Cedar Creek Gallery's National Teapot Show IX in 2014,<ref>{{cite web |author=Cedar Creek Gallery |url=http://www.cedarcreekgallery.com/taxonomy/term/23 |title=National Teapot Show 2014 |publisher=Cedar Creek Gallery |date=2014-06-06 |accessdate=2021-04-11 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> the Memorial Art Gallery Clothesline Festival in 2012, and the 1999 Smithsonian Craft Show in Washington, D.C. Sankowski also held workshops and seminars around the country.<ref>{{cite web |author=Joyce Jackson |url=https://ceramicartsnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/06/Ceramics_Monthly_feb95_cei0295d.pdf |title=Jim Sankowski workshop |publisher=Ceramics Monthly |date=1995-02-01 |accessdate=2021-04-11 |archive-date=2021-04-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411163201/https://ceramicartsnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/06/Ceramics_Monthly_feb95_cei0295d.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sankowski, James}} Category:1949 births Category:2017 deaths Category:American potters Category:Studio pottery Category:Central College (Iowa) alumni Category:Bowling Green State University alumni Category:People from Schenectady, New York