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Trainer's New Career Takes Shape

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By LENORA LAKE

llake@tampatrib.com

Published: November 12, 2008

TAMPA - Peter Streit says his pottery creations are functional art.

"It's something to take mud and turn it into something someone can eat their ice cream out of, or their cereal, or drink their tea from it," said Streit, 45, one of 40 exhibitors in this weekend's third annual New Tampa Art Festival.

Streit, who creates bowls, cups, serving platters, vases, jewelry boxes and other items, owns Rising Sun Pottery, with Lisa Streit, his wife of 22 years.

Previously they owned a fitness gym. And both were personal trainers before he started in pottery 13 years ago.

"Pottery was something I discovered totally by accident," said Streit, who works from a studio near the University of Tampa.

"I took a pottery-throwing class, and I was totally enamored from that moment. I went home and told my wife I was going to be a potter," he added.

For about a year he learned the art and continued as a personal trainer. Lisa Streit continued as a personal trainer until she was pregnant with their son, Josh, who is now 7. She then took over running the pottery business.

Josh, who is home-schooled at the couple's Seminole Heights home and at the art studio, helps his father prepare clay and is learning the art. He attends some of the art festivals and exhibits his works with his father.

Streit said he and wife chose the name Rising Sun from his interest in Japanese styles, his love of early morning and by writing words they liked and pairing them.

"It is actually a name they would use in Japan," Josh Streit said.

Streit said he makes his own designs and emulates pieces he sees from other potters.

"Over time they become mine. My own thoughts and personality come through," he said.

Many pieces are similar because he has repeat customers who buy bowls and return for plates, serving dishes or other pieces. His work sells from $24 to about $800 with some bowls going for $32 to $45.

He can make a couple of hundred of certain small pieces in a day at his wheel; others, such as large bowls or platters, are limited to 10 to 15 a day. He makes many pieces of the same pattern at once, firing them, glazing them and firing again in propane-fueled kilns.

"It's a fine line between a production line and art; the important thing is the craftsmanship," Streit said. "As a potter, the nicest thing people can say is they use my work."

Streit sells his wares at festivals and galleries around the country, sometimes traveling to Texas or Minnesota. Last week he participated in a show in Pensacola. Local shows include the Gasparilla Arts Festival in Tampa, Mainsail Arts Festival in St. Petersburg and Art Harvest in Dunedin.

This is the third year he has participated in the New Tampa show, sponsored by the New Tampa Community Council and held on the grounds of Grace Episcopal Church. He calls it "a terrific little show."

Steve Rothfarb, art coordinator for the festival, said the show's artists run from "contemporary to traditional in varied mediums and subject matter."

The show organizers will award more than $6,500 in prize money, with judging to begin Saturday morning. Awards will be announced later in the day.

Most of the artists are from west Central Florida, Rothfarb said, as some out-of-state artists chose not to attend because of rising costs of travel.

"New Tampa Community Council has made a commitment to keep this going, despite the economy," Rothfarb said.

The event also will include entertainment, food vendors and a chance for children to bring their artwork for judging later.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Third annual New Tampa Art Festival with fine art, pottery, food, entertainment

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: Grounds of Grace Episcopal Church, Bruce B. Downs Boulevard and Tampa Palms Boulevard

ADMISSION: Free

INFORMATION: (813) 293-2464 or www.newtampa.org

Correspondent Lenora Lake can be reached at (813) 865-4851

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